Can anyone point me to a good resource on TPO Roofing Installation. It
looks easy, so it must not be. There must be something I'm overlooking.
I've got three flat roofs to replace and tear-off looks to be the hardest
part (3+ tar roofs on each section). I was considering EPDM but since two
of the roofs are visible from other parts of the building, TPO is
attractive.

If anyone has any general tips on the matter, those are welcomed, too.

"Save money/hassle/hire an expert" responses are appreciated
(for their concern) but entirely unnecessary.

thanks in advance,
-BB

I'm not a pro roofer but have a fair amount of experience for a DIYer.

I have never installed a TPO roof, I had to google to see what you were
talking about. TPO = thermoplastic polyolefin

A TPO roof, as I understand it, is a single ply rolled roofing sealed at the
seams. May come in larger sheets. Probably a simple install.

I have installed several Modified Bitumen torch down roofs. They are
relatively easy to do but definitely not for the faint of heart or sloppy
DIYer. You risk burning your building down if you drop the torch or point it
to something you shouldn't. These roofs do also come with granules if that's
the look you want. They even sell loose granules to use for touch-up. These
roofs are very good quality from what I can see and have experienced.

Last weekend I was doing a small roof repair job on a flat roof where a TPO
roof was installed (I didn't know it was a TPO roof till today). This roof
was installed in April and was leaking. The roofer that sold it to this
unsuspecting family called it a "50 year rubber roof". It was not rubber and
I know of no flat roof installs with a 50 year warranty.

Anyway, they key to any good roofing job is not only the roofing but the
flashing, seams and transitions (Valleys, slope changes, wall to roof
intersections, crickets,etc.) That was the problem I was correcting, no
flashing where a flat roof met an adjoining wall!

OK - None of that answered your question.
This site has some very brief install instructions for TPO roofs.
http://www.jm.com/roofing_systems/singleply/1704.htm

You are correct - Tear-off is usually the hardest part.

If you are considering torch-down, there are videos (as well as for other
techniques) here
http://www.gaf.com/General/GafMain.asp?Silo=CONT&WS=GAF
^^^^ Click on "installation videos" at the link above.


"Belial Black" wrote in message
news
Can anyone point me to a good resource on TPO Roofing Installation. It
looks easy, so it must not be. There must be something I'm overlooking.
I've got three flat roofs to replace and tear-off looks to be the hardest
part (3+ tar roofs on each section). I was considering EPDM but since two
of the roofs are visible from other parts of the building, TPO is
attractive.

If anyone has any general tips on the matter, those are welcomed, too.

"Save money/hassle/hire an expert" responses are appreciated
(for their concern) but entirely unnecessary.

thanks in advance,
-BB