"I've noticed hotter days definitely make the welds feel a bit 'stickier,' but honestly, proper prep seems to matter way more."
You're definitely right about prep being crucial—no argument there. But I do think temperature plays a bigger role than some might realize, especially when you're dealing with extreme heat. I've had roofers out welding TPO when temps hit mid-90s or higher, and even with meticulous cleaning and consistent pressure, we ran into some issues.
Here's what I've noticed happening in really hot conditions: the membrane can become overly soft, making it tricky to maintain consistent weld depth. You might find yourself adjusting your welder speed more frequently or having to tweak your heat settings constantly. It's not impossible to get good seams in high temps, but it can be a bit of a balancing act.
One thing we've tried that's helped is scheduling welding earlier in the morning or later afternoon when it's still warm but not scorching. Even just dropping from 95°F down into the mid-80s made a noticeable difference for our crews—the welds felt cleaner and easier to manage.
Also, if you have no choice but to work during peak heat hours, consider giving your equipment frequent short breaks. Letting the welder cool off periodically can help maintain more consistent temperatures at the nozzle tip and reduce stickiness.
Anyway, just wanted to throw that perspective out there—prep is king for sure, but don't underestimate how much extreme heat can complicate things...
Interesting points about the membrane softening up in extreme heat. I've never welded TPO myself, but I've inspected plenty of roofs after installation, and I've definitely noticed more seam inconsistencies on jobs done during heat waves. Makes me wonder—could humidity also be playing a role here? I remember one inspection last summer where the crew had welded in high heat and humidity, and the seams looked a bit uneven and messy, even though the prep seemed solid.
Has anyone else noticed humidity affecting weld quality, or is it mostly just temperature? Curious if there's a tipping point where conditions become too challenging, regardless of prep...
I've never welded TPO myself either, but humidity definitely messes with other outdoor projects I've tackled. Last summer, I tried sealing my deck on a muggy day—total disaster. Wouldn't surprise me if humidity throws off roofing welds too...
- Humidity can definitely mess things up, but TPO welding's mostly about temp control and clean surfaces.
- Seen roofers weld fine even on muggy days...but yeah, sealing decks is a whole different beast.
- Don't beat yourself up—deck sealants are notoriously picky.
Yeah, humidity's tricky but manageable. I remember helping a buddy weld TPO on a rooftop garden project last summer—temps were pushing mid-90s and the surface was scorching hot. We had to dial back the heat gun settings way more than usual to avoid melting through. Makes me wonder, anyone ever had issues with overheating TPO on darker-colored membranes? Seems like those could get dicey real quick...
