TechNews: Benefits of Extended Tapered Panels
What Are Tapered Polyiso Systems?
Instead of using insulation with a uniform thickness, tapered systems use boards that gradually increase in thickness to direct water toward drains, scuppers, or gutters. These systems are commonly installed beneath single-ply roofing membranes like TPO, PVC, and EPDM. When evaluating options to reduce overall costs on a tapered roof system, designers look at a variety of specialty products, including prefabricated target sumps, hips, valleys, and crickets.
Versico Roofing Systems offers VersiCore® Tapered Polyiso with a glass-reinforced felt facer, as well as SecurShield® Tapered Polyiso, which features a premium-performance coated glass facer.
Thicknesses range from:
Why Are Tapered Systems Installed?
The main purpose of a tapered polyiso system is to eliminate ponding water, improve roof drainage, and help extend the roof’s lifespan. Ponding water increases leak potential, adds to the structural load, and can accelerate membrane deterioration. A properly designed tapered system can help prevent these undesirable outcomes.
Benefits of Extended Tapered Panels
Insulation adhesive costs can be reduced significantly by reducing the number of layers in a tapered profile, as illustrated in the example below.
Using this extended panel profile, the number of insulation layers is reduced, decreasing the amount of adhesive required to adhere the system.
How 16' VersiWeld® TPO with SeamShield™ Supports Tapered Systems
16' VersiWeld TPO with SeamShield helps tapered systems improve water management by reducing seams and improving weld quality.
For more information, check out the following resources:
Tapered Polyiso Web Page
16' TPO Web Page
Instead of using insulation with a uniform thickness, tapered systems use boards that gradually increase in thickness to direct water toward drains, scuppers, or gutters. These systems are commonly installed beneath single-ply roofing membranes like TPO, PVC, and EPDM. When evaluating options to reduce overall costs on a tapered roof system, designers look at a variety of specialty products, including prefabricated target sumps, hips, valleys, and crickets.
Versico Roofing Systems offers VersiCore® Tapered Polyiso with a glass-reinforced felt facer, as well as SecurShield® Tapered Polyiso, which features a premium-performance coated glass facer.
Thicknesses range from:
- Minimum thickness: 0.5 inch
- Maximum thickness: 4.5 inches
Why Are Tapered Systems Installed?
The main purpose of a tapered polyiso system is to eliminate ponding water, improve roof drainage, and help extend the roof’s lifespan. Ponding water increases leak potential, adds to the structural load, and can accelerate membrane deterioration. A properly designed tapered system can help prevent these undesirable outcomes.
Benefits of Extended Tapered Panels
Insulation adhesive costs can be reduced significantly by reducing the number of layers in a tapered profile, as illustrated in the example below.
Using this extended panel profile, the number of insulation layers is reduced, decreasing the amount of adhesive required to adhere the system.
How 16' VersiWeld® TPO with SeamShield™ Supports Tapered Systems
16' VersiWeld TPO with SeamShield helps tapered systems improve water management by reducing seams and improving weld quality.
- Fewer Seams: Wider 16’ sheets cover more roof area, reducing overall seam counts and minimizing welded intersections across the roofing system.
- Cleaner, More Consistent Welds: SeamShield Technology helps keep seam areas cleaner during installation, supporting more consistent weld quality while reducing seam preparation time.
- Accelerated Installation on Tapered Systems: 16’ VersiWeld TPO helps contractors install large tapered roof systems more efficiently by reducing seam welding across complex drainage layouts, helping accelerate dry-in and improve overall installation productivity.
For more information, check out the following resources:
Tapered Polyiso Web Page
16' TPO Web Page
Up Next
May 21, 2026
TechNews: Building Better Roofing Systems on the Jobsite
High-performance roofing systems aren’t just specified; they’re built on the jobsite through the combination of insulation, membranes, and application tools that deliver real-world results.
April 16, 2026
TechNews: Height-Restrictive Roofs
In commercial construction, not every roof has the luxury of extra space. Height-restrictive roofs—common in both urban environments and code-limited developments—require careful planning to balance performance with strict vertical limits.
February 19, 2026
TechNews: How Much R-Value Do You Need?
One of the most common questions building owners and designers ask is: How much R-value do I really need?