Interesting points here, but honestly, as someone who's just starting to get into this stuff, I'm a little skeptical about the humidity thing. From what I've read and seen, moisture usually makes things trickier, especially when you're aiming for a clean weld. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but wouldn't humidity make it harder to achieve consistent heat on the TPO surface?
Also, about working in the heat—I've noticed that some roofing pros prefer early mornings or late afternoons specifically to avoid the hottest part of the day. It seems logical that extreme heat could actually cause more issues, like overheating the membrane or making it harder to control the weld speed. I get that sometimes schedules get tight, but wouldn't it be better to plan around the hottest hours rather than pushing through and risking a sloppy job?
Again, I'm new to this, so maybe I'm missing some nuance here... but from a homeowner's perspective, I'd rather see a crew take their time and work comfortably than rush through and leave me with questionable seams.
"Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but wouldn't humidity make it harder to achieve consistent heat on the TPO surface?"
Fair point, but humidity isn't always the enemy here. A bit counterintuitive, I know, but slight moisture can actually help prevent overheating and scorching of the membrane—especially if you're dealing with intense sun exposure. I've seen crews struggle more on bone-dry, blazing hot days because the membrane heats unevenly and welds get tricky fast.
As for timing, yeah, early mornings or late afternoons are ideal comfort-wise, but sometimes the membrane itself welds better when it's already warmed up a bit. Cold TPO can be stiff and harder to handle, making seams less consistent. It's a balancing act—too hot and you risk sloppy welds, too cool and the material fights you. Personally, I'd rather see a crew adjust their technique and pace to conditions rather than strictly avoiding midday heat. Just my two cents...
Totally agree with this. I've noticed our roofing guys actually prefer a bit of humidity over those scorching dry days. Last summer, we had a stretch of super dry heat, and the welds were all over the place—had to redo a few sections, which was a pain. A little moisture seems to help even things out somehow. Weird, right? Guess it's one of those roofing mysteries nobody warns you about...
Interesting observation, but from my experience, humidity can sometimes be a double-edged sword. Last spring, we had a humid spell and noticed more dirt and contaminants sticking to the membrane before welding—ended up causing some weak seams down the line. I think the sweet spot is more about temperature control and prep than humidity itself...though roofing always seems to have exceptions that keep us guessing, doesn't it?
"roofing always seems to have exceptions that keep us guessing, doesn't it?"
Haha, ain't that the truth... I've found if you keep your membrane clean and dry beforehand, even higher temps can work fine. Usually I aim for around 650°F, but adjust slightly depending on conditions—just gotta watch closely for scorching or shiny spots.
