TPO and Single-Ply Roofing in Wichita, KS

Single-ply membranes cover most of the flat and low-slope commercial roofs in the Wichita area, from strip centers on West Kellogg to distribution buildings in Park City. Call (316) 218-1812 and we will connect you with an independent local commercial roofing contractor who installs and repairs TPO, EPDM and PVC. We are a referral service, not the roofing company.

The three main single-ply membranes

TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin)

TPO is usually white, which reflects sunlight and can lower cooling loads during Kansas summers. Seams are heat-welded with hot air, creating a seam that is part of the membrane. TPO is the most common choice for new commercial roofs today. Common thicknesses are 45, 60 and 80 mil; thicker membranes cost more but hold up better to foot traffic and hail.

EPDM (synthetic rubber)

EPDM has decades of track record. It is flexible in cold weather, handles temperature swings well and is often the lowest-cost membrane. Most EPDM is black, which absorbs heat, and its seams are glued or taped rather than welded. Older EPDM roofs are common on Wichita buildings from the 1980s and 1990s.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

PVC is heat-welded like TPO and resists grease, oils and many chemicals. That makes it a strong choice for restaurants with rooftop exhaust, food processing, and some industrial buildings. It usually costs more than TPO.

When single-ply is a good fit

• Flat or low-slope roofs on warehouses, retail, offices, schools, churches and apartment buildings
• Buildings where reflectivity and energy savings matter
• Replacing an old built-up (tar and gravel) or modified bitumen roof
• Roofs with many rooftop HVAC units, where welded flashings make clean details

Warning signs on an existing single-ply roof

• Open or peeling seams, especially at laps and corners
• Shrinkage that pulls the membrane tight at walls and curbs ("bridging")
• Punctures from foot traffic, dropped tools or hail
• Chalky, cracked or crazed surface on older membranes
• Fastener plates pushing up through the membrane
• Billowing in high wind, a sign of loss of attachment

How a single-ply roof is installed

1. Remove the old roof or prepare it for a recover, and repair the deck.
2. Install insulation, often polyiso, with tapered sections to move water to drains and scuppers.
3. Add a cover board for hail and foot-traffic resistance (worth asking about in Wichita).
4. Attach the membrane: mechanically fastened, fully adhered with adhesive, or induction welded.
5. Weld or tape the seams and probe-test them.
6. Flash walls, curbs, pipes and drains; install edge metal and coping.

Single-ply roofing costs

Rough national-guide installed ranges, including typical tear-off. Get a written quote for your building.

What drives the price

• Membrane type and thickness
• Fastened versus fully adhered attachment
• Amount of tapered insulation needed to fix ponding
• Number of rooftop units, curbs, drains and penetrations
• Tear-off depth, wet insulation and deck repair
• Warranty length and type (material only versus full system)

How long it takes

A 10,000 to 30,000 square foot single-ply roof is often finished in one to three weeks of workable weather. Adhesives and some primers have minimum temperature limits, so cold snaps can pause fully adhered work. High wind days stop membrane work.

Single-ply in the Wichita climate

Central Kansas puts single-ply membranes through hail, high wind and wide temperature swings. Ask the contractor about thicker membranes (60 or 80 mil), a high-density cover board under the membrane, and the manufacturer's wind uplift rating for your building's exposure. On the open ground around the north and east Wichita industrial areas and along I-135, buildings catch more wind than those shielded by older trees and neighboring buildings in Delano or College Hill. Reflective white membranes help in July and August, when rooftop temperatures on a black roof can climb far above the air temperature.

Hiring checklist for Kansas commercial roofing

• Kansas roofing registration. Under the Kansas Roofing Registration Act, roofing contractors working in Kansas must register with the Kansas Attorney General's office. Ask for the registration number and look it up before you sign.
• Permits. The City of Wichita and Sedgwick County generally require a building permit for reroofing. Ask the contractor to pull the permit in their name and to schedule the required inspections.
• Insurance. Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, sent directly from the insurance agent.
• Manufacturer warranty. If you want a manufacturer's system warranty, ask whether the contractor is approved by that manufacturer to install it, and get the warranty terms in writing.
• Written scope. The proposal should name the system, thickness, insulation, attachment method, flashing details, tear-off or recover, and cleanup.

Maintenance tips

• Inspect twice a year (spring and fall) and after every major hailstorm.
• Keep drains, gutters and scuppers clear of debris and cottonwood fluff.
• Limit rooftop foot traffic; add walk pads on routes to HVAC units.
• Ask HVAC techs not to leave screws, panels or tools on the membrane.

Call (316) 218-1812 to reach a local single-ply roofer.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we serve

We connect callers across Wichita, Derby, Andover, Park City and all of Sedgwick County, Kansas, including:

• Wichita
• Derby
• Andover
• Park City
• Bel Aire
• Maize
• Haysville
• Valley Center
• Goddard
• Mulvane
• Rose Hill
• Kechi
• Augusta
• Sedgwick County
• Butler County

Local pages: Derby, Andover, Park City.

Related services

• Commercial Roof Replacement
• Commercial Metal Roofing
• Roof Coatings & Restoration
• Commercial Roof Repair
• Hail & Storm Damage Inspection