Cold or Dirty Weld Laps
- You See
- Seams that peel by hand or show a narrow weld bead.
- What It Means
- Heat, speed, wind, and dirt on the lap change weld quality. Test welds and probing catch weak spots.
Frankfort TPO Roofing Contractor
Trade a Patched Flat Roof for One Heat-Welded White Membrane
As a Frankfort TPO roofing contractor, we install white TPO membrane on low-slope warehouses, offices, schools, and plants, with every seam welded and probed.
- Hot-Air Welded seams on every lap
- White Surface reflects summer sun
- 45, 60, or 80 Mil sheet thickness
Does a TPO Sheet Fit This Roof?
TPO roof installation in Frankfort, KY works best on certain decks and buildings. Here is how a Frankfort TPO roofing contractor sorts them.
TPO Fits
- Low-slope steel, wood, or concrete decks
- Warehouses, offices, and retail strips with rooftop cooling
- Roofs with ponding fixed by tapered insulation
- Buildings where a white, reflective surface helps the units
- Large open roofs that suit wide rolls and fewer seams
Look at Another System
- Restaurant or food-plant roofs with heavy grease exhaust (PVC or KEE fits)
- Pitched metal buildings better served by panels
- Roofs crowded with odd penetrations where rubber bends more easily
- Decks that are rusted through and need replacing first
What a Frankfort TPO Roofing Contractor Checks First
Most TPO trouble starts at details, so these conditions get checked on every roof before the new sheet goes down.
Membrane Flutter at the Edges
- You See
- A sheet billowing near corners on windy days.
- What It Means
- Uplift peaks at perimeters, so corners need tighter fastener spacing or a fully adhered sheet.
Thin Flashing at Rooftop Units
- You See
- Membrane stopping short of the curb top or cut loosely at corners.
- What It Means
- Every curb needs its own welded flashing run up each side and capped under the flange.
Scuffed Paths to Units
- You See
- Worn, dirty tracks between the hatch and each unit.
- What It Means
- Service traffic wears the sheet. Walkway pads along the path protect the membrane.
Grease Near Kitchen Fans
- You See
- Dark, soft spots around exhaust fans.
- What It Means
- Animal fats attack many membranes. Grease boxes, sacrificial pads, or a PVC section handle that area.
TPO Roofing Attachment Methods in Frankfort
Mechanically attached vs fully adhered TPO is the main choice, set by the deck, wind exposure, and building use.
| Method | How It Holds | Fits | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanically attached | Screws and plates hidden in the seam laps | Steel decks and large open roofs | Flutter in high wind |
| Fully adhered | Bonding adhesive across the whole sheet | Wood or concrete decks, windy edges, odd shapes | Adhesive temperature limits in cold |
| Induction welded | Plates under the sheet heated through the membrane | Roofs needing fewer laps and a smooth look | Special equipment and plate spacing |
| Ballasted | Stone or pavers over a loose-laid sheet | Structures rated for the extra weight | Wind scour and harder leak access |
What Changes Under a Welded TPO Sheet
Owners usually come to TPO from a patched, ponding roof. Here is what changes when the new sheet goes on.
Before TPO
- Layered patches: sealant and tape stacked over seams on an older membrane.
- Dark, hot surface: rooftop units working hard on long July afternoons.
- Many narrow seams: small rolls with laps every few feet.
- Loose perimeter: edges lifting in wind at corners.
After TPO
- One welded sheet: laps fused into a single piece of plastic once they cool.
- Reflective white membrane: less heat soaking into the roof over cooled space.
- Wide rolls: fewer seams across a large warehouse roof.
- Fastened corners: tighter spacing where wind uplift peaks.
Rooftop Units Struggling Under a Dark Roof?
Call and tell us the roof size and what runs on it. We will walk it and explain where a white TPO sheet fits.
How TPO Roofing Goes On in Frankfort
The order of work keeps each section dry and each seam tested before the crew leaves.
Inspect Your Roof
Core cuts and moisture readings map wet insulation, and we note the deck type, drain heights, curb count, and parapet details.
Set Insulation and Cover Board
Polyiso boards, tapered where water ponds, go down with a cover board on top to shield the membrane from foot traffic and hail.
Weld Every Seam
An automatic hot-air welder fuses the laps. Test welds on scrap start each day, and every cooled seam gets probed for gaps.
Flash and Finish the Edges
Curbs, pipes, drains, and walls get welded flashing pieces, then edge metal and walkway pads go on before the final walk.
Other Membranes and Roof Types We Handle
Some roofs fit a neighboring system better than TPO. These pages explain when.
EPDM Roofing
Roofs crowded with pipes and vents, or already covered in rubber, often fit EPDM better than TPO.
EPDM Roofing in Frankfort
Flat Roofing
Ponding under any membrane gets fixed with tapered board and reset drains before the new sheet goes down.
Flat Roofing in Frankfort
Industrial Roofing
Plant roofs with grease or chemical exhaust need a membrane checked against the exhaust list.
Industrial Roofing in FrankfortTPO Questions From Frankfort Owners
Answers drawn from the questions owners ask before a TPO roof goes on.
How are TPO seams welded and tested?
An automatic hot-air welder melts the two sheets together along each lap, and a hand welder and roller handle curbs and corners. Crews run test welds on scrap each morning and after weather changes, peel samples to confirm the sheet tears before the weld, probe every seam once it cools, and weld a cover over any gap.
Mechanically attached vs fully adhered TPO: which fits?
Deck type, wind exposure, and building use decide it. Screws and plates in the laps suit steel decks and large open roofs. Bonding adhesive across the sheet suits wood or concrete decks, irregular roofs, and windy edges, with cold-weather adhesive limits to plan around. Corners and perimeters get tighter fastening either way.
60 mil vs 80 mil TPO for a commercial roof?
Thicker sheets resist foot traffic, hail, and long sun exposure better. In central Kentucky, 60 mil is a common middle choice for offices, retail, and warehouses, while 80 mil suits busy roofs with many units or hail exposure. A cover board under the sheet adds puncture resistance too.
How is TPO flashing done around rooftop units?
Each opening gets its own welded piece. Membrane runs up every curb side and caps under the unit flange or counterflashing, pipes get prefabricated boots with stainless clamps, drains get the sheet locked under the clamping ring, and parapets end under coping or a termination bar. Walkway pads protect the path to each unit.
Which buildings use TPO roofing?
Low-slope warehouses, offices, retail strips, schools, plants, and distribution buildings. Owners pick it for the white surface, welded seams, light weight over steel decks, and wide rolls. The Cool Roof Rating Council lists rated reflectance values, so a specific product can be checked before ordering.
Hire a Frankfort TPO Roofing Contractor
Send the roof size and deck type, or call. We will walk the roof and price a welded TPO system for it.