Undertaking Repair on TPO Roofs
Thermoplastic Polyolefin, sometimes known as TPO, is a brand-new single-ply roofing system that has grown in popularity over the past ten years.
TPOs are now famous for most individuals due to their exceptional durability and strong resistance to wear, chemicals, and abrasion.
Unlike alternative single-ply systems such as PVC, they are inexpensive per square foot, simple to install, and reflect harmful UV rays.
TPOs decay and lose their quality when subjected to environmental conditions over an extended period, even though they are economical and energy efficient.
Any TPO roofing system will eventually show signs of wear and require repairs. How do you go about fixing a TPO?
This article will examine the repair options available to contractors, homeowners, and property managers.
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How Does a TPO Roof Develop a Leak?
Several big sheets join to form the roof membrane of a TPO roof. These sheets can be chemically attached by overlapping them and employing heat to fuse them. This chemical connection may weaken over time.
Also, the original installation may have run into problems.
Perhaps the contractor overheated when heat welding the seams together, causing a burn that could leave pinholes in the membrane.
The seams could appear to be joined after installation because the contractor may not have applied enough heat.
Water has a chance to get into the insulation below when seams separate.
Water Can Enter a TPO Roof Through the Fasteners
On a TPO roof, one sheet will be heat welded onto an insulating board after being secured with plates and screws. Fasteners may start to back out with time.
When they do, the screw’s hole provides a pathway for water to get inside the underlayment insulation.
Water Can Enter a TPO Roof Through the Flashings
TPO roofs have flashings added to stop water from getting inside the building where the roof meets a vertical structure such as a wall or HVAC unit.
Since they come in sheets, it is frequently necessary to custom-cut them to fit around penetrations.
Then the vertical framework is covered with boots and flashings using adhesive or welding.
If the weld fails or the glue loses its hold, this could give water a way into your building.
Water Can Enter a TPO Roof Through Holes, Cracks, or Punctures
A TPO roof may develop a hole, split, or puncture due to flying debris, dropped tools, stepped-on nails or screws, and more.
The TPO sheets’ extreme thinness creates a pathway for water to infiltrate the insulation.
Water can move down from where it contacts the insulation to the roof deck and ultimately into your structure.
This is why it’s crucial to have a maintenance program in place for your roof; that way, a roofing contractor can find these places and reduce the damage at least once a year.
If you neglect the holes for a long time, the insulation may become so saturated that you might have to rebuild the entire roof.
The Repair Process:
Show the Exact Point of Damage
Your property may have evidence of leaks, which could be a sign that the TPO roof is damaged. However, until you perform a comprehensive inspection, any more problems might not be apparent.
Get a professional roof inspection because you may lack the knowledge and abilities required to check for issues on your TPO roof.
Inspectors will assess the roof’s condition and let you know whether or not repairs are necessary.
Get Your TPO Roofing System Ready for Repairs
The TPO roof surface needs to be ready for repairs as soon as you realize the roof needs repairs.
Next, you should clean the surface with various TPO cleaning agents. It removes any pollutants, dirt, debris, or grime. These affect how well the materials used for repairs adhere to the TPO substrate. Before making any repairs, it’s essential to ensure the TPO roof surface is spotless.
Patch Simple Punctures
Since this kind of single-ply roofing system is heat weldable, you may make repairs if your TPO has cracks and holes. However, this is not a straightforward task that you can DIY. It calls for some advanced tools and technological expertise.
This task is best left to a professional because mistakes could harm you or others while also causing long-term damage to your roof.
Use a Roof Seal Repair Tape
Roof seal tapes are currently offered for purchase online and at local shops. This tape helps patch any holes in your TPO roof.
You must warm the seal tape to room temperature if it’s freezing outside. As you apply heat, you should also reheat the damaged section and forcefully roll in the seal tape.
Warranty
When you notice a leak in your TPO roof, you might be eager to fix it immediately, but doing so could void your warranty and spoil your day.
Before you start building, the manufacturer must approve repairs; otherwise, your roof guarantee could be worthless. Therefore, you need to contact the maker or supplier and let them know if any repairs are necessary.
They enable you to determine whether these repairs fall under the coverage’s purview.
According to experts, keeping repairs basic is the best way to ensure your warranty remains effective.
Installing Roof Coating Over TPO
Most individuals also treat damaged TPO roofs with coatings such as acrylic or asphalt emulsion to fix them. Talk to the contractor to know whether or not a TPO primer is necessary for the coating to adhere to the TPO substrate.
The state of the roof will determine how you should install the coat. It may require more coating if the TPO is not only discolored but is peeling off from burnout.
How to find a professional TPO roofer in the Rock Hill, SC area
Call a Reliable Roof Repair Professional
Contacting a business roofing contractor should be your next move. The reason is that the damage and repair cost only worsen if you don’t.
An expert roofer can help you prevent leaks and severe issues and install a roofing system that will last for decades
Remove your insulation, haul it to a landfill, and replace it with equivalent material.
It will cost you less if you only need to repair a small portion of the roofing material instead of the whole thing.
Call us now if you have any general questions about commercial roof systems or roofing installation in Rock Hill, SC.