Flat and low-slope roofs are the standard for commercial buildings, and they require specialized materials and expertise that differ significantly from residential roofing. TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) has become one of the most popular commercial roofing membranes for good reason: it’s durable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective.
Martin Exteriors installs and replaces TPO and flat roofs on commercial buildings throughout Rockford, Roscoe, and Northern Illinois.
What Is TPO Roofing?
TPO is a single-ply roofing membrane made from a blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber. It’s heat-welded at the seams, creating a watertight bond that outperforms many other flat roofing systems. Key advantages include:
- Energy efficiency: TPO’s white surface reflects sunlight, which can help keep cooling bills down in summer.
- Durability: Resistant to UV radiation, ozone, chemical exposure, and punctures.
- Cost-effective: Lower material and installation costs compared to PVC and EPDM in many applications.
- Flexible installation: Can be mechanically attached, fully adhered, or ballasted depending on your building’s needs.
- Environmentally friendly: 100% recyclable at end of life.
TPO and Flat Roof Services
New TPO Installation
Whether you’re building new or replacing an aging flat roof, our crews install TPO membrane systems to manufacturer specifications with heat-welded seams for maximum watertight performance.
A typical TPO replacement starts with a moisture check of the existing roof. Wet insulation gets removed, new insulation board goes down, and the membrane is mechanically fastened or fully adhered depending on the deck and wind exposure. Every seam is hot-air welded and probed, and we flash all curbs, walls, and drains before the final walkthrough. Planning a budget? Here is what drives commercial roofing cost per square foot.
Repairs and Maintenance
Already have a TPO or EPDM roof that’s leaking or due for a check? Our commercial roof repair and maintenance page covers emergency leak calls, seam and flashing repairs, and scheduled maintenance plans.
Maintenance comes in three tiers, from drain and gutter cleanouts with a written report up to all maintenance repairs and a moisture survey. Compare the maintenance tiers.
Roof Coatings
If your membrane still has life left, a reflective coating may be a better fit than a tear-off. We’ll tell you honestly which way makes sense after we check for wet insulation.
Beyond TPO: Other Flat Roofing Options
While TPO is our most-requested commercial membrane, we also work with:
- EPDM (rubber roofing): A proven, budget-friendly option for many commercial applications.
- Modified bitumen: Multi-layer systems that offer excellent waterproofing and durability.
- PVC membrane: Similar to TPO with added chemical resistance, ideal for restaurants and buildings with rooftop grease exhaust.
TPO, EPDM and PVC are all single-ply membranes, so none of them needs torches or hot asphalt to install.
We’ll recommend the right system based on your building, budget, and performance requirements.
Signs It Is Time for a New Flat Roof
A flat roof usually tells you when it is wearing out. Signs that can point to a replacement:
- Water that still sits on the roof long after the rain stops
- Blisters, bubbles or soft spots underfoot
- Seams that are opening, or a membrane that is shrinking and pulling at the edges
- Repeat leaks in the same area after earlier repairs
- Wet insulation found during a moisture check
One leak does not always mean a new roof. For a single problem area, start with commercial roof repair.
How We Choose the Right Membrane
There is no single best flat roof for every building. These are the questions that decide it:
- Foot traffic and rooftop equipment. A roof that gets walked on for service calls needs a membrane and layout that can take it.
- What comes out of the building. Grease or chemical exhaust can point toward PVC.
- Drainage. How water moves to the drains, scuppers or edges today, and where it sits.
- The deck. Steel, wood and concrete decks change how the new roof is attached.
- Surface color. Whether the building benefits from a white reflective surface.
How We Find Hidden Moisture
Wet insulation under the membrane often decides whether a flat roof needs a repair, a recover or a tear off, and you usually can’t see it from the surface. To find it, we use a Teledyne FLIR i64 thermal camera and a Tramex Roofing Inspector Kit. The FLIR i64 takes 640 × 480 thermal images, and that finer detail makes small temperature differences across the roof easier to see. Wet insulation holds heat differently than dry insulation, so those differences show us where to look closer. The Tramex kit then checks those spots for moisture without cutting into the roof, down to about 4 inches.
Your report includes the thermal images, photos and moisture readings, so you can see what we found. If storm damage is involved, that documentation helps you with your insurance claim. A thermal image can’t show hail hits on its own, so we still check storm damage by hand and photograph it up close.
Mule-Hide Certified, Warranty Eligible Contractor
Martin Exteriors is Mule-Hide certified as a Warranty Eligible Contractor for EPDM and heat-welded TPO and PVC roof systems. Mule-Hide reviews a contractor’s work and training before granting eligibility, and only eligible contractors can register Mule-Hide system warranties on commercial roofs. That means your flat or low slope roof can be backed by both our workmanship and Mule-Hide’s system warranty.
Mule-Hide Warranty Eligible Contractor for EPDM, TPO and PVC
EPDM
A rubber membrane for low slope roofs. Mule-Hide says EPDM resists hail, UV rays, ozone, extreme temperatures and foot traffic.
Source: mulehide.comTPO
A white reflective membrane. Mule-Hide says TPO protects against UV rays, extreme temperatures, rain, snow and fire, and helps lower rooftop and indoor temperatures.
Source: mulehide.comPVC
Mule-Hide calls PVC the toughest single ply option, resistant to punctures, fire and UV rays, and a top choice where a roof is exposed to grease, oil or chemicals.
Source: mulehide.comMule-Hide system warranties are available on the commercial roofs we install, once Mule-Hide approves the warranty application. Call (815) 624-6278 to talk through your roof.
Our certifications
Warranty Eligible Contractor
Warranty Eligible Contractor
GAF Master Elite is a registered certification mark of GAF. Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program.
Tear Off or Recover?
Some flat roofs can be recovered with a new membrane over the old one, and some need a full tear off. The moisture check decides. Wet insulation always comes out, because trapping it under a new membrane only moves the problem. If the membrane is sound and dry, a coating may be the better fit, and our roof repair and maintenance page covers coatings.
Drains, Edges and Rooftop Units
Flat roofs usually leak where the membrane stops or changes direction: at drains, roof edges, walls and the curbs around rooftop units. On a replacement we flash all curbs, walls and drains, and where water sits we can plan tapered insulation to give it a path to the drains. Leaks where a sloped roof meets a chimney or wall are a different job. See chimney flashing repair.
What to Expect
It starts with a free roof evaluation, and evaluations are free for everyone. We check the roof and the moisture under it, then give you a written proposal. The schedule is planned around how your building runs, and we install most of the year, weather permitting. After the job, a maintenance plan keeps the roof checked on a schedule. For the bigger picture, see commercial roofing.
Commercial Roofs We’ve Done Nearby
For examples of larger commercial projects, see the Terramott Court condo roofs in Roscoe, where nine buildings got new roofs the same day, and the two building church roof in Roscoe. Both are shingle projects, and they show the kind of multi building work Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding plans and runs.
Why Rockford Businesses Choose Us for TPO
Our commercial roofing crews bring the same standards that earned us GAF Master Elite certification (held by fewer than 2% of roofers) and recognition as an Inc. 5000 company. We’ve been serving Rockford-area businesses since 2006, and we understand that commercial roofing projects require minimal disruption, clear communication, and reliable timelines.
TPO and Flat Roofing FAQ
What is the difference between TPO and EPDM?
TPO is a white membrane with heat welded seams. EPDM is a rubber membrane. Both work on flat roofs, and we recommend one based on your building.
Can you install a new flat roof over the old one?
Sometimes. A moisture check decides. Wet insulation always comes out before a new membrane goes on.
Why does water sit on my flat roof?
Low spots, clogged drains or settled insulation are common causes. Tapered insulation and drain work can help move the water off.
Do you install flat roofs in winter?
It depends on the weather. We install flat roofs most of the year, weather permitting.
Do you offer maintenance plans for flat roofs?
Yes. See commercial roof repair and maintenance for how our maintenance plans work.
Is the roof evaluation free?
Yes. Roof evaluations are free for everyone.
How do you find wet insulation under a flat roof?
We use a Teledyne FLIR i64 thermal camera to spot temperature differences that can point to wet insulation, then check those spots with a Tramex moisture meter without cutting into the roof. You get the images and readings in your report.
Need a commercial roofing solution? Schedule a free roof evaluation or call (815) 624-6278 to talk through a TPO or flat roof replacement.
