TPO vs EPDM

The Best Single Ply Roofing for Your Commercial Building

Choosing a roofing material for your commercial building is a decision you’ll be looking at for up to the next 50 years. Roofed Right’s high quality professional roofing services guarantee no matter your choice, your roof with be installed properly. Both TPO and EPDM are similar single ply roofing membranes, deciding between the two can become a confusing process.

Roofed Right knows you need a roof that lasts in a material that matches your style and budget. Both EPDM and TPO are widely used for commercial buildings for their longevity and energy efficient properties.

Best Value For:

TPO

EPDM

Energy Efficiency

Minimal Maintenance

Seam Strength

Durability

Color Options

Longevity

Least Expensive

TPO Roofing

TPO stands for Thermoplastic Polyolefin and is in a broad family of rubber roofing materials. It is widely used because it is cost effective and is highly reflective making it ENERGY STAR ® certified. Its white color allows it to absorb heat in winter and reflect heat in summer, keeping energy bills down.

Benefits of TPO include:

Energy efficient
Heat-welded (can be installed in any weather)
Stronger seams than EPDM
Variety of color options

Disadvantages of TPO:

Can be slippery in frosty or snowy conditions
Requires special installation equipment

Repairs and installations are easier with a TPO system than EPDM. TPO can be installed in a variety of ways including mechanically attached, adhered, or Rhino Bond thermal induction. Weather does not impact repairs like it does with EPDM. Roofed Right’s maintenance service and heat-welding equipment allow for TPO roof repairs any time of year.

Contact Roofed Right America for more information on EPDM vs TPO roofing systems

EPDM Roofing Systems

EPDM stands for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer and is a synthetic rubber derived from oil and natural gas. This recyclable rubber material makes for a durable single ply roofing system for any commercial roof. The main benefit of EPDM in comparison to TPO roofing systems is the lower cost.

Benefits of EPDM include:

High resistance to hail
Flexible in low temperatures
No special instalation equipment

An advantage of TPO roofing systems is the white color which reflects UV rays, lowering cooling costs. The majority of EPDM roofs are black, though color coatings are available. If left black, EDPM can melt small amounts of snow in the winter, but will also absorb heat in the summer raising cooling costs.