Both are white heat welded systems that look virtually identical.
Tpo vs pvc roofing.
Even though the membranes may appear to be the same pvc and tpo roofing systems are quite different.
If you are up for a more chemical resistant roofing and are looking for a cost friendly option pvc roofing is the way to go.
Pvc is definitely affected more by heat.
Unlike tpo and pvc roofs that are often mechanically attached an epdm roof is most often fully adhered.
Pvc has over 50 years of proven performance.
Pvc roofing cost in 2020 plus pros cons 2 replies if you are looking for a cost effective and durable single ply roofing system for your flat or low slope roof a tpo thermoplastic olefin membrane may be a solid energy efficient option.
However while the face of both membranes and their installation are virtually identical they are very different systems on the inside.
And over time pvc seams to shrink more.
Go back on a roof a year or so later and the pvc roof looks like the batter head top part you beat on a drum.
Initially tpo roofing was designed to be an improved version of both pvc and epdm rubber membranes combing the benefits of both but without the disadvantages.
There used to be talk about welding differences but both membranes weld well.
Pvc has been successfully used in commercial and residential roofing since the 1960 s while pvc is a newcomer and has been around since early 1990 s.
Both tpo and pvc look similar but pvc has been used as a roofing material since the 1960s while tpo roofs started to be used in the 1990s.
Tpo vs pvc roofing.
A pvc versus tpo comparison chart is below.
The seams are either glued with the rest of the roof different process same result or they are taped.
The most obvious similarity is that tpo thermoplastic olefin and pvc poly vinyl chloride are both thermoplastic materials.
Tpo is being touted as the more improved and cheaper version of pvc and as a result has been steadily gaining in popularity.
Tpo requires higher temperatures but once a crew has adapted welding is as straightforward as it is for pvc.
Petroleum or natural gas is processed to produce ethylene and chlorine is derived from salt.
This means that it requires glues to adhere it to what s underneath.
Two of the hardest flat roof systems to tell apart is the pvc roof and the tpo roof.
Also pvc is slightly more flexible than tpo which some contractors like.