Highlights
TPO roofing costs between $6,800 to $21,000 on average.
TPO roofing is a single-ply, white mixture made from synthetic rubber and additives.
There are several ways to install TPO roofing, including bonding adhesives, fasteners, and ballasted methods.
Your TPO roof will last anywhere between 15 to 30 years, depending on how well it’s installed and maintained.
Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roofing is an up-and-coming rubber roofing material that is taking homeowners by storm. These white “cool” roofs, which are also common in commercial properties, are saving homeowners money and helping curb those AC bills. Before you jump on this newer roofing bandwagon, here’s everything you need to know about TPO roofing.
What Is TPO Roofing?
Thermoplastic Polyolefin, called TPO for short, is a white roofing membrane made from a single-ply mixture of ethylene-propylene rubber and fillers like talc, fiberglass, and fibers that make the material flexible and strong. You may have seen this reflective roofing on commercial roofs while driving past shopping centers, but don’t let its popularity in commercial settings turn you away.
This newer roofing technology has only been around for about thirty years, and it’s quickly gaining traction in residential homes as a cost-effective and energy-efficient option for flat rooftops.
How Does TPO Roofing Work?
TPO roofing is a type of energy-efficient cool roof that can potentially keep your roof 50 degrees cooler than conventional roofing materials. Much like any white or light-colored surface, the single-ply membrane reflects those hot, sunny rays. This reduction in heat flow to the space beneath the roof helps maintain cooler indoor temperatures come summer.
What’s unique about TPO is that the edges and overlaps are heat-seared together, which makes one continuous surface. TPO can only bond to itself, so you can’t attach it to other roof types. For this reason, TPO clad metals exist to properly adhere flashings to the roof.
TPO Roofing vs. Traditional Roofing
Traditional roofing materials include shingles, metal sheets, and tiles and come in a variety of materials, such as natural stone, wood, asphalt, clay, and more. Though they may vary in style and application, each of these options contains multiple, somewhat small pieces that roofers individually lay across the rooftop.
TPO roofing, on the other hand, does not come in pieces, nor is it individually laid across the surface of your roof. Since the TPO membrane is delivered on a large roll, a roofing team pulls the material across your roof and secures it via one of three methods: a bonding adhesive (glue), a mechanical attachment like a fastener, or a ballast or a seal that goes around the perimeters of your roof and secures using a ballast.
Is TPO Roofing a Good Roofing Option?
TPO roofs come with many benefits, but they’re not for everyone. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if TPO roofs are right for your home.
Pros of TPO Roofing
Reflects UV rays to save on cooling costs
Lowers air pollution and greenhouse gases from HVAC systems
Low maintenance
Anti-fungal
Keeps your home cooler and more comfortable
Lifespan of 15 to 30 years
Easy to install
Puts less pressure on your roof due to its light-weight design
Flexible and less likely to crack with temperature changes
Relatively easy for a roofer to repair
Can handle ponding water up to 72 hours
Cons of TPO Roofing
Designed for low-slope roofing, meaning high-pitched roofs won’t qualify
Costs more than many other low-slope roofing materials
May not be fire-resistant, depending on the brand
Still relatively new to the market
Vulnerable to holes from cigarette burns if people are smoking on the roof
Easily torn by overhead trees rubbing the surface
Cost to Install TPO Roofing
TPO roofing costs anywhere between $4.50 and $14 per square foot, including the installation. For a 1,500-square foot home, this is roughly $6,800 to $21,000. You’ll pay more towards the higher end of the price point to have your old roof removed or add insulation. The installation costs around $3 per square foot.
Installing TPO Roofing
Though it might seem easy to DIY the installation, installing a TPO roof is a large project that requires an experienced roofer to safely install a high-quality roof.
A professional rubber roofer near you pro will determine whether TPO roofing is right for your roof, which installation method will work best, and whether you can keep your old roof—all while avoiding common rookie roofing mistakes. For instance, TPO roofing is made for flat-pitched roofs or roofs with a pitch between one to 10 degrees, so not all roofs can pull off a TPO roofing material.
To Keep or Not to Keep the Old Roof
In some cases, you might get away with installing TPO roofing over an existing roof—if it’s in good condition. But in other cases, your installer will need to remove your existing roof to apply the single-ply membrane. But the contractor should ensure that nothing from below will poke up through and puncture the new membrane. For this reason, at least half-an-inch of insulation board is generally installed. This layer, also called recovery board, gives the installer a smooth surface to work with.
Adding the Insulation
Before the membrane is installed, the installer will add insulation. It’s important to choose the right insulation material and thickness for your local climate and need for heat resistance, which is why you’ll want to ask the pro for advice.
Life Expectancy of TPO Roofs
On average, TPO roofs have a life expectancy between 15 to 30 years or an average of just under 25 years. How long your roof really lasts partially depends on its upkeep. Other lifespan factors include:
Climate
Microclimate
Installation methods
Installation skills
Harsh, sunny climates will deteriorate your TPO roof faster than temperate or cool climates—although TPO holds up better in hot climates than the rubber roofing material EPDM. Likewise, if you have more shade on your rooftop, it might last longer than one that is constantly exposed to the elements.
How your roof is installed plays another role in its lifespan. To put it lightly, poorly executed installations will result in a shorter lifespan, whereas an expert installer will give your new roof the best chance at a long life.
Maintenance Tips for TPO Roofing
You could have the most professionally installed TPO roof out there and still experience a shorter lifespan for your roof if you don’t keep up with the roof. Here are some maintenance tips for taking care of a TPO roof:
Keep up with tree pruning in your yard to keep leaves and branches from falling onto the roof.
Regularly clean gutter drains to prevent clogs from holding onto water.
Use a soft-bristled broom and mild detergent to remove debris from your TPO roof.
Rinse dirt, leaves, and sticks off the roof with a strong gardening hose or low-pressure power washer.
Inspect your roof after you clean it to check for wear and tear.
Avoid walking on the roof to inspect it if it’s wet, as this can pose a slip hazard.
If you suspect damage to your TPO roofing, call a professional inspector to inspect the roof using an infrared camera to hunt for small tears.
Repair damage as soon as it appears to prevent water from soaking into your home and causing water damage and mold issues.
Never extinguish cigarette butts on the roof material.
