"EPDM is generally cheaper initially since it's easier to install (glued seams, as mentioned earlier), but those seams can become problematic over time..."
Yeah, I learned this the hard way. Went with EPDM on my small commercial building because the upfront savings looked appealing. But after about five years, those glued seams started giving me trouble—leaks popping up here and there. Ended up spending more on patching and repairs than I would've liked. If I had to do it again, I'd probably bite the bullet and go TPO for peace of mind alone.
Had a similar experience inspecting a commercial property last year. Owner went with EPDM to save upfront, and sure enough, seams started failing around year four. Not just leaks either—noticed some shrinkage pulling the membrane away from edges. TPO might cost more initially, but from what I've seen, fewer headaches down the road. Sometimes paying a bit extra upfront saves you from chasing leaks every rainy season...
Had a similar issue with EPDM on our small business building a few years back. At the time, we were really tight on funds and went with EPDM because the upfront savings seemed worth it. But around year three or four, started noticing similar problems—especially seams coming apart and some shrinkage near the edges. Honestly, it was pretty frustrating because each rainy season became this stressful guessing game: "Where's the leak gonna show up this time?"
Ended up having to patch things repeatedly, and those little fixes added up quicker than I expected. Got me wondering, would paying more upfront for TPO have actually saved us money in the long run? I mean, how much extra does TPO typically cost initially compared to EPDM? And is it really that much better at resisting shrinkage and seam issues?
Also curious about the fire safety aspect mentioned in the original topic—does TPO actually offer significant fire resistance advantages over EPDM? Never really thought about that angle before, but now I'm wondering if that's another reason to justify the higher upfront cost.
Anyway, after dealing with all those headaches, I'd definitely lean toward spending a bit more upfront next time if it means fewer surprises down the road. Sometimes trying to save money ends up costing more in the long haul...
Went through something similar on my garage roof a while back. Initially went with EPDM because, well, the price was right (or so I thought). But man, the shrinkage and seam issues were a real pain after just a few years. Ended up patching it more times than I care to admit, and each fix felt like just kicking the can down the road.
When I finally got fed up, I switched to TPO. Yeah, upfront cost was noticeably higher—maybe 20-30% more in my case—but honestly, it's been worth every penny. The seams are heat-welded, so they're way tougher than EPDM's glued seams, and shrinkage hasn't been an issue at all. Plus, the lighter color seems to help keep things cooler inside during summer.
As for fire safety, TPO does generally have better fire resistance ratings. Not that I'm planning any rooftop BBQs anytime soon, but knowing it's safer is definitely reassuring. Bottom line, from my experience, paying a bit extra upfront beats the endless cycle of patching leaks and worrying every time it rains.
"Ended up patching it more times than I care to admit, and each fix felt like just kicking the can down the road."
Yeah, been there myself—patching leaks endlessly gets old fast. Curious though, have you noticed any downsides with TPO yet, like brittleness over time or issues during colder weather?
