Do you offer free estimates?

Yes! We provide free, no-obligation estimates for all roofing services. Call us at (956) 600-0501 or visit our contact page to get started.

How long does a roof replacement take?

Most residential roof replacements are completed in 1–3 days, depending on the size and complexity of your roof. We work efficiently while maintaining the highest quality standards.

How long have you been in business?

Baccaro Roofing has served South Texas for over 5 years, with more than 500 completed projects and a 5.0-star rating across our 20+ Google reviews. Ronnie Baccaro is the owner-operator and personally inspects every job. We're built on RGV referrals — most of our work comes from neighbors recommending us.

Do you help with insurance claims?

Absolutely. We have extensive experience working with insurance companies. We'll document the damage, meet with adjusters, and ensure you get the coverage you deserve.

What does a typical roof replacement cost in the RGV?

Most full residential replacements in the Rio Grande Valley range from $8,000 to $18,000, depending on roof size, slope, material (asphalt shingle vs. metal), and decking condition. Use our free Roof Cost Calculator at /roof-cost-calculator for an instant estimate, or call (956) 600-0501 for a no-pressure on-site inspection.

What roofing materials do you use?

We use top-quality materials from trusted manufacturers including architectural shingles, metal roofing, and flat roofing systems. We'll recommend the best option for your home and budget.

What warranty do you provide?

Every new roof comes with the manufacturer's material warranty (typically 30–50 years on architectural shingles, lifetime on metal) plus our 5-year workmanship warranty on installation. If anything fails because of how we installed it, we come back and fix it free. No fine print, no hassle.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. Baccaro Roofing is fully insured for general liability and workers' comp, and operates across the Rio Grande Valley with all required local permits pulled on every job. We carry full documentation on every job site and can provide certificates of insurance on request before any work begins.

What areas of the Rio Grande Valley do you serve?

We serve all 45+ cities across the Rio Grande Valley — Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, and Starr counties — including McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, Pharr, Mission, Harlingen, Weslaco, San Juan, Alamo, and South Padre Island. If you're in the RGV, we'll come give you a free inspection.

Do you work in Spanish too?

Yes — completely. Ronnie and most of the Baccaro crew are native Spanish speakers, and we run the entire job in Spanish if that's what you prefer: inspection notes, written quote, insurance adjuster meeting, daily progress check-ins, final walkthrough. The /techos/ section of our site and our Spanish blog posts are written in native Spanish, not translated. Roofing decisions are too important to lose detail in a language gap. Call (956) 600-0501 and ask for Ronnie en español.

Do you work on commercial roofs?

Yes. Baccaro Roofing handles flat and low-slope commercial systems — TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, and metal — across the RGV. We work with property managers, HOAs, retail centers, and small industrial clients. Same free inspection policy: we'll diagnose what's wrong and quote it honestly before any contract.

Can I finance my roof?

Yes — financing is available on roof replacements through partner lenders so you don't have to cover the full cost upfront. Most homeowners qualify, the application is quick during your inspection visit, and we don't pull credit unless you ask. Visit baccaro-roofing.com/financing for current options, or just mention it during your free inspection and Ronnie will walk through what fits. No pressure if cash works better for you — we won't push financing on anyone.

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Baccaro Roofing GuideTPO Flat Roof System: 2026 RGV Buyer's Guide

May 24, 20267 min read

TL;DR — TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is the workhorse flat-roof membrane for commercial buildings and residential flat sections in the RGV. Installed cost runs $5-8/sqft. The bright white surface reflects 70-80% of solar heat — measurable cooling savings on flat-roof homes and commercial buildings. Standard thickness is 60-mil. Top brands: GAF EverGuard, Carlisle Sure-Weld, Firestone UltraPly.

What TPO actually is

TPO is a single-ply membrane: one continuous sheet of thermoplastic polyolefin compound, reinforced with a polyester scrim for tear strength. Sheets come in rolls 10-12 feet wide and are heat-welded together at the seams using a hot-air welder. When welded correctly, the seam is stronger than the field membrane itself — there's no glue, no tape, no caulk involved.

The membrane sits on top of a substrate that varies by job: rigid polyiso insulation board over a metal deck (most commercial), cover board directly over a wood deck (most residential flat sections), or fully adhered to an existing low-slope surface during a recover. The membrane is attached one of three ways:

Mechanically attached: Plates and screws penetrate the deck on a regular grid, with the membrane laid over and welded along plate rows. Fastest install, lowest cost, but the fasteners create thermal bridges and the membrane flutters in high wind.
Fully adhered: Bonding adhesive glues the membrane to the substrate across the entire field. No fasteners through the membrane. Better wind performance, smoother appearance, $1-2/sqft more.
Ballasted: River rock or pavers hold the membrane down. Rarely used in the RGV — hurricane winds turn loose ballast into projectiles.

Standard thickness in the Valley is 60-mil (0.060"). Some commercial specs call for 80-mil for longer warranty or heavier traffic. 45-mil exists but we don't recommend it for our heat and UV exposure.

Cost in the RGV (2026)

Installed TPO pricing runs $5-8/sqft for typical residential flat sections and small-to-mid commercial buildings. A 1,500-sqft commercial flat roof in McAllen runs $7,500-12,000 turnkey. A 400-sqft residential flat section over a porch or garage runs $2,000-3,200.

What moves price within the range:

Attachment method. Mechanically attached is the floor, fully adhered is the ceiling.
Insulation R-value. Code minimum is R-20 in our climate zone. Higher R-values (R-25, R-30) add $0.50-1.50/sqft.
Penetrations. Every HVAC curb, plumbing vent, drain, and parapet wall transition needs custom flashing. Cut-up roofs run higher than open-field roofs.
Tear-off. Removing an existing built-up roof or modified bitumen adds $1.50-3/sqft.
Membrane thickness. 80-mil adds $0.50-1/sqft over 60-mil.

For mixed pitched-and-flat roofs (very common on Valley homes with covered patios and garage extensions), the flat section gets TPO and the pitched section gets shingle or metal. Use our [roof cost calculator](/roof-cost-calculator) to estimate combined-system pricing.

Why TPO works for RGV homes specifically

Flat sections on homes in the Valley are usually small — a covered patio, a back porch, a flat garage roof, a flat addition. They're the leak-prone, neglected parts of most residential roofs. TPO is the right system here for three reasons:

Reflectivity. A white TPO membrane has a solar reflectance of 0.75-0.80. Compare to a dark modified-bitumen roof at 0.05-0.15. On a 100°F McAllen afternoon, the TPO surface temperature runs 100-110°F. The black modified-bit next door runs 160-180°F. That heat differential translates directly to cooler attic spaces below the flat section and lower AC bills, especially for homes in [Brownsville](/areas/brownsville) and [Harlingen](/areas/harlingen) where cooling loads dominate.

Heat-welded seams. Hot Valley sun is murder on adhesive-seamed systems (EPDM, older PVC). Glue degrades, seams open, water gets under. TPO seams are molecularly fused — they don't depend on adhesive longevity.

Commercial scalability. Most flat-roof work in the Valley is commercial: warehouses in [McAllen](/areas/mcallen), strip centers in [Pharr](/areas/pharr), industrial buildings near the bridges. TPO is the dominant commercial low-slope system in North America, which means parts, accessories, and trained crews are widely available. See our [McAllen commercial roofing](/areas/mcallen/commercial-roofing) page for the full commercial scope of work.

The main alternative for flat sections is [EPDM rubber or modified bitumen](/blog/tpo-vs-epdm-vs-modified-bitumen). TPO wins on reflectivity and weld-seam strength. EPDM has the edge on cold-weather flexibility — irrelevant in the RGV.

How long it lasts + what kills it early

A properly installed 60-mil TPO roof should run 20-25 years. 80-mil pushes to 25-30. Manufacturer warranties on the membrane are typically 20 years.

What shortens the life:

Foot traffic from HVAC service. Walking pads at HVAC units are mandatory. Without them, repeated traffic abrades the membrane and exposes the scrim.
Ponding water. TPO is waterproof but not designed to sit submerged for weeks. Flat roofs need positive slope to drains (¼" per foot minimum). Ponding past 48 hours after a storm shortens life and voids warranty.
Wrong sealants at penetrations. Only manufacturer-approved sealants are warranty-compliant. Off-the-shelf caulk fails in our UV within 2-3 years.
Punctures. Dropped tools, hail above 1.5", windblown debris. Any puncture should be patched within days — TPO patches are heat-welded, fast, and permanent when done right.
Old polyiso insulation getting wet. If a leak goes unrepaired, soaked polyiso loses R-value permanently and stays wet for years. Repair leaks fast.

Maintenance is twice-yearly: clearing drains and scuppers, inspecting seams and penetrations, sealant touch-ups as needed.

Pros vs cons (honest)

Pros - 70-80% solar reflectance — real cooling savings - Heat-welded seams stronger than the membrane - Fast installation, lower labor cost than built-up systems - Recyclable at end of life - Works for both residential flat sections and full commercial roofs - 20-25 year service life with proper install

Cons - Not all TPO is created equal. Cheap private-label TPO has had QC issues — we install GAF, Carlisle, or Firestone only - Punctures happen. Hail, dropped tools, dragged equipment - Requires a trained crew with a working hot-air welder. Bad welds = early failures - White surface shows dirt and discoloration over time (cosmetic, not structural) - Limited color options (white, gray, tan — that's mostly it) - Repairs require a hot-air welder on site — DIY is not realistic

Who should NOT buy TPO

If your flat roof is going to see heavy regular foot traffic — rooftop deck, frequent HVAC service, party space — TPO with walking pads works, but a tile-paver-over-membrane system or a PMMA liquid-applied membrane might be a better long-term match.

If you've had two or more failed flat-roof installs already due to poor decking or framing, the problem is below the membrane, not the membrane itself. A new TPO installed over compromised substrate will leak just like the last one. Fix the structure first.

If your roof has severe ponding (water that doesn't drain within 48 hours) and you're not addressing the slope problem during install, TPO will outlast the alternatives but warranty coverage will be void.

For a steep pitched residential roof, TPO is not the answer — it's a low-slope system. Use shingles or metal for anything above 3/12 pitch.

Common questions

What's the warranty? Manufacturer membrane warranties are typically 20 years standard, 25-30 years available on 80-mil systems. Our workmanship warranty runs 5 years.

How long does installation take? A 1,500-sqft commercial flat roof: 3-5 days with a four-person crew. A 400-sqft residential flat section: 1-2 days.

Can TPO be installed over an existing roof? Yes — recovers over existing modified bitumen or built-up roofs are common when the existing substrate is dry and structurally sound. Saves the tear-off cost but loses the ability to inspect what's underneath.

Does it qualify for any insurance or energy rebates? White TPO meets ENERGY STAR cool roof requirements and can qualify for utility rebates from AEP Texas and Magic Valley Electric Co-op depending on the program year. Insurance discounts for flat roofs are less standardized than for pitched roofs — check with your carrier.

TPO vs EPDM vs modified bitumen — what's the short version? TPO: best reflectivity, welded seams, current industry standard. EPDM: great cold flexibility (doesn't matter here), glued seams that age. Modified bitumen: torch-down, heavy, dark surface that absorbs heat. For the RGV, TPO wins on most jobs. Full breakdown in our [TPO vs EPDM vs modified bitumen](/blog/tpo-vs-epdm-vs-modified-bitumen) comparison.

Get a TPO quote in the RGV

Whether it's a flat section on a residential home or a full commercial low-slope replacement, we'll inspect, measure, and write a no-pressure quote with attachment-method and thickness options. Inspections are always free. Ronnie Baccaro personally walks every job.

Call (956) 600-0501 or request an inspection online. We install TPO on residential and commercial buildings across [McAllen](/areas/mcallen), [Pharr](/areas/pharr), [Brownsville](/areas/brownsville), and the broader Valley.