TPO Roofs

Had many RV's with EPDM roofs and never had an issue with any of them. One of our Carriage 5th wheel RV's still had the OEM EPDM original roof on for 20.5 years and never leaked and still in fair condition but was gouged thru in 6 places from large branches falling butt first like an arrow with the small branches and leaves/needles being the feathers when a tornado still up in the air went over us when in Florida about 4 years ago. Touched down about 6 miles northeast of us. The insurance adjuster verified that the roof was still in good condition in his report and our insurance totally replaced the old EPDM roof and the awning material too which was rolled up at the time of course but got 2 rips/holes from the falling branches hitting on top of the roll. We were so lucky that the funnel was still up in the air!

TPO is likely just as durable if installed properly and we'd be fine with that too as it's used on many boats and lasts a very long time. How anything is constructed and/or installed make a huge difference!

tnrv'er wrote:
While we're on the subject is TPO preferred over EPDM or vice versa? If one over the other why??

I'd consider a TPO roof, not a rubber one. had two, no more.
bumpy

bailer6334 wrote:
I own a GD 2150 and the roof is TPO.

the same year, the same production run??
bumpy

While we're on the subject is TPO preferred over EPDM or vice versa? If one over the other why??

SoundGuy wrote:

tnrv'er wrote:
SoundGuy, no mention of roof material in the brochure. It says "one piece roof membrane w/ 12 year warranty.

TPO is not only a relatively stiff vinyl but it also has a texture to it whereas EPDM is smooth ...

Definitely was not stiff.

Thank-you guys for the education

bailer6334 wrote:
I own a GD 2150 and the roof is TPO.

Odd that the manufacturer wouldn't specify this on their product website ... if it's there I can't find it. :@ Since GD seems to be glossing over this how you know yours is TPO? - because you were told that it is or you know for a fact that it is? Just asking. :@

As I said previously, it's hard to believe this TPO vinyl membrane could do anything but sit completely flat just as it did on my KZ Spree, not rippled as the EPDM rubber membrane is on my current Coachmen. :)

I own a GD 2150 and the roof is TPO.

ScottG wrote:
GD makes a nice product but in many ways they are no different than any other brand -

Funny you should say that. Many dealerships mechanics have been telling me this for years. I've been told, "they are ALL the same, good and bad 50/50. It depends on the care put into the individual build of any brand".
My best advice . Buy whatever floorplan you like from a good dealer that will back the customer. Don't rely on a mfg. to do that.

SoundGuy wrote:

bobndot wrote:
They could have been more careful when installing it.
Its non appealing to the eye but i have never heard of a TPO leaking because of this. I have owner 2 with bubbles and had no issues over 11 years of ownership.

On new applications : After the underlayment is installed under new tpo roofs , it needs to be brushed clean ( or use compressed air ) to get rid of dust from sanding the edges,screwheads and seams to prevent tearing of the new tpo.
If some dust remains, the glue will not bite at that particular place, causing a bubble.
The new tpo material is cut larger than the roof top area allowing extra material to hang over the sides. As the mechanics (2) installs the edge moldings, the material needs to be stretched on each side at the same time by pulling it tight, then they screw down the moldings to hold it tight, like a drum head.
They sometimes get lazy because they rush to get these things done and out the door.

Sorry, but having owned a KZ Spree with a TPO roof membrane there's no way this material which is quite rigid can be "stretched" ... EPDM rubber, yes - but not TPO. My bet is the OP is incorrect and the roof membrane on this Grand Design he looked at is not TPO as the rippling he described is not uncommon at all with EPDM rubber membrane.

Again I ask the OP - how do you know this is a TPO membrane and not EPDM? :h

Yes, tnx for bringing that to my attention, i was thinking is might not be TPO too, possibly EPDM.
I can understand confusion when shopping for these things, looking at so many units.
I should have said pulled as tight as possible, not stretched, it is kinda thick material.
I have been present and been an extra pair of hands doing a few rebuilds and you have me re-thinking now because i have seen EPDM bubble with no issues. :)

Someone threw an almost empty bottle of power steering fluid on my roof, the area that the power steering fluid leaked on bubbled up, I had to cut the bad area out and replaced it with eternal bond roof repair kit , my roof is TPO and it was easy to cut with an exacto knife, the TPO was thin and felt like an inner tube type material