EPDM/TPO Rubber | Ash Kelly's Roofing

EPDM and TPO rubber roofing are excellent options for flat or low-slope roofs. They are lightweight and easy to install.

TPO stands for thermoplastic polyolefin. It is a white, reflective, single-ply rubber membrane material that was developed in the 1990s that is heat and mold resistant.

EPDM is a single-ply rubber roofing membrane that is typically dark coloured and has a longer life — 30 to 40 years for EPDM versus 20 to 30 years for TPO. EPDM stands for the substances from which it is made: ethylene, propylene, and diene monomers.

Which to choose?

EPDM is more sensitive to chemicals than is TPO. TPO roofing can handle petroleum, oil, and grease, whereas EPDM can be seriously damaged by such things.

EPDM is very clean, allowing run-off rainwater to be used for cleaning and bathing. EPDM is also highly UV resistant.

EPDM is dark and can get very hot in the summer, whereas light-coloured TPO roofing will stay cool.

Depending on the building, TPO can be less expensive to install than EPDM.

TPO is better-looking than EPDM roofing. On a flat roof this won't be a concern, but on a low-sloped roof you might care about the look.

TPO tends to shrink over time, so it can leave areas exposed to water.

EPDM handles extremely high and low temperatures quite well. TPO also does well with temperature extremes, but overall EPDM is the more weather-resistant of the two.