Best suited to
wide, open decks with few penetrations — retail boxes, warehouses, and the flat sections on apartment buildings.
TPO Roofing, at a glance
TPO is a white, heat-welded single-ply membrane and the most common commercial roof going on St. Louis buildings today. It reflects summer heat, its welded seams are stronger than the sheet itself, and it suits wide open decks like retail, warehouse and apartment low-slope sections. John Beal Roofing installs it with free inspections and manufacturer warranties. Call (314) 429-6000.
The Short Version
Whether This System Fits Your Building
Service life
20 to 30 years depending on membrane thickness and how the details were done.
What to watch
Seams. a hot-air weld done right outlasts the sheet; a weld done cold or dirty fails in a couple of seasons.
Installation
Where These Roofs Actually Fail
Membrane failures are almost never in the middle of the sheet. They start at the details — the curb flashing, the pipe boot, the wall termination, the drain.
That is why we spend the time on the parts nobody photographs. A field seam takes minutes; a properly rebuilt curb takes an afternoon and it is what decides whether the roof makes twenty years.
We also register the manufacturer warranty on your building, so the coverage exists in writing under your address rather than in a folder somewhere.
Related: TPO vs EPDM vs PVC compared
Common Questions
How long will this roof last in St. Louis?
20 to 30 years depending on membrane thickness and how the details were done. Our freeze-thaw cycles and summer heat are hard on any membrane, so the install details and a twice-yearly inspection matter as much as the material.
Can we recover over the existing roof instead of tearing off?
Sometimes. If the substrate is dry and the deck is sound, a recover saves real money. If a moisture scan shows wet insulation, tearing off is the only honest answer.
Do you install this system yourselves?
Yes. Our own crews do the work, and we hold manufacturer certifications for the systems we install, which is what makes the full system warranty available.
What does a repair on this system cost versus replacement?
A localized repair is a fraction of a replacement, and on a roof with remaining life it is the right call. We will tell you which one your roof is — with photos.
How disruptive is the installation?
Low-slope work happens on the roof, not inside the building. We coordinate hot work, odor and noise windows with the tenants or residents before we mobilize.
Free Roof Evaluation
Tell us about the building and a dispatcher will call to schedule.