Big Green: White TPO vs EPDM and paint

[Green Hornet]

There are TPO roofing membrane installations in the US back to the  
early 1990's.... so 17+/- years so far.
I believe Stevens Roofing (http://www.stevensroofing.com/) was  the  
first, with Carlisle and Firestone jumping onboard by manufacturing  
TPO between 1999 and 2001.  There are 6 US manufacturers today.
It is the fastest growing membrane on the market.

You can get 30 year warranties from everyone on both EDPM and TPO....  
I do not believe that includes the white topcoat on EPDM.

I have long recommended ballasted loose-laid TPO for single-ply  
membrane.... for reflectance use white quartzite gravel with a  
protection board layer.
If one must expose the membrane then mechanically fastened allows for  
more material recycling capability.
When designing for high reflectance be sure to take glare into  
consideration... and an annual wash-down maintenance/inspection.

Also when considering costing high reflectance, don't forget to  
include into the payback that by reducing the cooling load the size  
of the cooling plant is now smaller along with duct size, etc.

Jonathan M. Miller, architect
FCSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP, AIA, NCARB, AAA
Specification Consultant

JMMa Specs
P.O. Box 253
Middlebury, VT  05753
Tel:          802.349.9992
jmilleraia at earthlink.net


On May 5, 2008, at 10:27 AM, Dean Sherwin wrote:

> Are you looking for a cost study or a study of reflective performance?
>
> The comparative cost is going to depend on the labor rates at the  
> location in question.
> In general, anything that has to be re-done every few years is not  
> going to be as efficient, as regards cost and resources.  High  
> labor rates will exacerbate this.
> More roofing-experienced people correct me, but I do not think we  
> yet know the comparitive longevity of  TPO, which is fairly new as  
> a popular roof, as compared to EPDM .  Given the underlying polymer  
> technology my gut feeling is still that it is not going to be as  
> long lasting.
>
> Dean Sherwin CPE
> Certified Professional Estimator
> LEED Accredited Professional
> CONSTRUCTION COST MANAGEMENT
> 3, Cherry Street
> PO Box 11
> Media, PA 19063-0011
>
> At 08:49 AM 5/5/2008, John E. Beeson wrote:
>
>> Is anyone aware of any cost studies that compares the reflective
>> performance over time of white TPO to EPDM with reflecting paint
>> (understanding that the paint has to be reapplied every few years or
>> so).
>>
>>
>> QUINN EVANS | ARCHITECTS
>> John E. Beeson, LEED AP
>> d 734 926 0425
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> _______________________________________________________________
> This green building dialogue is provided as a public service
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