Single-Ply Roofing for Nebraska Commercial Buildings
TPO, EPDM, and PVC membrane installation from a contractor who knows Nebraska's weather - and tells you which system your building actually needs.
30+ Years in Business
Employee Owned
4 Nebraska Locations
7,843 Projects Complete
The Problem With Most Flat Roof Estimates
Most commercial building owners don't know what membrane is on their roof. Most contractors don't bother explaining the difference. They show up, quote one option, and move on to the next job.
Some contractors won't tell you why one system fits your building better than another. They're not teaching you anything. They're just selling whatever they sell.
Others push a full replacement when a repair or re-cover would get you another decade out of the roof you already have. A new roof is the right answer sometimes. Not always. A contractor who only offers replacement has a motive worth understanding.
We've been doing this since 1987. We assess the roof, tell you what we find, and recommend what's right for your building - not what's most profitable for us.
What Single-Ply Roofing Actually Is
Single-ply roofing is one layer of engineered membrane, rolled out, sealed, and secured across a flat or low-slope commercial roof. No hot asphalt. No kettles. No stacking layer after layer. Just one durable, properly attached membrane doing the job.
Quick note on the name: a "flat" commercial roof isn't actually flat. It has a slight pitch built in for drainage. In the trade, we call it low-slope. The membrane systems on this page are built for that kind of roof.
Single-ply has been the dominant commercial roofing system in North America for decades, and for good reason. EPDM membranes have been installed since the late 1960s. Some of those roofs are still performing today, four and five decades later. That's a track record, not a sales pitch.
Compare that to built-up roofing - the old tar-and-gravel systems. BUR is heavier, slower to install, and more disruptive to a building's operations while the work is underway. Single-ply is what replaced it on most new commercial construction, and for most buildings, it's still the better call.
Here's what we install, and when each one makes sense for your building.
Three Membranes.
One Right Answer for Your Building
Not every building needs the same system. Here's what we install and when each makes sense.
TPO - The Most Common Choice
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is the most widely installed commercial flat roof membrane in the country, and for good reason. It's reflective, durable, and cost-effective. The white surface meets Energy Star cool roof standards and can reduce a roof's surface temperature by 50–80°F compared to a dark roof. That matters in a Nebraska summer.
For Nebraska buildings, we recommend 60-mil or 80-mil TPO, not the thinner 45-mil. The hail risk here is real. Heavier membrane means better resistance to puncture, impact, and long-term wear.
Best for
Office buildings, warehouses, retail, schools, distribution centers, most commercial flat roofs.
EPDM - Proven for Decades in Cold Climates
EPDM is synthetic rubber, and in Nebraska's climate, that matters. Rubber stays flexible at very low temperatures. It handles freeze-thaw cycles better than any plastic-based membrane. There are EPDM roofs installed in the 1970s still doing their job today. The lifespan record on this material is well-documented.
The black surface absorbs solar energy, which helps in winter. For a warehouse or manufacturing building that's heated but not heavily air-conditioned, a black EPDM roof can meaningfully reduce winter energy costs and speed up snow melt. For buildings where cooling costs are the bigger concern, white EPDM is available, or TPO is usually the better fit.
EPDM is also the easiest membrane to repair. Minor damage can often be patched without calling a contractor. That's a practical advantage over a 20-year service life.
Best for
Cold-climate buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, buildings with high heating loads, budget-conscious owners who want proven longevity.
Lifespan note
25–35 years typical. 40–50 years possible with proper care and maintenance.
PVC - When the Building Demands More
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is the premium option. It costs more than TPO or EPDM, but it brings chemical resistance neither of those can match. Kitchen grease, industrial chemicals, and acidic compounds that would degrade EPDM quickly - PVC handles them. If your building is a restaurant, food processing facility, or industrial operation with chemical exposure, PVC is the right call. Not because it's expensive. Because it's correct for the application.
Like TPO, PVC seams are heat-welded, which makes them extremely strong. The seams on a properly installed PVC roof are often stronger than the membrane itself.
Best for
Restaurants, food service, food processing, industrial buildings, any facility with significant chemical or grease exposure. Also a good choice when maximum seam integrity is a priority.
Lifespan note
20–30+ years. Typically outlasts TPO of the same thickness.
How We Attach It - And Why It Matters for Nebraska Buildings
Attachment method affects wind resistance, lifespan, and cost. We choose based on your building, your budget, and your weather exposure.
Mechanically Fastened
Rows of screws and plates secure the membrane to the roof deck, hidden inside seams where sheets overlap. Fast, cost-effective, and it works in a wider range of weather conditions than adhesive. This is the most common attachment method we install.
Fully Adhered
The membrane is bonded to the substrate with adhesive across the entire surface, top to bottom, edge to edge. This is the best option for wind resistance. In Nebraska's high-wind and tornado corridor, a fully adhered roof holds significantly better under uplift stress than a mechanically fastened one. It also reduces membrane flutter and is the longest-lasting attachment method. It costs more. It's often worth it.
Ballasted
The membrane is loose-laid and weighted in place by river-washed stone or concrete pavers. It's the fastest and most economical install. It requires a structural engineer to confirm your roof deck can handle the additional load, typically 10–20 lbs. per square foot. Not the right call for every building, but when it is, it's an efficient system that protects the membrane from UV exposure and physical damage at the same time.
Not Sure Which System Is Right for Your Building?
That's a normal question. The answer depends on your building type, existing roof condition, local wind and hail exposure, and budget. A free assessment from one of our estimators will tell you what your roof actually needs, not what's easiest to sell.
Built for Nebraska Weather
Hail
Nebraska is in one of the highest hail-risk corridors in the country. We specify 60-mil and 80-mil membrane thicknesses on Nebraska commercial roofs for this reason. Thicker membrane means better impact resistance when the storms come through, and they will.
Wind
High straight-line winds and tornado events are part of Nebraska's climate. Fully adhered systems provide the best wind uplift resistance. When we install mechanically fastened systems, we engineer fastener spacing to meet local wind zone requirements, not a national average.
Freeze-Thaw
Nebraska's freeze-thaw cycles are hard on roofing materials. EPDM rubber stays flexible at low temperatures. It doesn't crack or become brittle the way thin plastic membranes can. For cold-climate applications, it's often our first recommendation.
Summer Heat
White TPO and PVC membranes reflect solar radiation rather than absorb it. On a hot Nebraska summer day, a reflective roof surface can run 50–80°F cooler than a dark roof, and that comes through in your cooling costs.
A Flat Roof That Fails Costs More Than the Repair
A failing single-ply roof doesn't just leak. It lets water into insulation, decking, and eventually the building structure. The longer it goes unaddressed, the more expensive the fix.
The typical mistake: ignoring small blisters, open seams, or pooling water until they turn into structural problems.
The smart move: a twice-yearly inspection, before winter sets in and after it ends. Catch the small issues while they're still small.
This is why we write everything up after an inspection. You get a record of what the roof looks like today, and you know exactly what to watch for going forward.
What Our Commercial Customers Say
"This company was great to work with! Justin and team were awesome! Kept us updated through the whole process! Thanks again! Patty’s Pub appreciated everything!”
"Easy to work with, got the job completed in a timely manner. Did all the hard work. Highly recommend."
Common Questions About Single-Ply Roofing
How do I know which membrane is right for my building?
The short answer: your building type, roof condition, budget, and how you use the space all factor in. A restaurant has different needs than a warehouse. A building in a high-wind exposure zone has different requirements than one in a sheltered location. We assess the roof and walk you through the options. Then you make the call.
My roof is still on but aging. Do I need a full replacement or can it be repaired?
Depends on what we find. If the membrane is sound but has isolated damage - open seams, punctures, failed flashing - repair is often the right answer. If the insulation is wet or the membrane has reached the end of its useful life, re-cover or replacement makes more sense. We'll tell you what the roof actually needs, not what generates the biggest invoice.
What's the difference between 45-mil, 60-mil, and 80-mil?
Thickness, measured in thousandths of an inch. A 60-mil membrane is thicker and more durable than a 45-mil. In Nebraska, where hail is a real threat, we strongly recommend 60-mil minimum for commercial installations. The 45-mil saves money upfront and costs more over time.
How long does a single-ply roof installation take?
For most commercial buildings, it's a matter of days, not weeks, depending on roof size, system type, and weather. We'll give you a realistic timeline during the estimate so you can plan around it.
Will installation disrupt my business operations?
We do everything we can to minimize disruption. Single-ply installation is significantly less disruptive than old built-up systems - no hot asphalt, no kettles, no heavy fumes. We'll talk through the schedule with you before we start.
Do you service roofs you didn't install?
Yes. If your existing single-ply roof needs repairs or an inspection, we can assess it regardless of who installed it. We'll give you a straight read on what it needs.
Get a Straight Answer About Your Flat Roof?
Free assessment. No obligation. We'll look at what you have, tell you what we find, and recommend what's right, not what's most expensive.