Modified bitumen roofing has been around since the 1970’s while TPO developed later in the 1990’s. They are both ideal for hot and dry weather and both have advantages and disadvantages. It will be up to your budget and preference as to which will be best for your building.
Modified Bitumen Roofing
Modified bitumen systems are practical and lower in cost and have been the standard in commercial roofing for years. Originally the upgrade to traditional asphalt roofing, bitumen did offer enhanced longevity and flexibility. Unfortunately, due to a few newly discovered disadvantages, many contractors have stopped offering these systems. Modified bitumen roofing was designed to improve the original version by adding substances like APP (atactic polypropylene). This was added to ensure the new systems were better able to resist UV light, oxidation, cracking, and blistering. Because many manufacturers have been discovered to only add minimal amounts of APP, modified bitumen roofing doesn’t stand up to these challenges as well as expected. The granulated surface was also added to provide additional UV resistance but only makes it more difficult to identify cracks and leaks. These roofs also come with a serious fire hazard if open flames are present during installation.
TPO Flat Roofing
Thermoplastic Polyolefin roofing is the latest and greatest when it comes to commercial roofing and can be installed typically one of three ways; ballasted, mechanically fastened, and fully adhered. It is a popular commercial roofing option because of the numerous benefits for building owners. The single-ply membrane is tear resistant as well as resistant to chemical and grease spills. They are also UV-resistant and fully recyclable which is popular in today’s much greener times. You can pick from an assortment of colors to match your building or stick with energy-saving white. An additional benefit is that as long as your current roof is in sound condition, you can apply TPO over existing metal or bitumen roofing. This saves you both time and money as you won’t have to tear off and dispose of old roofing. TPO can also be reheated which means you can weld seams when needed. These systems also have a smoother surface than bitumen roofing, which makes them easier to clean.
No matter what roofing system you choose, it is important to remember that installation must be done properly. Any problems seen with TPO have typically been related to poor installation, specifically seams not being welded properly. With a quality and experienced roofer, you can be assured that your TPO roofing will be installed correctly and will last longer than expected. Whatever roofing system you decide to go with, we have the expertise and resources to get your next roof installed quickly, efficiently, and with quality as our priority.
