The primary difference is that tpo has been on the market for only about 20 years and has a history of material failures recalls and formula updates while pvc has enjoyed a solid reputation in the roofing industry for over 30 years.
How to tell the difference between tpo and pvc roofing.
When being attached to the roof material it is either nailed or glued on.
Peak roofing construction explains in this blog post the difference between tpo and pvc materials when it comes to commercial roofs.
It is typically white in color and has a rubbery feel.
Tpo is thin compared to other membranes usually around 1 1 2 millimeters in thickness.
Similarities of tpo and pvc roofing membranes.
It instantly became very popular as it was economical and cost efficient.
Polyvinyl chloride pvc used since the 1960s pvc membranes are popular for their easy installation and cheap cost.
Tpo is the most popular rv roofing material today because of two reasons it is cheap and it is already colored white.
Tpo which is short for thermoplastic polyolefin came into the roofing market in the early 1990s as a viable alternative to pvc roofing materials.
Two of the hardest flat roof systems to tell apart is the pvc roof and the tpo roof both are white heat welded systems that look virtually identical.