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DOW invented TPO Roofing in the early 1990’s. TPO Roofing means “Thermalplastic Olefin” roofing. TPO membranes are a combination of rubber and hot air welded seams made from ethylene propylene rubber. They are highly resistant to ozone, are algae-resistant, environmentally friendly and safe to install. The material is commonly advertised as a monolithic (seamless) roof. TPO is highly tear resistant, resists impacts, and resists punctures with good flexibility to allow for building movement. TPO’s are available in white, light gray, and black with thicknesses of either 45 mils (.045″) or 60 mils (.060″). Membrane width depends on the manufacturer but they usually come in widths of six to six-and-a-half feet and are one hundred feet long.

TPO Roofing is considered a fully-adhered roofing. That means adhesive attaches the roofing membrane to the substrate material, forming a strong chemical bond. TPO is highly heat reflective, fire resistant, and energy efficient. It also resists UV rays and dirt. TPO is also popular in the automotive industry where it is known for impact resistance. This crosses over into the roofing industry where hail damage to roofs is a common concern.  

roofing contractors and manufacturers love the shift from some lower priced materials like EPDM to more expensive TPO materials. Commercial roofing sales reached $3.3 billion overall in 2007 with single-ply products being the largest segment. TPO has been expanding its portion of that large share.

TPO is becoming more popular as the green movement grows, especially because it’s recyclable. It can be recycled as a roofing material but also burned as a fuel. TPO burns extremely clean with no toxic emissions when no flame retardants are present. It therefore has a high potential as a high energy fuel for waste-to-energy programs.

TPO roofs are categorized as “cool roofs.”  A cool roof can be defined in a variety of ways by people or by different municipal codes. But basically, a cool roof reflects and emits the sun’s heat back upward without allowing it to pass into the building or home. The more sun a roof reflects and emits, the cooler the roof. The Cool Roof Rating Council, CRRC, maintains an on line database of cool roof products. Be aware that while some TPO roofs score highly on the scale, some don’t.

TPO roofing is the way to go for many .