Video · Leaks & repairs
Repairing a Damaged TPO Roof Membrane
Watch “TPO: Field Sheet Repair” on YouTube (opens in new tab)
- TPO
What this video shows
Mule-Hide, a single-ply membrane maker, demonstrates repairing a damaged area in the open field of a TPO roof. It shows why TPO repairs are about cleaning and bonding new TPO to old, not smearing sealant over the hole.
Key points
- Weathered TPO has to be cleaned, usually with a membrane cleaner made for aged sheets, or nothing will bond to it.
- The durable fix is a patch of new TPO, either hot-air welded or set with the maker's TPO primer and pressure-sensitive tape.
- Extend the patch well past the damage and round the corners.
- Probe welded edges once they cool to find gaps.
- Roof cement, silicone caulk and generic tapes are temporary at best on TPO.
Products in this video
The products used or shown, or the closest match we could verify. Typical price ranges, not live prices.
TPO repair tape · $40–$120
VariousTPO peel-and-stick cover strip / patch (white)
- Chemistry
- Other
- TPO
Small punctures and lifted lap edges on TPO can be covered with a TPO-specific pressure-sensitive patch over primed membrane. It's the DIY alternative to hot-air welding.
Read the fine print: Confirm the listing says TPO; EPDM tapes and RV kits are different products. Clean the membrane and use a TPO primer. A welded TPO patch is the permanent fix, and a roof under warranty should be repaired by a certified installer. PVC needs PVC-specific material.
Best for: Small punctures and lap edges on TPO roofs
Check price on Amazon for TPO peel-and-stick cover strip / patch (white) (opens in new tab)Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Coverage and specs are the manufacturer's stated figures. Disclosure
Utility knife · $12–$22
StanleyStanley 10-777 FatMax Locking Retractable Utility Knife
- Mod bit
- Built-up
- Rolled
- TPO
- PVC
- EPDM
- Spray foam
- Metal
- Silicone-coated
- Acrylic-coated
Cuts fabric, membrane, cover tape and failed sealant. A locking blade matters when you're pushing through tough roofing material.
Read the fine print: Add a pack of hook blades for cutting membrane from the top without slicing what's underneath, and change blades often.
Best for: Cutting fabric, membrane patches and old sealant
Check price on Amazon for Stanley 10-777 FatMax Locking Retractable Utility Knife (opens in new tab)Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Coverage and specs are the manufacturer's stated figures. Disclosure
Read the full guide
Leaks & repairs How to patch a flat roof leak On an asphalt-based flat roof (modified bitumen, built-up or roll roofing), a rubberized wet-patch cement such as Henry 208R can be troweled on even in the rain to stop a leak today. The lasting repair is a fabric-reinforced three-course patch, or on EPDM, TPO and PVC a patch of matching membrane, because asphalt cement damages rubber and PVC and ruins TPO for future welding. If you plan to coat later, Henry says to wait 30 days over its wet patch, and white coatings may need a bleed-blocking primer.Video by MuleHide Videos, embedded from YouTube. The summary, key points and cautions on this page are our own; MuleHide Videos doesn't endorse TheFlatRoofPro.com or the products listed. Roofing work for hire generally requires a licensed roofing contractor.