- Totally agree about the temp range—900°F-1000°F is usually my sweet spot too.
- One thing I've noticed: humidity levels can really throw things off. On damp days, even at the right temp, seams sometimes don't bond as cleanly.
- Also, membrane color matters. White membranes reflect heat differently than darker ones, so I sometimes tweak the temp slightly lower for white TPO to avoid scorching.
- Learned the hard way myself that rushing with higher temps just leads to callbacks and headaches later. Better to slow down a bit and get it right the first time.
- Quick tip: I keep a scrap piece handy to test welds before hitting the actual roof—saves me from guessing and prevents costly mistakes.
Humidity definitely plays a bigger role than most people realize. I've had days where the temp was dialed in perfectly, but the welds still came out sketchy because of moisture in the air. One thing that's helped me is wiping down seams with a dry rag right before welding—sounds basic, but it makes a noticeable difference. And yeah, testing on scrap first is a lifesaver... learned that lesson after scorching a white membrane once. Not fun explaining that to the client.
Good call on wiping the seams down—I never thought humidity would make that big of a difference, but it makes sense. I've had similar issues with other projects around the house, like painting or sealing wood. Moisture in the air can really mess things up even when everything else seems spot-on. Testing scraps first is smart too... learned that the hard way myself after ruining some expensive flooring. Definitely better to waste a little scrap than explain a costly mistake to someone else.
Definitely agree about humidity causing headaches—been there, done that. Another thing to watch out for is wind. Even a slight breeze can mess with your welding temps and consistency... learned that the hard way after chasing seams around a rooftop all afternoon.
Yeah, wind is sneaky like that... been there myself wrestling seams on a breezy day. But speaking of things messing with welding temps, what about direct sunlight? Ever notice a difference between welding TPO in full sun versus shade? I've had days where the surface temp was so high I felt like I was cooking breakfast instead of roofing. Curious if anyone's found a sweet spot or tricks to handle that heat without frying the membrane.
