Western Specialty Contractors Installs TPO Roof System on St. Joseph Water Treatment Plant
The overall project was approx. 40,000 sq ft, spanning over ten roof areas with varying elevations

Western Specialty Contractors’ Kansas City Roofing Branch recently completed a project to replace the roof on the St. Joseph Water Treatment Plant in St. Joseph, Mo.
Owned by Missouri-American Water, the customer requested a new roof system on their building because it was out of warranty and introducing several leaks in the facility. The overall project was approx. 40,000 sq ft, spanning over ten roof areas with varying elevations.
Western started the project in September 2024 by removing the building’s existing ballasted EPDM roof system down to the concrete roof deck, then installing a 1/8” full tapered insulation system with a ¼” Densdeck prime coverboard set in a two-part adhesive.
Once the sub roofing was installed, Western’s crews installed an Elevate (formerly Firestone) 60 mil white TPO membrane in a spray adhesive.
Introduced to the roofing market in the early 1990s, the TPO roofing system has gained popularity due to its versatility, durability, ease of installation and lower cost. TPO roofing systems are manufactured to look great on a variety of commercial building styles and are available in a variety of color options including white, light grey and black, which are all UV resistant. TPO's thermoplastic membranes also resist dirt accumulation, mold growth, tears, impacts and punctures and can handle a building's thermal expansion and contraction much more effectively. Because TPO membranes are manufactured with wider sheets and are lightweight, they are also easier to install and require less seams.
Along with the new roof, Western also installed new sheet metal to create a watertight roofing system. Western completed the project on budget and within the three-month allotted time frame.
“The most challenging aspect of the project was the logistics. Scheduling deliveries to the jobsite for the needed materials for specific roof areas, while trying to minimize ground storage and keeping the roofs clear for the tear-off took some sophisticated coordination,” said Western Project Manager Tristan Smith. “Overall the project went great with no setbacks and the customer was very happy with the final results.”
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