Why Flash with Reinforced Scrim TPO?

Performance, time and cost are all reasons contractors should consider using prefabricated flashings made from reinforced TPO.

By Acme Cone

Most new single-ply thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofs are installed using a standard .060-mil membrane with reinforced scrim. Also known as field membrane, the TPO is made up of layers. The top layer – about 25 to 30 mils – is typically white and contains the polymers that provide the reflective properties, the color agents and stabilizers. The middle area is where the scrim is located. The scrim is a piece of fabric that reinforces the membrane for better performance. Lastly the base layer is typically darker, often gray and might be made up of recycled materials.

While the reinforcing scrim enhances performance of the TPO, it also makes the membrane less flexible and nearly impossible to use for flashing in the field. Because of this, contractors will fabricate flashings using detail membrane which is non-reinforced and doesn’t have a scrim. Detail membrane is typically more expensive than field membrane because it is lacking a scrim and is made up of more of the TPO polymers and costlier ingredients.

Acme Cone’s prefabricated flashings are made from .060-mil reinforced TPO membrane – the same high performance material that is being installed on the roof. With most roofing failures happening at a penetration point, it just makes sense to flash with the same material that is protecting the roof surface.

In addition to superior performance over detail membrane, the time savings of not creating flashings in the field means that crews work more efficiently and can get more work done in the same amount of time as before.

Learn more about Acme’s prefabricated TPO flashings at www.acmecone.com.

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