Bergstrom
Knowledge Catalog

Turbo Poly Seal is used to repair leaks and seal the following areas:

Is Turbo Poly Seal and EPDM Rubber compatible?

Can Turbo Poly Seal seal a glass or Plexiglas skylight?

Steps to seal a metal-to-Plexiglas joint

1. Clean the surfaces: Remove dirt and debris from the metal frame and Plexiglas. Allow both surfaces to dry completely.
2. Prepare the fleece: Cut polyester fleece into 2-inch-wide strips.
3. Apply the base coat: Brush a generous coat of Turbo Poly Seal across the joint, covering approximately 1 inch of metal and 1 inch of Plexiglas.
4. Embed the fleece immediately: Press it into the wet sealant, following the surface contours without leaving gaps or air pockets.
5. Apply the topcoat: Completely cover the fleece with Turbo Poly Seal. Add enough material so that no exposed fibers or fabric weave remain visible.
6. Clean up carefully: Use only a cleaner approved for Plexiglas on the skylight. Do not use lacquer thinner on the Plexiglas.

Optional UV protection

Watch the video below to see how we sealed a transition between a metal roof and a Plexiglas skylight.

Can silicone caulking remain beneath a Turbo Poly Seal repair?

Steps to prepare and seal the repair

1. Inspect the existing caulking: Remove loose caulking and any raised buildup that prevents the fleece from following the surface.
2. Clean the bonding areas: On suitable brick or metal surfaces, use an angle grinder with a steel wire brush to remove silicone spread beyond the crack. Avoid damaging the underlying surface.
3. Remove remaining residue: Wire brushing can smear a thin, difficult-to-see film of silicone across the surface. Thoroughly wipe suitable bonding surfaces with lacquer thinner and a clean rag, checking that no residue remains.
4. Allow the surfaces to dry completely: Apply Turbo Poly Seal only when the bonding areas are clean and dry.
5. Apply the base coat and fleece: Brush Turbo Poly Seal onto both sides of the crack, then immediately embed polyester fleece across the gap. Press it into the wet sealant without leaving air pockets.
6. Completely cover the fleece: Apply a generous topcoat until no exposed fibers or fabric weave remain visible.

The fleece bridges the filled gap, while Turbo Poly Seal bonds to the clean surfaces on either side.

If the coating type is still unclear, Bergstrom Industries recommends a small adhesion test:

1. Clean the test spot by wiping it with a wet rag—the easier option, according to Bergstrom Industries—or use lacquer thinner. Allow the surface to dry completely before applying the dab.
2. Apply a dab of Turbo Poly Seal.
3. Allow it to cure before testing. Bergstrom Industries says the test dab may be ready in as little as 8 hours; test only after it has cured.
4. Try to peel off the cured dab.

Can Turbo Poly Seal be applied over aluminum paint or silver coating?

Inspect the existing coating before starting:

1. Flaking or peeling coating: Remove all loose material from the repair area before applying Turbo Poly Seal.
2. Widespread flaking: If a thin coating is flaking across the surrounding surface, remove it completely from the repair area—even sections that still appear attached.
3. Fresh, firmly bonded coating: You may apply Turbo Poly Seal once the coating has fully dried and is securely bonded to the roof.

For the most reliable bond on a torch-down roof, remove the silver coating from the entire repair area before applying Turbo Poly Seal.

Polyester Fleece

TPO preparation, as provided by Bergstrom Industries:

1. Wipe the TPO surface with a rag and lacquer thinner to remove unwanted surface residue.
2. Remove any silicone caulking from the repair area.
3. Ensure the surface is completely dry.
4. Apply Turbo Poly Seal with polyester fleece.

1. Remove any coating covering the seam and surrounding repair area using an angle grinder fitted with a steel wire brush.

1. If adhesive tape is present, carefully soften it with a propane torch and lift it off with a flat bar.

1. Use the angle grinder and steel wire brush to remove remaining adhesive and caulking.

1. Thoroughly clean around the fasteners that hold the metal panels together.

1. Once the surface has cooled and all flames are extinguished, wipe the repair area with a clean rag dampened with lacquer thinner to remove silicone and paint residue.

1. Allow the surface to dry completely before applying the repair materials.

Why must polyester fleece be completely covered with Turbo Poly Seal?

What happens if the fleece is not fully covered?

1. Proper coverage provides strength and protection: The fleece sits between the base coat and topcoat, reinforcing the sealant while remaining protected from exposure.
2. Thin coverage weakens the repair: If the fabric’s weave is still visible, the topcoat is too thin and needs more Turbo Poly Seal.
3. Exposure can damage the fleece: As an insufficient topcoat wears away, sunlight can reach the fleece and cause it to deteriorate.
4. The repair can fail prematurely: Inadequate coverage reduces the repair’s durability and expected lifespan.

Apply a generous topcoat until the fleece is completely covered and its weave is no longer visible. Do not stretch the sealant too thin just to cover a larger area.

Should I stir Turbo Poly Seal before using it?

How to mix it

1. Stir thoroughly by hand: Vigorous hand stirring is sufficient.
2. Mix until the color is uniform: Continue until the sealant has a consistent brown appearance throughout, with no greenish layer or streaks remaining.
3. Apply once fully mixed: The uniform brown color is your visual indication that Turbo Poly Seal is ready to use.

1. Prepare the repair surface and ensure it is completely dry.
2. Apply a relatively thin first coat of Turbo Poly Seal. The polyester fleece comes in 4-inch-wide rolls, so paint the first coat slightly wider than 4 inches to embed the entire width of the fleece.
3. Position the fleece so it extends 1 inch beyond the crack on each side and 1 inch past both ends, as recommended by Bergstrom Industries. Immediately embed the fleece into the wet first coat, before a surface skin forms. A skin will prevent proper embedding.
4. Where two pieces of fleece meet, overlap them by 1/2 inch and apply Turbo Poly Seal between the overlapping pieces.
5. While the first coat is still wet, apply a relatively thick top coat, fully covering the fleece. The fleece is designed to let Turbo Poly Seal flow through its pores so the top coat connects with the first coat.
6. Check the top-coat coverage: neither the fabric pattern nor any white fleece should remain visible. The top coat must cover the fleece completely.

Resealing the container:

1. Remove any spilled sealant from the rim groove where the lid seats. Use a rag and a screwdriver to reach into the groove.
2. Replace the lid on the container.
3. Use a small rubber mallet to tap the lid down until it makes a tight seal.

1. Use a stiff-bristle brush to remove loose ceramic granules and debris around the leaking seam.

1. Use a leaf blower to clear away the remaining dust and loose material.

1. Make sure the surface is completely dry.

1. Apply Turbo Poly Seal along the seam, immediately embed polyester fleece into the wet sealant, and apply a top coat that fully covers the fleece.

Metal roof preparation, as provided by Bergstrom Industries:

1. If no previous repairs have been attempted, wipe the repair area clean with a wet rag. Original factory-applied paint that is firmly attached should remain and should not be removed.
2. If paint or coating was previously applied as a repair, remove all of that repair material from the repair area using an angle grinder with a stiff wire brush.
3. If silicone caulking was used, remove it mechanically. Bergstrom Industries recommends wiping the area with lacquer thinner and a rag to remove the silicone film left by grinding.
4. Where rust is present, use an angle grinder with a steel wire brush to remove coarse rust and loose rusted material. Bergstrom Industries says removing every trace of rust is unnecessary.
5. Allow the cleaned surface to dry completely before applying Turbo Poly Seal.
6. No primer is needed on exposed or previously rusted metal. Do not apply new primer or paint before Turbo Poly Seal; this does not mean removing firmly attached original factory paint. Bergstrom Industries advises that paint could react with Turbo Poly Seal and states that Turbo Poly Seal itself acts as a rust inhibitor.

Loose metal roof screws — Bergstrom Industries' repair sequence before sealing:

1. Always tighten the screw securely before applying sealant.
2. If the screw will not tighten securely, replace it with a larger screw.
3. If the larger screw still will not tighten, remove it and fasten the roof with a new screw in a new location approximately 2 inches away.
4. Cover the abandoned screw hole with polyester fleece embedded in Turbo Poly Seal and fully covered using the fleece application steps above.
5. Seal the new screw head and washer with a dab of Turbo Poly Seal, covering both and sealing where the washer meets the roof surface. Do not use fleece over the new screw.

Reinforced cover for a cracked EPDM vent-pipe boot, as described by Bergstrom Industries:

1. Start on the vent pipe 2 inches above the rubber boot, using fleece and Turbo Poly Seal.
2. Continue downward with additional fleece and Turbo Poly Seal, overlapping the previous fleece by approximately 1/2 inch. Apply Turbo Poly Seal between overlapping pieces.
3. Continue until the entire rubber boot is covered and the repair reaches the roof surface. For the final transition, extend the fleece approximately 2 inches beyond the boot onto the compatible roof surface.
4. Cut tabs as needed so the fleece conforms to the boot’s shape. Embed and fully cover all fleece using the application steps above.

1. Remove old tar and built-up caulking from previous repairs using a hammer claw or flat bar.

1. Remove any existing sealant or coating from the roof surface within the repair area.

1. Use an angle grinder fitted with a wire brush to remove silicone and smooth the surface around the stove pipe.

1. Wipe away remaining silicone residue with a rag and lacquer thinner. Allow the surface to dry completely.

1. For an asphalt-based or torch-down roof, use Turbo Poly Seal and polyester fleece to form new flashing around the pipe.

1. Brush a thick coat of Turbo Poly Seal onto the prepared roof surface and around the base of the pipe.

1. Cut a length of 4-inch-wide polyester fleece long enough to wrap around the pipe with a 4-inch overlap. Along one edge, make cuts every 2 inches, stopping at the center of the strip to form tabs.

1. Embed the fleece into the wet sealant. Lay the tabs flat against the roof and wrap the uncut half around the pipe. Apply sealant between the overlapping fleece layers.

1. Apply a top coat of Turbo Poly Seal, completely covering the fleece.

Application at the Plexiglas-to-metal-frame transition, as provided by Bergstrom Industries:

1. Apply masking tape to the Plexiglas, leaving a 1-inch strip exposed next to the frame.
2. Cut the polyester fleece into 2-inch-wide strips.
3. Fill the groove between the Plexiglas and the metal frame with Turbo Poly Seal. Also coat the exposed Plexiglas up to the masking tape and the adjoining metal frame.
4. Once the groove is filled, immediately embed the fleece into the wet Turbo Poly Seal. The fleece must bridge the groove and cover part of the frame and part of the Plexiglas.
5. Apply another coat of Turbo Poly Seal over the fleece, fully covering it according to the general fleece application entry.
6. Remove the masking tape immediately after finishing the top coat.

1. Remove loose paint and caulking from the repair area using an angle grinder and a stiff wire brush.

1. Wipe away all dust from the brick and metal surfaces.

1. If necessary, secure the loose metal flashing with concrete nails.

1. Existing caulking can remain inside the groove as a filler, provided it does not cover the surrounding brick or metal bonding surfaces.

1. If the groove or gap is too wide, fill it with butyl or silicone caulk. Keep the caulk inside the gap, off the surrounding brick and metal surfaces. The polyester fleece bridges this small filled gap, while Turbo Poly Seal bonds to the clean brick and metal on either side.

1. Make sure the surface is completely dry. Apply Turbo Poly Seal across the brick-to-metal transition, immediately embed polyester fleece into the wet sealant, and apply a top coat that fully covers the fleece.

1. Remove any loose caulking.

1. Use masking tape to outline a repair area approximately 3 inches wide across the flashing and brick.

1. Apply one coat of Turbo Poly Seal with a disposable brush.

1. Embed 2-inch-wide polyester fleece into the freshly applied sealant.

1. Apply a top coat of Turbo Poly Seal over the fleece, covering it completely.

1. Remove the masking tape.

1. Use a rag with lacquer thinner to remove any excess or spillover sealant from the metal.

1. Leave the existing caulking in place inside the groove or gap, keeping the surrounding brick and metal bonding surfaces free of caulk.

1. Brush the repair area clean and make sure the surface is completely dry.

1. Apply one coat of Turbo Poly Seal with a disposable brush.

1. Embed 2-inch-wide polyester fleece into the freshly applied sealant.

1. Apply a top coat of Turbo Poly Seal over the fleece, covering it completely.

Fieldstone chimneys can be particularly difficult to seal against leaks because the mortar between the stones can crack, as can the mortar in the groove where the flashing meets the chimney.

1. Secure the skirt flashing with concrete nails.

1. Brush off loose cement and debris. Make sure the repair area is completely dry.

1. Apply one coat of Turbo Poly Seal across the flashing-to-stone joint, covering approximately 2 inches onto the flashing and 2 inches onto the chimney surface.

1. Embed polyester fleece into the freshly applied sealant.

1. Apply another coat of Turbo Poly Seal over the fleece, covering it completely.

1. Clean the seam and surrounding repair area with water and a rag.

1. Remove old repair materials using a scraper, lacquer thinner, or a stiff-bristle brush, as needed.

1. If the seam has separated, make sure both layers lie flat against each other. If tension pulls them apart, secure them with 2½-inch washers and 3-inch roofing screws.

1. The seam and surrounding repair area must be completely dry before applying Super Silicone Seal.

1. Once the seam is secured and the area is completely dry, repair it with Super Silicone Seal and polyester fleece.

1. Clean the seam and surrounding repair area with water and a rag.

1. Remove old repair materials using a scraper, lacquer thinner, or a stiff-bristle brush, as needed.

1. If the seam has separated, make sure both layers lie flat against each other. If tension pulls them apart, secure them with 2½-inch washers and 3-inch roofing screws.

1. The seam and surrounding repair area must be completely dry before applying Super Silicone Seal.

1. Once the seam is secured and the area is completely dry, repair it with Super Silicone Seal and polyester fleece.

Part of maintenance every 10 years

1. Tighten screws before sealing: Use a Milwaukee screw gun or any other tool to torque down existing screws. Neoprene washers shrink over time and loosen, so this is part of maintenance.
2. If a screw will not tighten and spins loosely, try a larger screw; if it still will not tighten, relocate it about 2 inches away.
3. Correct angled screws so the washer lies flat and tight.
4. Patch the abandoned hole with fleece and Super Silicone Seal.
5. Apply a dab over the screw head and washer without fleece.

95% of commercial roofs neglect this. This type of maintenance is very important to prevent a sudden roof replacement.