Yeah, shade definitely helps. I've noticed even humidity can mess with weld consistency...had a job last summer where it wasn't crazy hot, but super muggy—welds kept acting weird. Sometimes it's just trial and error figuring out what works that day.
Totally agree about humidity messing things up. I've seen welders struggle on days that weren't even that hot, just sticky and damp. Seems like moisture in the air can really throw off the weld quality, making it either too brittle or not bonding properly. Had a roofing crew last year dealing with similar issues—ended up adjusting their weld temps slightly lower and slowing down their pace a bit. Took some experimenting, but eventually they found a sweet spot. Shade definitely helps, but sometimes it's just about tweaking your settings and technique to match the day's conditions. Always something new to learn with TPO...
Yeah, humidity's definitely a sneaky factor. I've noticed some of my guys struggle even on mild days if it's muggy out. We ended up tweaking the welder temp down a notch too, but also found that wiping the seams down beforehand helped a bit—seems like even a thin film of moisture can mess things up. Shade helps, but sometimes you're just stuck with the weather you've got. TPO keeps you humble, that's for sure...
Humidity definitely throws a wrench in things, especially with TPO. I've found that dialing down the welder temp slightly helps, but there's a fine line—too cool and you risk weak seams. Usually, I aim for around 950°F to 1050°F depending on conditions, but if it's really muggy, dropping closer to the lower end of that range can help avoid scorching or blistering.
One trick that's worked well for us is keeping a clean rag handy and wiping seams right before welding—like you mentioned, even a thin film of moisture can cause headaches. Also, if you're stuck working in direct sun, try welding earlier in the morning or later afternoon when the roof surface isn't blazing hot yet. Midday heat combined with humidity is just asking for trouble...
And yeah, TPO definitely keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you've got it figured out, weather throws another curveball your way. Keeps things interesting at least!
"Midday heat combined with humidity is just asking for trouble..."
Couldn't agree more. I've had days where the TPO felt like chewing gum underfoot by noon—definitely not ideal conditions. One thing we've tried is setting up a portable shade canopy over the work area when possible. Sounds like extra hassle, but it can make a noticeable difference in seam quality and worker comfort. Still, TPO welding always feels like part science, part art...and mostly luck on humid days.
