Haha, sounds familiar. Went through the whole TPO vs EPDM debate myself a couple years ago. Ended up going EPDM—my wallet cried a little at first, but no regrets yet. Totally agree though:
"definitely don't skimp on TPO quality if you go that route."
Lesson learned!
Went through a similar decision-making process myself a while back—ended up choosing TPO, but only after extensive research into fire ratings and longevity. EPDM definitely has its strengths, especially in terms of durability and proven track record. Honestly, your wallet might've cried initially, but peace of mind is worth a lot more in the long run. Good call on emphasizing quality either way...cutting corners rarely pays off when it comes to roofing.
- Good choice going with TPO, man.
- EPDM's solid, but fire rating's no joke—better safe than sorry.
- Might sting the wallet now, but you'll sleep easier down the road.
- Quality always beats shortcuts... learned that the hard way myself.
TPO's definitely solid, but honestly, EPDM isn't exactly a ticking firebomb either. I mean, sure, the fire rating matters, but unless you're grilling burgers on your roof every weekend (which, hey, no judgment here...), EPDM might still be a decent choice. My uncle's shop has had EPDM for years—no issues yet. Sometimes the extra cash doesn't always equal extra peace of mind... just emptier pockets.
"Sometimes the extra cash doesn't always equal extra peace of mind... just emptier pockets."
Fair point, but I'd argue peace of mind isn't always about immediate issues. Sure, EPDM isn't spontaneously combusting everywhere—I've seen plenty of EPDM roofs holding up fine myself—but when it comes to commercial properties, aren't there other factors at play too? I mean, insurance companies can be picky as hell, and fire ratings might affect premiums or even liability down the road. My boss recently dealt with an insurance rep who flat-out said they'd lower rates if we switched from EPDM to TPO on a big warehouse project. So yeah, upfront cost matters, but maybe paying a bit more now saves bigger headaches later on. Anyone here had similar run-ins with insurance or code compliance pushing them one way or the other?
