PVC or TPO?

[Brandon Whitmore]

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[Brandon Whitmore]

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Better yet, does anyone recognize the manufacturer from the marks on the roof.

[caryseidner]

Can't tell from those photos, but both PVC & TPO can be classified as "single ply" systems. If it is newer (within the last 6 years) it is likely TPO.

[exploreparadise2]

It's PVC. Under the dirt in the large photo I can see a grid pattern. PVC is embedded with a fiberglass base mat. TPO has no base mat and is smooth and white.

Blair

Home Inspection Seattle

[BornaRoofer]

All single ply pvc ,tpo hypalon ect have a scrim and you can see the grid pattern on all of them. And the scrims are not made of fiberglass it is most likely polyester or nylon. They are all still being installed and could be any number of manufactures or types.

A closer pic of the details may help.

[Brandon Whitmore]

Chris,

Thanks for the reply. The closest up pic is the one in my second post. You probably know this, but you can click on that picture to enlarge it-- it's the best one I took for a close- up.

[BornaRoofer]

No probem. The marks on the sheet are for fastener placement and setting the lap. Im not sure of the brand but if I had to guess id say PVC.

I dont think alot of roofers put on tpo in residential yet, its a fairly new product.

Sometimes the only way to tell is to try and weld a peice of pvc to it. If it doesnt stick its tpo.

[msteger]

Can't say I've ever seen PVC roofing in my area (PA). Anyone on the east coast seen it around here?

[BornaRoofer]

Unless you look at commercial roofing you wont see it often.

[Brandon Whitmore]

Sometimes the only way to tell is to try and weld a peice of pvc to it. If it doesnt stick its tpo.

That doesn't get my confidence up regarding identifying the material--

[BornaRoofer]

Sorry but unless it has obvious markings on it that say pvc or tpo they look almost identical.

[pupdawg]

pretty sure it's PVC as it appears to be welded to the edge metal, not tied in with cover tape. PVC has vinyl clad sheet metal available to weld to, TPO and hypalon do not.

[BornaRoofer]

Thats incorrect.

Most manufactures have coated metal for all welded membranes.

Ive seen thousands upon thousands of feet of tpo metal.

[Ed the Roofer]

Originally posted by BornaRoofer

Thats incorrect.

Most manufactures have coated metal for all welded membranes.

Ive seen thousands upon thousands of feet of tpo metal.

BornaRoofer has given accurate replies every time.

Even Hypalon is a weldable membrane and the only subtle differences in a visual inspection is the grid patterns of the polyester reinforcement scrim sheets, but the scrims are typically farmed out from a few select suppliers and tossed into that particular companies thermoplastic formulation for providing that brand with the tensile strength desired.

Any evidence of seam lap sealant or drippage of a whitish hypalon coating to re-activate the menbrane lying around on the roof near any seams?

Ed

[Brandon Whitmore]

Any evidence of seam lap sealant or drippage of a whitish hypalon coating to re-activate the menbrane lying around on the roof near any seams?

None that I can recall.