Commercial · PVC
Built for the roofs other membranes can't stomach.
Chemically resistant, heat-welded, and fire-resistant, PVC is the answer over kitchens, labs, and anywhere grease or chemicals end up on the roof.
Where PVC fits
Restaurants, labs, and hard-service roofs.
Kitchen exhaust destroys TPO and EPDM from the outside in; PVC shrugs it off. Its welded seams match TPO's strength, and its plasticized sheet stays flexible where cheaper membranes go brittle.
If your roof has grease traps, solvent vents, or chemical exhaust on it, PVC isn't an upgrade; it's the correct specification.
Commercial services
The rest of the flat-roof toolbox.
TPO
Heat-welded single-ply with a reflective white surface that cuts summer cooling loads. The workhorse for warehouses and big open decks.
Learn moreEPDM
The proven black rubber membrane, decades of field history, excellent in freeze-thaw, and economical to repair as it ages.
Learn moreBuilt-Up (BUR)
Multiple asphalt plies with redundancy built in, a heavyweight for roofs with heavy foot traffic and long ownership horizons.
Learn moreModified Bitumen
Asphalt toughness in rolled sheets, granule-surfaced, well-suited to smaller commercial roofs and mixed-slope buildings.
Learn moreCommercial Repair
Leaks at curbs, seams, and drains, found, documented, and fixed before they reach the deck.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Ponding, blistering, open seams, and failed flashings on any of the five major membrane systems.
Learn moreQuick answer
Hardesty Roofing installs and repairs PVC roofing across Central Virginia. PVC is a single ply thermoplastic membrane with heat welded seams and strong resistance to grease, oils and chemicals, which makes it the standard specification for restaurants and any building exhausting kitchen or industrial fumes onto the roof. Class A licensed, roofing from Midlothian since 1990. Call 804-523-9955.
What PVC is
The membrane for buildings that put things on their roof.
PVC is a thermoplastic single ply membrane, heat welded like TPO, and highly reflective. What sets it apart is chemical resistance. Grease, animal fats, oils and many industrial chemicals degrade other membranes over time, and PVC holds up where they do not. If a kitchen exhaust discharges onto your roof, this is the specification that exists for that problem.
It is generally the most expensive of the three single ply systems, and for most straightforward buildings that premium is not necessary. Where it is necessary, though, using a cheaper membrane is a false economy that shows up as a failed roof a few years early.
- Chemical resistance
Holds up against grease, animal fats and many industrial chemicals that degrade other membranes.
- Seams
Hot air welded, producing a fused seam rather than an adhesive bond.
- Reflectivity
Highly reflective, reducing rooftop heat gain and cooling load.
What it costs
What drives a PVC number.
PVC usually carries a premium over TPO and EPDM. The specification questions are the same, thickness and attachment, but the starting point is higher because the material is.
The honest guidance is that PVC is worth the premium when the building needs it and is not when it does not. A warehouse with nothing on the roof does not need chemical resistance. A restaurant does, and specifying around it to save money on the estimate tends to cost more in the end.
- Membrane thickness
The mil rating, same as any single ply. Heavier resists puncture and generally carries a longer manufacturer term.
- Attachment method
Mechanically attached or fully adhered, with the same cost and wind performance trade as other single ply systems.
- Rooftop equipment
Kitchen exhaust and grease handling equipment mean more flashing detail, and the detail is the labor.
- Insulation
Driven by energy code, plus any tapered work needed to correct drainage.
What to expect
How a PVC roof goes on.
Free inspection
We assess the existing roof and what discharges onto it, probe for saturated insulation, review drainage and equipment, then specify thickness and attachment against the building’s actual exposure.
Written estimate
You get a written estimate with the options laid out and no vague line items. We explain the tradeoffs and give you our honest recommendation, including when the cheaper option is the right one.
Scheduled work
We schedule around you and show up when we said we would. Crews protect landscaping and vehicles, and magnet-sweep for nails at the end of every working day, not just the last one.
Final walk and paperwork
We walk the finished job with you, answer anything still open, and hand over the warranty documentation. Manufacturer coverage gets registered at closeout, because it is not real until it is registered.
Warranty
Two promises, and they are not the same promise.
Commercial roofs carry two separate warranties. The membrane manufacturer warrants the material and, on some systems, the installed assembly. Hardesty warrants the workmanship. They are different promises with different terms.
Membrane warranty length varies widely by system, by membrane thickness, and by whether the manufacturer inspects the finished job. We tell you what the specific assembly qualifies for before the work is specified, not after.
- 5 yrs
Hardesty's own workmanship warranty on labor. If our installation fails, we come back and fix it.
- Varies
Membrane coverage is set by the manufacturer and varies by system and thickness. Longer terms generally require heavier membrane and a manufacturer-inspected installation.
- In writing
You get the term for the exact material you choose, in writing, before you sign anything.
Common questions
PVC questions.
Why would we pay more for PVC than TPO?
Chemical and grease resistance, primarily. If your building exhausts kitchen or industrial fumes onto the roof, PVC holds up where TPO and EPDM degrade. If it does not, the premium is generally not worth paying and we will tell you so.
We run a restaurant. Does that change the specification?
Substantially. Grease and animal fats attack most roofing membranes. PVC is the standard answer for buildings with kitchen exhaust, and specifying around that to save on the estimate is usually a false economy.
Is PVC the same as TPO?
No, though both are thermoplastics with heat welded seams and both are usually white. PVC has notably better chemical resistance. TPO is generally less expensive. They are different materials and are not welded to each other.
How long does PVC last?
As with any single ply, it depends on thickness, seam quality and drainage rather than on the material name. PVC has a long track record in commercial use.
Can PVC be repaired?
Yes, by heat welding compatible material to the existing membrane. As with TPO, correct identification matters, because a PVC patch will not weld to a TPO roof.
Does PVC work in cold weather?
Yes, though like other thermoplastics it becomes less flexible as temperature drops, which affects installation conditions more than finished performance.
Can we recover over our existing roof?
Often, where the substrate is dry and code permits. We probe for saturated insulation before recommending it.
Is PVC reflective enough to help with cooling costs?
Yes. PVC is highly reflective, and on a conditioned building reduced rooftop heat gain is a real operating benefit rather than a marketing point.
Free Estimate
Put a Hardesty roof over it.
Walk-throughs and estimates are free, written, and scoped for your budget cycle, repair, restore, or replace.
804-523-9955Prefer to talk? Call the shop directly. 14430 Sommerville Court, Suite B · Midlothian, VA 23113
Worried about the cost? We offer in-house financing. Ask and we will walk you through it.
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