PVC roof systems have gotten a spotty history in northern climates, and they’re losing market share to TPO roof systems. TPO and PVC are white-colored single-ply roof systems which are both growing in popularity because of the belief that a reflective white roof works to aid the environment.

When TPO was first introduced to the roofing industry, it experienced the common developmental complications (quite a lot like PVC did). A PVC roofing system represents a slightly greater investment compared to a TPO roof. There is hesitancy from many roofing contractors and roof consultants from the Mid-west to jump on the TPO party bus.

TPO is extremely resistant to tears, impacts, and punctures with good flexibility to permit for building movement. TPO’s come in white, light gray, and black with thicknesses of either 45 or 60 mils. The width of the membrane varies on who manufactures it but they start with widths of just under seven feet and 100 feet in length.

Membrane formulation contains no plasticizers or chlorine then it will not dry out or become brittle with each passing year. TPO membrane, reinforced and non-reinforced, is Completely recyclable during the production process. Single ply PVC membrane is comparable in appearance to TPO.

The TPO roof method is the fastest growing roof system in the US. White TPO roof systems often have a prominent future inside the roofing industry, specifically in the southern states. Aside on the material quality, there is certainly still one major consideration: Any roofing technique is only as good as the roofer that installs it.

TPO is very resistant against tears, impacts, and punctures together with decent flexibility to allow for for building motion. TPO’s can be purchased in white, light gray, and black with thicknesses of either 45 mils (.045″) or 60 mils (.060″). The width from the membrane depends on the software creator but they usually appear in widths of six to six-and-a-half feet and so are one-hundred feet in length.

Fully-adhered signifies that the roof is “glued” towards substrate using a exclusive adhesive. What truly happens could be the glue creates a chemical bond while using membrane. Mechanically-attached membranes are the ones that use some type of special screw-type fastener to secure it. Any type of fastener will depend on the substrate but all fasteners are often screw-type fasteners.

TPO is cheaper than PVC, seems a lot more rigid likewise. TPO membranes generally forgo the cost of using “fiber” as an internal puncture barrier for using mass or thickness to deliver the illusion of durability.

Icicles indicate that heat is escaping and melting on the upper part of the roof, which can flow down pool behind the dam created at the edge of the roof. It can then back up under shingles and cause leaks.

Homeowners in Central and Upstate New York are calling roofing companies in order to the snow from atop their roofs.
Roofing contractors are overwhelmed with calls requesting snow removal.

On Thursday, on the tail end of your days-long snow storm that lead to record-breaking amounts of snow.

The snow leads to ice dams. A dam of ice and snow builds on the edge of the cover allowing the melted snow above to Create a dam. In addition large icicles can form that will create a hazard after they break off and fall below.

It’s also possible to remove snow with the roof with each of your feet on the ground. A roof rake might get the job done. You will still find some available at home improvement stores in the area, but supplies tend to sell fast after a big snow storm.

Often times a consumer will rely on a BBB report only to get rip-offed by an unscrupulous contractors. The report can allow them to drop their guard about the best roofing contractor to select.

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Roofing Sales Decline 12% for Owens Corning

Owens Corning is reporting a 12% decline in third quarter profit. OC states that this is due to a weakened demand for roofing products.

In a story published by RTT News Owens Corning also expects  demand to be soft for the rest of the year.

RTT also says that Ownes Corning expected sales for the year to be 450 million in August but now expect sales to be in the 360 to 390. That’s a pretty steep drop in expectations only two months later.

Owens Corning is the second largest roofing materials manufacturer after GAF

Glass Tiles

SolTech energy has announced a line of glass roofing tiles designed as a passive solar energy collector. Its shape is similar to a traditional barrel tile and the installation is essentially the same. SolTech claims the price is just a bit more than clay tor cement tile. It is also thought to last longer.

They refer to the underlayment as absorption fabric as this is doubles as a kind of heat sink. It is made from nylon and coated with a waterproofing material.

The battens are manufactured with openings built in to allow air to circulate or more specifically to form a column of air that moves up the roof to the peak.

The system is designed to work with a heat exchanger to convert the hot air from the roof to hot liquid. This liquid is then used with ground source heat pumps.
It looks like photovoltaic panels could be placed underneath the glass tiles to allow this system to be used to generate electricity. One of the principle problems with solar roof applications is the likelihood that the roofing material won’t last as long as the roof. An application using both would eliminate that.

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06/2010 (HP 2905 new GDA)

This plant closing follows layoffs in two other TAMKO plants in Frederick Maryland and Phillipsburg, Philadelphia this month.

More about TAMKO layoffs here.

They have laid off over two hundred workers in their Frederick Maryland facility.

In a story by Ed Waters Jr. in the Frederick News Post, Ron Cooke, Director of Communications for TAMKO said, “There has been a dramatic and unprecedented drop in demand for shingles over the last three to five months, with no rebound in sight.” He also goes on to say that demand has dropped for shingles over 40% from five years ago.

Cooke was also quoted as saying that there is “no rebound in sight”. I suspect the drop in sales has more to do with the widespread storm damage over the last seven years than the weak economy. TAMKO shingles seem to be extremely popular among storm chasers.

My guess is that TAMKO’s shingle sales are going to drop and fall based on storm activity.

TAMKO also laid off 32 workers in their Phillipsburg, PA plant.

TAMKO Building Products manufactures residential and commercial roofing products, waterproofing products, railing and decking systems, driveway products, and roofing cements and coatings. It also owns plastic composite decking maker Epoch Composite Products. The company’s distribution network operates throughout the US and TAMKO has nearly 30 facilities around the country. Founded in 1944 by E.L. Craig, TAMKO is controlled by his family. The name TAMKO is derived from Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma; the states Craig believed would be his company’s initial territory.