PVC vs TPO?

Grumpy

Just finished a 50 square exactly as you described. Were you watching us?

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

Grumpy

In regards to the underlayment, it doesn't have to be a cover board, but could be a polypropelene seperator matt that various manufacturers offer. This would be a labor and materials savings.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

rwolfe

Fibertite is resistent to nearly all chemicals. It can be laid directly over asphalt.
I'd love to know who is using billboard material for roofing in Florida. If we're calling this an emergency repair, that's one thing. If we're calling it a temporary roof that's a whole other deal. You should be able to put .5" wood fiber down and tpo system for $2 and change per square foot.
BTW you asked about cheap cost of board. I'm not sure if wood fiber comes in 1/4" but 1/2" is around $20 per square. 045 tpo around $39 per square.

term bar the membrane at perimeter edges. flash walls and curbs per manufacturer's specs. good to go.

By the way. Does the bill board material weld where there will be seams?

RooferX

The billboard is basically pvc roofing material but thinner .020 vs .045-.050 but, about $10 a square or $500 for this guy's roof without the cover board. The $1000 xtra or so for the 1/2" cover board isn't bad and will lay better on it,and we will consider the extra $1500 for tpo. Or, if he plans on doing PVC after the tear off is he better just getting the pvc now and use it when he has the plans and money in place to do the full tear off? That would be about $3500 pvc materials (without flashings, hardware,etc.) if JM, more if Fibertite, vs $2000 TPO ,vs $500 for the billboard hmmmmmmmm..........he really wants to wait to put any money into the roof right now until plans are done and money is in place but needs to protect it and stop the leaks for now.

yes, you can heat weld the seams or glue just like pvc roofing

When you say Fibertite is resistant, are you referring to tpo or pvc fleece backed or not?

Grumpy

Wow Rwolfe, I want your prices. I am paying signifigantly higher than you for my tpo.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

rwolfe

.37 for 45 mil tpo and 60 mil for .47

What are you guys paying?

Grumpy

.52 for 45 mil tpo on less than truck load quantities... and I shoped around for those prices. I was paying more than that previously. I've gotten quotes as low as .49 for 200+ square jobs.

Do you buy direct from manufacturer or from a local distributor/supplier? What would you guesstimate as your yearly volume in terms of squares? We're a small peanut company so probably pay a penny less than a "cash" contractor would.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

rwolfe

Local distributor.

350 square and up ship direct. Get 45 mil for .37 direct. .375 to .39 through distributor.

Grumpy

You obviously move a hell of alot more voume than I do.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

tomdaleh

My company installs Conklin Roofing systems in the greater St Louis and surrounding areas. Conklin is heavy into the fluid coatings market but has been in the single-ply field for going on thirty-plus years. We install Conklin's single-ply Flexion system and often go up against the price differential between ours and the petroleum based products. Some benefits (that you are probably already aware of) that might sway potential residential customer to a PVC or TPO roof when in comparison to a petroleum based product are:

*White reflective single-plys generally have a reflectivity rating of 85% on average. Naturally what that means is all of the heat from the sun isn't being passed on to the living quarters unlike the petroleum based products which typically see UVL absorption rates of the mid 90 percent range.

*With this being said the energy savings alone will pay for a TPO or PVC system in 4 to 7 years in reduced air conditioning usage-not the case with a torchdown or similar product.

*Many of these have a UL Class "A" fire resistance ratings meaning that it won't feed a fire unlike a petroleum product.

Price-wise it's hard to combat a $2500-$5000 hot tar roof; but having to shell that out every 3-5 years IF you get a good installation, the PVC or TPO roof would have more than likely already paid for itself and will last a good 20 years or more. It's an easier sell to a home owner who is making the long term investment than to a real estate investor who is just looking at the income producing aspect of it.

As far as PVC and TPO go, I've installed both but I find Conklin's Flexion single-ply system to be superior to that of Durabond's TPO. The Flexion system is 50 mil Dupont Elavoy modified PVC reinforced with an embedded polyester scrimm, the Durabond TPO contains no such reinforcement and isn't nearly as heavy duty thus puncture resistant. Once my customers look at the two products side by side they generally want the Flexion PVC system installed.

But no matter which one you choose, a white reflective flat roof is the way to go.

Hope this helps.