Results 1 to 19 of 19
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Tampa, Fl
    Posts
    155

    Default What type of roof is this?

    What type of roof surface is this. I am thinking PVC???

    Similar Threads:
    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images
    Crawl Space Creeper

  2. #2
    Richard Moore's Avatar
    Richard Moore Guest

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Looks like EPDM or Thermoplastic. Take a look at the Firestone site.

    Firestone Building Products U.S. - TPO Roofing Systems


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    I'm guessing it is TPO.

    They do make EPDM with a white top layer, however, most EPDM is black.

    I haven't seen PVC used for roofing in over 15 years, but they may still use it (although EPDM replaced most of the PVC, and TPO is replacing most of the EPDM).

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Copper and coil thieves would be busy all night on that roof.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    1,352

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    All the EPDM out here is white, for obvious reasons. I've got it on my rental property, and there are quite a few around town. A black roof here would be a nightmare. I haven't heard of TPO. What's that stand for?

    Jim Robinson
    New Mexico, USA

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    TPO stands for Thermoplastic Olefin or Polyolefin

    rick


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    1,352

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Does the TPO look just like the EPDM, or is there a way to tell them apart. Just in case I run into it one of these days.

    Jim Robinson
    New Mexico, USA

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Robinson View Post
    Does the TPO look just like the EPDM, or is there a way to tell them apart. Just in case I run into it one of these days.
    EPDM is stamped with the manufacturer and the thickness along the edges of the roll (and sometimes in the center field areas) as I recall. EPDM is 'usually' always black.

    TPO is harder to identify as the labeling disappears into the white color (all TPO I've seen is white, some is white through and through, some is black underneath and white on top).

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  9. #9
    Cary Seidner's Avatar
    Cary Seidner Guest

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    It's TPO. You can tell by the heat welded penetration flashings.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    1,352

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    The membranes here in my town were put on by a company using the Duro Last roof system.

    Commercial Roofing System Single-ply membrane roofing system - Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.

    I thought it was EPDM, but from reading their web site I see that it is actually a polyvinyl chloride blend. I guess that makes it a PVC roof, or is that a different product? It looks a lot like the roof in the photo. These aren't put on with heat. They use a glue, much like a swimming pool liner.

    Jim Robinson
    New Mexico, USA

  11. #11
    Cary Seidner's Avatar
    Cary Seidner Guest

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    It's really hard to tell without a close-up shot of the membrane, but in the first photo I see manufactured (as opposed to field fabricated) penetration flashing. Really looks like TPO to me. TPO, PVC and EPDM are all membranes in the "Single-Ply Roofing System" catagory, and that is what I would call it if I could not conclusively determine the type.


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Jim,

    Reading through some of those specifications, I think that might be a PVC roof system.

    At first, it looked like TPO, but reading their information, I'm thinking PVC.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    [quote=Jerry Peck;43019]EPDM is 'usually' always black.

    quote]

    Jerry, is that anything like "Jumbo Shrimp"


    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    2,365

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    That looks just like what's on my RV. RV people always just call it a rubber roof. Are the terms you guys are throwing around just more specific or is there a difference?


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Fellman View Post
    That looks just like what's on my RV. RV people always just call it a rubber roof. Are the terms you guys are throwing around just more specific or is there a difference?
    The "rubber roofs" on many RVs are EPDM, while many others are TPO. You need to know which before making any repairs as the sealants are not compatible with each other.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  16. #16
    Larry Wilson's Avatar
    Larry Wilson Guest

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Hi guys, whichever it is, it would sure be nice to know who put it on. From the pictures it looks like they did a super job and I have a guy who is looking for someone to re-cover his industrial building. I did notice in the blown up picture on the left that there appeared to be a small cut. Did anyone else notice that?
    Thanks
    Larry W.
    South Carolina


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Also of note: See all those nicely flashed electrical conduits sticking vertically up with liquid tight connected to the tops of them?

    Yep, you've all seen those liquid tight fittings fail and/or the liquid tight pull out of their fittings ... what you have now is called "a rain water raceway directly down to the electrical boxes and out into the ceiling(s) below".

    Those should have (no code requirement, just common sense) had a 90 sweep on them or an LB, something to allow for the connection to be either 90 degrees to the horizontal or facing down, creating a drip loop to keep water out.

    When they have a leak, that is the first place I would check for water entry.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  18. #18
    Ken Bates's Avatar
    Ken Bates Guest

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    I read a blurb about a recent addition to the class of white reflective, polymeric membrane claddings a few months ago. So, I think there are at least 4 being used.

    In the Boston area it's almost always Sarnafil, which actually predates EPDM by a few years. Sarna, a Swiss company has only 3 plants worldwide. The original in Switzerland, another in mainland China and a 3rd a few miles from Boston.

    Sarna embosses their trademark on the membrane (approx. 1/2 sq. ft) but it is subtle.


  19. #19

    Default Re: What type of roof is this?

    Another possibility is PIB (Polyisobutylene). See Roof Choices - PIB for a brief description.


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •