Is TPO or Duro-Last a better roofing system? Duro-Last is the better roofing system yet will be more expensive. In this blog post, we are going to break it all down for you from a contractor’s perspective that installs and repairs both roofing systems.
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Material Differences
Duro-Last and TPO almost look identical both being white single-ply membranes. If you dive deeper into the material, what really sets them apart is their chemical compound.
Is TPO or Duro-Last a better Material? Duro-Last develops a higher quality material with a better chemical compound making them the better material. Their material is more expensive, and it really shows when we compare material vs. material.
Duro-Last Material Breakdown
Duro-Last is composed of PVC film laminated to both sides of a reinforcement fabric (weft-inserted scrim).
PVC Film: Proprietary thermoplastic PVC
formulation of resins, plasticizers, stabilizers,
biocides, flame retardants, and U.V. absorbents
Weft-Inserted Scrim: An 18 x 14 polyester fabric construction with weft insertion, composed of 840 x1000 denier threads, provides superior tear and puncture resistance. The polyester thread is treated to prevent wicking.
Duro-Last itself is a type of PVC roofing system and a Brand. Duro-Last carries manufacturing plants all over the United States and the closest one to Houston is located in Dallas.
In order to install a Duro-Last roofing system, you need to directly place an order through their company. This means you have to be certified through them and have an account with them.
Each Duro-Last system is custom fabricated for your roof which is why they can’t sell them at roofing supply stores.
TPO Material Breakdown
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefins) compounds are resin blends of polypropylene and un-crosslinked EPDM rubber and polyethylene
TPO is not a brand it is a type of material. There are different brands that create TPO membranes such as:
TPO material can be ordered from your local supplier because they are purchased in rolls. If you are here in Houston, you are able to find most brands at ABC Supply or Commercial Distribution Specialists.
How is each material installed?
Duro-Last & TPO are similarly installed most commonly using these methods:
Mechanically Attached
Fully Adhered
Both roofing systems utilize the same roofing accessories and similar Insulation types (Fan-Fold 1/2″ and Polyiso).
The biggest difference between the two is the way they come. TPO is a rolled good that comes in either 6′ x 100′ or 10′ x 100′ while Duro-Last is a prefabricated membrane made specific to the dimensions of your roof that just gets unfolded at the jobsite.
Due to Duro-Last being prefabricated, there are less seams to weld meaning there is a less likelihood for a leak happening in the seams.
When you are installing TPO you need to have a 6″ overlap between the rolls to go ahead and weld the seams. You have more seams to weld when installing TPO and more of a potential for possible leaks in the future.
That doesn’t mean TPO is hard material to install. It just means that TPO is harder to install when compared to Duro-Last.
Does Duro-Last or TPO cost more?
Duro-Last: They require you to order through the Duro-Last portal and use only Duro-Last accessories. The material itself is more expensive versus TPO membranes. Since you have to order the material to get it prefabricated there is a wait time and more delivery costs fees.
TPO: It is usually readily available at your local roofing supply and the material itself is less. Making it the more affordable option!
WARNING FOR OUR BUSINESS OWNERS
Both materials are great and if they were both installed correctly the Duro-Last system will give you several years more than a TPO system.
Issues come from the material not being INSTALLED CORRECTLY not from the material itself!
Find a great roofing company that can show you their past jobs and explain to you the breakdown of how they are going to install everything, but most importantly the warranty they are offering as a company not just material warranty.
