I’ve had crews try to push through those hot afternoons, but we always end up with more issues—wrinkling, bad seams, you name it. I’m with you on waiting it out when possible. Those temp strips are a small price for peace of mind.
Yeah, pushing through the heat just never worked out for me either. I remember one summer, we tried to finish a section before a storm rolled in—ended up with bubbles and seams that looked like a kid did ‘em. Now I just keep an eye on the temp strips and if it’s pushing 110°F on the surface, I call it. Sometimes you lose a few hours, but it saves a ton of headaches later. I also noticed the welds just don’t hold as well when the membrane’s too hot... almost like it gets gummy instead of bonding right.
I’ve noticed the same thing with TPO—when the surface temp gets up there, it’s like the membrane just doesn’t react right to the heat welder. I’ve read some specs say not to weld above 120°F surface temp, but honestly, even at 110°F, I start seeing issues. Sometimes I’ll try shading off a section or working super early, but if it’s baking out, it’s just not worth it. The seams always seem weaker and more prone to peeling later.
That’s been my experience too—once it gets up over 100°F, things just get weird with TPO. I tried patching a spot last summer when the roof was baking and the welds looked fine at first, but a couple months later, the seam started curling. Working early in the morning helped a bit, but sometimes it just isn’t worth fighting the heat. Sounds like you’re not alone dealing with this.
Yeah, I’ve seen the same thing happen—those hot afternoons can really mess with TPO welds. One time, we tried pushing through a 105° day because the job was behind schedule. The seams looked solid, but a couple weeks later, we had to go back and redo a section where the membrane had shrunk and pulled apart. I’ve found that anything over 95°, especially with direct sun, just isn’t worth the risk. Early mornings or cloudy days are way less stressful. Sometimes you just have to call it and wait for better weather...
