Our winters are pretty bad here in New England, and harsh winters are hard on commercial roofs. At Chaffee Roofing, we receive a lot of client questions regarding the best roofs for harsh winters. What are the longest-lasting commercial roofing materials? What roofing will survive cold, wet, and heavy snow weather? My roof is cracking; what should I do?
At Chaffee Roofing, we receive many of these queries after the winter, when the damage is visible, and clients need a change.
For those of you choosing a commercial roof for the harsh New England winters, we have a few suggestions. Our thermoplastic roof membranes, TPO, offer value and quality through the long life of the roof. EPDM provides the same benefits, along with years of already proven service.
Any roofing project has pros and cons. If you are aware of them before choosing your commercial roof, you are on the way to making an excellent choice. Let’s take a closer look at the options and see which roofing material suits your commercial premises.
TPO ticks all the boxes
It may be the new kid on the block, but TPO is proving itself as a very worthy roofing membrane. At Chaffee, we complete a lot of TPO roofing installs, with very happy clients. A few benefits of TPO as a roof for the harsh winters include:
- It Does Not Shrink
- Cold weather causes materials to contract. A few months of freezing weather can damage joins, welds, and seams. As TPO will not shrink, you can rest assured that it will stay in place.
- TPO Will Not Crack or Shatter
- A problem with constant, below-freezing temperatures, is the cracking and shattering of some roofs. TPO stays as reliable as the day Chaffee Roofing installed it. There will not be any more leaks or splits when the worst of the winter arrives, with TPO.
- Resistance To Chemical Spills
- It’s not a harsh weather problem, but if your roof outlets leak grease, you will not want the roofing membrane to deteriorate from the droppings. The design of TPO is resistant to grease. Make sure you have grease guards installed and they are regularly maintained to maximize the life of your roof.
EPDM for Ease of installation and durability
EPDM is similar to TPO because it is flexible and can survive harsh winters. It also does not shrink or shatter like PVC membranes. The downside of EPDM is that harsh winters can impact an EPDM roof system installation, where adhesives and primers have strict temperature requirements.
Where EPDM can surpass TPO is in durability. EPDM is basically rubber, like the tires on your car, so It can survive all of the elements. While not as resistant to oils and greases, EPDM can take a beating. This is one of the many reasons why some manufacturers, such as Carlisle, are offering puncture-resistant warranties on reinforced membranes.
PVC Membrane only if properly designed
PVC can be the worst membrane for cold temperatures if it is not properly designed by a reputable manufacturer. PVC roof systems are known for having problems due to plasticizer migration. The plasticizers that help keep the PVC membrane flexible will leach out of the membrane, making it very prone to cracks, shatters, and shrinking.
As a result, talk to your contractor or PVC manufacturer about their PVC formulation and what they have done to prevent plasticizer migration. Some PVC manufacturers use KEE instead of plasticizers, which prevents plasticizer migration. These roof systems are known to have the benefits of PVC, which include puncture resistance, durability, and strong chemical/oil resistance, without the downsides of PVC, which are cracking, shrinking, and shattering. If you decide to install PVC on your roof system, make sure you do your homework!
Call Chaffee Roofing
We believe in helping our clients make the best decisions when choosing their commercial roofs. Our experience can guide you in choosing the longest-lasting roofs for our harsh winters. Call us today and let Chaffee Roofing help you.