Looking for a durable commercial roofing solution? Roofing Of Memphis specializes in high-performance PVC roofing systems, delivering expert installation, lasting protection, and reliable performance for commercial and industrial properties.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is an incredibly durable, time-tested single-ply roofing membrane engineered to provide an exceptionally long service life when properly installed and maintained.Because we are partnered with elite manufacturers like GAF, our commercial crews deliver advanced structural solutions tailored to the unique demands of low-slope and flat roof properties.
Regular roof maintenance can extend the lifespan of your roof and save money on a premature replacement. As a trusted Memphis roof repair contractor, Roofing Of Memphis will give you peace of mind that your home is protected.
PVC roofing is a durable single-ply membrane designed for flat and low-slope commercial roofs. Made from high-quality polyvinyl chloride, it provides excellent protection against water, UV rays, chemicals, and harsh weather while offering outstanding durability and long-term performance. Its reflective “cool roof” surface helps reduce heat absorption, improve energy efficiency, and lower cooling costs. With its low-maintenance design and long service life, PVC roofing is a smart investment for commercial and industrial properties throughout Memphis, TN, and the Tri-State area.
PVC is an exceptionally strong, stable commercial roofing material. It is installed using specialized hot-air heat welding along all panel seams. This process fuses the overlapping sheets on a molecular level, enabling the monolithic sheet to expand and contract smoothly with your building during standard seasonal temperature shifts and natural settling.
Depending on your facility’s specific transitions, PVC can also be secured using solvent welding and cleanly detailed to edge metal and structural roof penetrations.
A professionally installed and maintained PVC roof is highly engineered to resist water intrusion, harsh ultraviolet (UV) radiation, direct fire exposure, and corrosive chemicals. Because it requires very little intensive ongoing maintenance, it provides excellent long-term operational value.
PVC roofing materials are exceptionally popular with restaurants, commercial kitchens, and other food service operations that continuously emit vaporized fats, grease, and cooking oils through their rooftop ventilation systems. This specialized thermoplastic membrane is uniquely engineered to resist the highly destructive effects of these organic compounds, whereas alternative commercial roofing substrates can rapidly degrade, soften, and fail under identical conditions.
Commercial buildings located in heavily shaded spots that remain damp and prone to aggressive algae, mold, or fungal growth are also excellent candidates for a PVC system. The same applies to facilities situated in areas prone to consistent atmospheric debris accumulation. Furthermore, because PVC is manufactured with a heavy-duty internal reinforcement scrim, it is structurally designed to provide superior resistance against severe impacts, accidental punctures, and tears caused by blunt forces, making it a highly reliable and commonly selected option for businesses with high rooftop maintenance traffic.
Because PVC roofing is intensely reflective, it acts as a permanent cooling mechanism for your real estate asset. By reflecting the bulk of solar heat away from your roof surface, it prevents your building from turning into a massive heat sink.
This dramatic reduction in surface temperature directly eases the load on your commercial HVAC systems, significantly dropping your summer cooling demands and supporting your facility’s long-term energy efficiency goals.
PVC, which is short for polyvinyl chloride, is a thermoplastic single-ply roofing membrane that has heat-welded seams. It is considered a ‘cool’ roofing material and may help improve energy efficiency. It’s very similar to TPO roofing, with the main differences between the two materials being in their chemical formulas. Both are designed to conform to the movement of the roof. However, PVC and TPO have different performance characteristics. PVC is often selected for applications where chemical resistance is a priority (although TPO roofing tends to be the more affordable option of the two and may offer better thermal expansion properties).
If you’re not sure what type of roofing materials are right for your building, you should speak with the experts at New View Roofing. Our team can evaluate your project, including the size of your building, your current or projected energy costs, what types of materials your roof may be subjected to, and a wide range of other factors to help you make the right choice. We’ll discuss your budget, your needs and your goals to make sure you’re getting the right type of roof for your needs.
Check out these frequently asked questions about PVC roofing materials. If you don’t see the answers to your own questions here, please feel free to call our office and ask.
Yes, PVC roofing is an exceptional choice for low-slope and flat commercial structures. It is generally very low-maintenance and features unparalleled chemical resistance to grease, fats, oils, and industrial pollutants. For many businesses, PVC roofing is the right choice because it is lightweight, highly durable, and provides reliable service lives of approximately 20 to 30 years depending on installation quality, proactive maintenance, and regional climate. Its hot-air welded seams form a permanent, monolithic bond designed to maximize water exclusion.
PVC is widely used across the industrial and commercial sectors precisely because of its immense durability and severe weather-resistance characteristics. Because the seams are fused together using high-temperature robotic heat welding, the joint overlaps are chemically stronger than the membrane sheets themselves. This prevents the peeling and pulling common in older glued systems. While ultimate service life varies based on installation quality and environmental exposure, regular preventative maintenance will maximize this system’s longevity.
PVC and asphalt are chemically incompatible and do not mix. If a PVC membrane comes into direct contact with raw asphalt, coal tar pitch, or asphalt-based repair cements, the plasticizers in the vinyl will rapidly migrate, causing the PVC sheet to become extremely brittle, discolor, and prematurely crack. If you want to utilize asphalt roofing materials alongside a PVC system, the two must be strictly isolated into separate roof areas or separated by an approved, specialized physical barrier layer.
You can absolutely walk on a PVC roof as long as the structural roof decking and insulation boards beneath it are robust enough to safely support a person’s weight. Although you may have heard a common myth that walking on a vinyl roof causes fine spiderweb cracking, that is entirely untrue unless the roof membrane is severely degraded by age or completely lacks proper underlying structural support. For roofs with frequent HVAC maintenance traffic, specialized thick PVC walkway pads can be permanently heat-welded down to protect high-traffic paths.
Many premium PVC roofing products are specifically manufactured with advanced fire-retardant properties that naturally resist ignition and actively slow flame spread. Vinyl is inherently self-extinguishing once a direct flame source is removed. However, actual field fire performance depends entirely on the specific commercial roofing assembly, underlying insulation types, and applicable local testing standards.
While it is technically possible to paint a vinyl roof, we highly discourage doing so. Darker paint colors trap solar heat, which can compromise the flexibility of the vinyl and negate its energy-efficient “cool roof” benefits. If a coating must be applied for specialized maintenance, you should use a high-quality, fully compatible elastomeric latex formulation—never an oil-based paint, which will damage the material. It is always best to choose your desired color from the beginning. While bright white is standard for maximum solar reflectivity, top-tier manufacturers also offer PVC in gray, tan, and off-white.
It may be necessary to clean your PVC roof from time to time to remove accumulated dirt or environmental pollutants, and fortunately, it is very easy to do. You simply use a soft-bristled, long-handled brush or industrial broom combined with a cleaning solution made from a mild, non-abrasive household detergent and lukewarm water. Avoid harsh chemical solvents or high-pressure washers, which can erode the membrane. You can also contact our team for comprehensive commercial roof cleaning and preventative maintenance services.
Every commercial building has unique performance requirements, so there is no single “best” material. PVC is the absolute gold standard for restaurants, airports, and manufacturing plants due to its unmatched resistance to grease, chemicals, and jet fuel. TPO offers a highly reflective white surface at a lower initial cost, making it perfect for standard retail and warehouse structures. EPDM rubber offers incredible thermal flexibility and multi-decade track records in cold climates. Our experts can help you analyze your budget, facility usage, and long-term asset goals to select the exact right choice for your property.
If you are considering installing a high-performance PVC single-ply membrane on your commercial or industrial facility, or if you need to evaluate the performance of an existing vinyl system, our team is ready to assist. We provide completely free, multi-point professional commercial roof inspections to supply you with the technical data, asset mapping, and budget planning you need to safeguard your property.
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Contact Roofing Of Memphis for more and exciting offers.
7166 Winchester rd suite 106b
Memphis, TN 38125
roofingofmemphis@gmail.com
