Haha, welding TPO at noon in summer...been there, done that, regretted it immediately. You're spot on about shade making a bigger difference than airflow tweaks. Ever tried the ol' "wet towel trick"? Lay a damp towel down for a minute or two before welding—sounds goofy, but it can help cool things just enough to get cleaner welds. But yeah, nothing beats working early or late...unless you enjoy frying eggs on your membrane?
Haha, the wet towel trick...doesn't sound goofy at all, actually makes sense. Ever notice if humidity affects how well it works? I've found that even a little moisture in the air can change things up. But yeah, early mornings are the sweet spot—beats feeling like you're welding on a skillet. Props for sticking it out though, midday TPO welding is no joke.
I've actually found humidity can sometimes help a bit—sounds weird, I know, but a touch of moisture seems to keep the membrane from overheating too quickly. Of course, too much humidity and you're dealing with condensation issues, which is a whole other headache. Early mornings are definitely easier, but I've managed some decent welds midday by dialing down the heat slightly and moving a bit faster. Not ideal, but doable if you're careful.
Humidity helping with TPO welding? Hmm, that's a new one for me. Usually, from what I've seen inspecting roofs over the years, moisture tends to cause more trouble than it's worth—especially if you're not careful. Sure, a little humidity might slow down overheating slightly, but the risk of condensation and trapped moisture underneath is something I'd personally avoid. I've seen too many roofs fail prematurely because of hidden moisture issues.
I agree mornings are definitely your friend here. If midday welding is unavoidable, dialing down the heat and moving quicker makes sense, but I'd still be cautious. I've inspected roofs where guys tried to rush through hot afternoons, and you can almost always spot the seams that were welded under less-than-ideal conditions. Not saying it can't be done—just that it's usually pretty obvious when corners get cut.
Bottom line: if you can schedule around the heat, do it. Your roof (and your inspector) will thank you later...
"I've inspected roofs where guys tried to rush through hot afternoons, and you can almost always spot the seams that were welded under less-than-ideal conditions."
Haha, absolutely spot-on. I've lost count of how many times I've climbed up there and immediately thought, "Ah, someone was racing the clock here..." But yeah, humidity as a helper is definitely a new twist for me too. Still, it's always good to hear fresh ideas—even if they do raise an eyebrow or two.
