TPO has become the default single-ply membrane for flat and low-slope commercial roofs across Hudson County, and for good reason — it reflects heat well through Jersey City's hot, humid summers and holds up better than older EPDM systems when installed correctly. But TPO is only as good as its seams. The hot-air welds that join sheets together are the first thing to fail if the installer rushed the process or didn't clean the membrane properly before welding. We see this constantly on buildings near Journal Square and Newport where roofs were installed by out-of-town crews who didn't come back for follow-up inspections. A probe test on suspect seams tells us in minutes whether we're dealing with a simple reweld or a membrane that's degraded past the point of patching.
Thickness matters more than most property managers realize. TPO membranes commonly come in 45, 60, and 80 mil thicknesses, and on buildings near Liberty State Park or along the waterfront in Liberty Harbor and Exchange Place — where wind exposure is higher — we push toward 60 mil minimum and fully-adhered or mechanically fastened systems rather than ballasted. Ballasted TPO looks cheap upfront but the stone ballast can shift in strong wind events and abrade the membrane over time, which is a slow, invisible failure mode until you're chasing a leak years later.
Cold Jersey City winters are hard on TPO at the flashing details, not the field membrane. The membrane itself stays flexible, but pipe boots, parapet walls, and curb flashings around rooftop HVAC units contract and expand differently than the TPO sheet, and that's where 80% of the leaks we repair actually originate. Anyone quoting a TPO repair without pulling back and inspecting every penetration and parapet transition is guessing. We also flag membranes older than 15 years for full replacement conversations rather than continued patching, since the polymer plasticizers break down and welds stop taking heat reliably at that point.
If you're weighing repair versus replacement, the honest answer depends on how much of the roof is affected. A few failed seams or a punctured membrane from foot traffic is a repair. Widespread seam failure, membrane shrinkage pulling away from the perimeter, or wet insulation underneath (which you can find with a moisture scan) means replacement is the only real fix — patching over saturated insulation just buys a few months before it fails again.
TPO Commercial Roofing Services We Offer
✓TPO Seam Repair and Rewelding
We probe and reweld failed seams using hot-air welding equipment matched to your membrane's mil thickness, restoring a watertight bond rather than caulking over the problem.
✓TPO Membrane Patch Repair
For punctures, foot-traffic damage, or storm debris tears, we patch with matching TPO material welded into the existing field membrane.
✓Flashing and Penetration Repair
Pipe boots, HVAC curbs, and parapet flashing get rebuilt or resealed — the most common leak points on TPO roofs across Jersey City buildings.
✓Full TPO Roof Replacement
Complete tear-off and reinstall with fully-adhered or mechanically fastened TPO sized for your building's wind exposure and roof structure.
✓TPO Recover Over Existing Roof
When the deck and insulation are dry and sound, we install a new TPO membrane over the existing roof to cut cost and downtime versus a full tear-off.
✓Moisture Scan and Roof Assessment
Infrared or capacitance moisture scanning to locate wet insulation before it's decided whether a repair or replacement is the right call.
✓Emergency Leak Repair
Active leaks during a storm get a temporary seal and tarp-down, followed by a permanent weld or patch once conditions allow.
How it works
- 1
On-Site Inspection And Probe Testing
We walk the full roof, probe seams, and check every flashing detail and penetration around HVAC units and parapets.
- 2
Moisture Scan If Needed
For roofs over 10-12 years old or with signs of interior water staining, we run a moisture scan to check for saturated insulation under the membrane.
- 3
Written Scope And Pricing
You get a clear breakdown of what's a weld/patch repair versus what requires recover or full replacement, with pricing before any work starts.
- 4
Repair Or Tear-Off Work
Seam welding, patching, flashing rebuilds, or full membrane replacement is completed with hot-air welding equipment and matched TPO material.
- 5
Final Walkthrough And Weld Testing
Every new or repaired seam is probe-tested again before we call the job done, and we walk you through what was fixed.
Pricing
Repairs are typically priced by the scope of the affected area after inspection; full replacements are priced per square foot based on membrane thickness, insulation condition, and roof access. We give upfront written quotes before starting any work.