Choose the Sealant for Your Repair
Compare Turbo Poly Seal and Super Silicone Seal by surface, preparation and application. Use the Knowledge Catalogue for complete repair instructions.
Before you begin: identify the leak source and prepare a clean, completely dry surface. Turbo Poly Seal must not be applied to EPDM, glass or silicone. Super Silicone Seal must not be applied to asphalt or plain, non-granulated torch-down membrane.
On a small screen, swipe the table sideways to compare both products.
| Question | Turbo Poly Seal | Super Silicone Seal |
|---|---|---|
| Product basics and application | ||
| What are the products made of? | A urethane/asphalt-based sealant. | A silicone-based sealant. |
| How soon can it rain after application? | Allow approximately 10–15 minutes. On a warm day, about 5 minutes may be enough for a protective skin to form. Cold weather slows skin formation. | Allow about 30 minutes on a warm day. Below 32°F, allow 3–4 hours. |
| How long does curing take? | Allow approximately 24–48 hours. Heat speeds curing; cold slows it. A surface skin is not full cure. | Allow approximately 24 hours under suitable conditions. Cold weather can extend curing. |
| What application temperatures are recommended? | Air temperature: 20–110°F. Ideal: 25–90°F. The surface must be completely dry. | Air temperature: 20–110°F. Ideal: 25–90°F. The surface must be completely dry. |
| What is seam-repair coverage? | Approximately 35–40 linear feet per gallon or 15–20 feet per half gallon, using 4-inch fleece and both coats. Temperature and application thickness affect coverage. | Approximately 55–60 linear feet per gallon of black or white Super Silicone Seal for standard EPDM seam repair using 4-inch polyester fleece: first coat, fleece, then final coat completely covering the fleece. Both coats are included. Proportional estimate: 27.5–30 linear feet per half gallon. Actual coverage varies with application thickness and surface condition. |
| What fleece comes with the kits? | 4-inch-wide fleece: 25 feet with a half-gallon kit and 50 feet with a one-gallon kit. | 4-inch-wide fleece: 25 feet with a half-gallon kit and 50 feet with a one-gallon kit. Fleece for a five-gallon container is purchased separately. |
| Can it be applied over old tar? | Yes, when the existing repair provides a clean, dry, stable surface smooth enough for fleece to lie flat. Remove loose or failing material and smooth large bumps first. | Not recommended. Remove the tar and prepare the underlying compatible surface. Do not apply to exposed asphalt. |
| How are tools and spills cleaned? | For tools and surrounding surfaces, wipe off wet Turbo Poly Seal with paper towels, then use lacquer thinner where suitable. For hands, use a skin-suitable asphalt and tar remover according to its label, wipe with paper towels, then wash with soap and water. Do not use lacquer thinner on skin. | Immediately wipe wet spills from tools and surrounding surfaces with a wet rag. Cured residue is difficult to remove; carefully try a scraper without damaging the surface. |
| What application tool is recommended? | An inexpensive 2-inch disposable brush for repairs. | An inexpensive 2-inch disposable brush for repairs. For whole-roof coating, use a half-inch-nap roller; do not spray. |
| Should the product be stirred or thinned? | Stir thoroughly until consistently brown. Use only as supplied; do not thin or add solvents. | Stir thoroughly. Use a drill and paint mixer for five-gallon containers; hand stirring is suitable for smaller containers. Do not add anything. |
| Can Turbo Poly Seal be used on EPDM? | - No. Turbo Poly Seal is not compatible with EPDM rubber and must not be applied directly to it.
- Turbo Poly Seal contains asphalt and urethane resins. Its petroleum-based ingredients are incompatible with EPDM rubber.
- Being a synthetic rubber alone does not determine compatibility; the specific sealant formulation matters. | - Super Silicone Seal is our recommended option for EPDM rubber repairs.
- It is also suitable for use on glass and metal. |
| Can the existing silver coating remain before applying Turbo Poly Seal? | Turbo Poly Seal can bond to aluminum asphalt (silver coating), but the existing Silver coating may peel from the surface beneath it. For torch-down roof repairs, remove the aluminum asphalt from the repair area before applying Turbo Poly Seal. | It is best to remove old caulking, paint, silver coating before making repairs. The cleaner the surface the better the repair |
| Roof and repair uses | ||
| Can it coat an entire roof? | Not recommended as a general whole-roof coating. Use for the specific repair applications described in the Knowledge Catalogue. | Yes, on compatible EPDM, TPO and metal roofs. Repair defective seams, cracks and flashing first. Apply one coat with a half-inch-nap roller at approximately 70 square feet per gallon. Do not spray. |
| Can it be used on steep metal roofs? | Suitable for compatible metal-roof repairs; its thicker consistency helps control the application. Embed fleece against the roof profile. | Runoff makes steep repairs more demanding. Use controlled thin coats on upright areas; inspect sloping areas after 30–40 minutes and cover any exposed fleece again. See the detailed application method. |
| Can it repair low-slope metal roofs? | Yes, including seams and screws after appropriate preparation. | Yes, including seams and screws after appropriate preparation. |
| Can it be used for flashing repairs? | Yes, with fleece bridging compatible surfaces. Prepare the surface and fully cover the fleece. | Super Silicone Seal can be used on vertical surfaces. Apply a thin first coat and allow it to become tacky. Embed the fleece, then apply another thin coat. Wait approximately 30–45 minutes before adding another coat to cover the fleece completely. Temperature affects the waiting time. |
| Can it repair concrete or concrete-block wall cracks? | Yes, with fleece extending beyond the crack on a clean, dry, stable surface. This seals the crack; it is not a structural repair. | Use fleece and the vertical thin-coat method on compatible, sound concrete surfaces. The sealant is runny, so coat control and waiting periods matter. This is not a structural repair. |
| Can it repair cracked stucco? | Use fleece on a clean, dry, stable, compatible surface. Loose or structurally damaged stucco needs assessment first. | Vertical application requires the thin-coat method. Confirm suitability for the particular stucco finish before use; do not assume that every finish is compatible. |
| Can it seal gutter seams? | Yes. Tighten seams with commercial rivets first, then clean, dry and repair from inside with fleece and sealant. | Yes. Tighten seams with commercial rivets first, then clean, dry and repair from inside with fleece and sealant. Use the thin-coat method on vertical sections. |
| Can it coat EPDM roofing? | No. Turbo Poly Seal is not compatible with EPDM and must not be applied to it. | Yes. Approximate one-coat coverage is 70 square feet per gallon. Prepare and repair the roof before coating. |
| Can it repair rooftop A/C ducts? | Use for localized repairs on compatible metal with fleece over holes and transitions. | Yes. Remove flaking rust, clean and dry, reinforce holes and all joints with fleece, then coat the exterior. White helps reduce heat absorption. Use thin coats on upright areas. |
| Can it fill pitch pockets? | Contact Bergstrom Industries with the pocket dimensions and materials for application guidance; this guide does not specify a bulk-fill depth or cure time. | Contact Bergstrom Industries with the pocket dimensions and materials for application guidance; this guide does not specify a bulk-fill depth or cure time. |
| Is it suitable for areas with foot traffic? | Used for specific repairs such as door-sill transitions and ridge-cap reinforcement. Allow curing before contact. This is not a specified pedestrian-deck coating. | Allow approximately 24 hours, or longer in cold weather, before occasional maintenance foot traffic on a roof coating. It is not intended as a regular walking surface. |
| Surface compatibility and preparation | ||
| Does it adhere to metal? | Yes. Clean and dry the surface; remove incompatible repair materials and loose rust. | Yes. Clean and dry the surface; remove oils, debris and loose rust. |
| Does it adhere to cement? | Yes, on a properly prepared, completely dry surface. | Yes, on a properly prepared, completely dry surface. |
| Does it adhere to brick? | Yes, on a clean, dry, stable surface. | Yes. Use the thin-coat method for vertical repairs. |
| Does it adhere to glass? | No. Turbo Poly Seal does not adhere to glass. | Yes. Follow the glass and frame preparation instructions in the Knowledge Catalogue. |
| Does it adhere to Plexiglas? | Yes. A specified use is the transition between Plexiglas and a metal skylight frame, reinforced with fleece. | Yes. Clean and prepare the bonding area and use fleece for the specified transition repair. |
| Does it adhere to TPO? | Turbo Poly Seal adheres to both new and weathered TPO roofing membrane. Wipe the repair area with lacquer thinner to remove surface residue, remove silicone caulking, and allow the surface to dry completely before applying Turbo Poly Seal with fleece. | Yes. Wipe clean with a wet rag and let it dry completely. No primer or sanding is required for the described preparation. |
| Can it be used on torch-down membrane? | Yes, on plain or granulated asphalt-based torch-down membrane after appropriate preparation. Remove repair paint and aluminum asphalt from the repair area. | Use on granulated torch-down membrane. Do not use on plain, non-granulated asphalt membrane. If preparation exposes bare asphalt, use Turbo Poly Seal for that repair. |
| Can it be used on asphalt? | Yes, after appropriate preparation; the surface must be completely dry. | No. Do not apply to asphalt or tar. |
| Does it adhere to plastic? | Avoid using Turbo Poly Seal on plastic surfaces generally, because there is insufficient testing to establish which plastics are compatible. Plexiglas is a specific exception: Turbo Poly Seal works well on it. PVC and ABS have been tested and perform fairly well, especially when the bonding surface is lightly sanded. | Yes. Super Silicone Seal adheres to PVC and ABS roof vent pipes. Plexiglas is also a specified application. It may not adhere to some other plastics; test adhesion on the specific surface before use. |
| Does it adhere to EPDM rubber? | No. Not compatible; do not apply to EPDM. | Yes. Clean thoroughly, remove failed repair materials and allow to dry completely. No primer is required. |
| Does it adhere to wood? | Yes. Wood must be dry and not rotten. Remove peeling paint; sound paint can remain for the specified wood-transition repair. | Suitable for compatible wood applications. Confirm the condition of any existing finish and use the appropriate horizontal or vertical application method. |
| Does it adhere to concrete? | Yes. Use fleece over cracks and fully cover it. | Yes. Use fleece over cracks and fully cover it. |
| Can it be applied over light rust? | Remove loose and coarse rust with suitable tools, then clean and dry. Removing every trace of firmly attached rust is unnecessary. | Remove loose or flaking rust, then clean and dry. Removing every trace of firmly attached rust is unnecessary. |
| Does it adhere to copper and aluminum? | Yes, after appropriate preparation. | Yes, after appropriate preparation. |
| Can existing silicone remain? | Do not bond directly to silicone caulking or coatings. Remove silicone from bonding areas. | Firmly attached silicone coatings can remain after cleaning and drying; remove loose silicone. Super Silicone Seal does not reliably adhere to silicone caulking. Existing caulking may remain as filler in voids and cracks, but the repair must bond to the surrounding compatible surfaces. Embed fleece in Super Silicone Seal, extending at least 1½ inches beyond the caulking on each side, and fully cover the fleece with sealant. |
| Can existing latex caulking remain? | A compatible, firm filler may remain where the repair bonds to sound surfaces on both sides. Remove loose material or lumps that prevent fleece from lying flat. | Expose the defect and remove failed caulking. Confirm adhesion to any retained material rather than assuming every caulk is compatible. |
| Can painted surfaces remain? | Preparation depends on the surface. Firm factory paint on metal and sound paint on wood can remain in the specified applications. Remove incompatible repair paint and loose coatings. Do not apply new paint or primer beneath the repair. | Firm factory paint on metal can remain. Remove loose or incompatible repair coatings and verify the underlying surface. Do not add a primer unless an applicable product instruction specifically requires it. |
| Can it be applied to a wet surface? | No. All surfaces must be completely dry. | No. All surfaces must be completely dry. |
| Is it recommended for basement walls? | Not recommended as a general basement waterproofing system. | Not recommended as a general basement waterproofing system. |
| Can it be applied to an oily surface? | As best practice, remove oil and other surface contaminants before applying Turbo Poly Seal. The bonding surface must be clean and completely dry. | Remove oils and other contaminants; the surface must be clean and completely dry. |
| Durability, storage and maintenance | ||
| Does it need UV protection? | It can remain exposed, with an estimated repair life of 10–12 years. A compatible protective coating helps reduce UV exposure; maintain and renew that coating as needed. | It is UV-resistant and requires no protective top coating. Estimated repair life is 12–20 years, depending on preparation, application and exposure. |
| Can it be recoated with the same product? | Another coat can be added to a fresh Turbo Poly Seal repair within 2–3 hours. For an older, unprotected repair, allow 6–12 months for the surface to weather to light brown and feel slightly scuffed. Wipe it clean with a dry rag before applying fresh Turbo. Remove any protective coating before recoating. | Yes. Clean an older repair with a wet rag and let it dry completely. Follow the relevant coating method, including waiting periods for vertical thin coats. |
| Can repair products be switched? | Prefer Turbo over Turbo. When switching to a different repair sealant, completely remove the previous repair and prepare the underlying surface. | Prefer Super Silicone over Super Silicone. When switching repair sealants, completely remove the previous repair and prepare the underlying surface. |
| Can a protective coating or paint be added? | Silver Coat or non-fibered aluminum asphalt is recommended for protection. Wait at least one hour before applying the protective coating. This is separate from recoating with Turbo itself. | A protective coat is unnecessary. Do not rely on paint or other coatings adhering to silicone; use Super Silicone Seal for renewal. |
| When is reinforcing fleece required? | Use over cracks, seams and transitions and fully cover it. Metal-roof screw heads and washers receive a dab without fleece. | Use over cracks, seams and transitions and fully cover it. Metal-roof screw heads and washers receive a dab without fleece. General whole-roof coating does not require full-surface fleece. |
| Can repairs tolerate ponding water? | Yes, after the specified waiting period before water exposure. Apply only to a completely dry surface. | Yes, once fully cured. Ponding-water tolerance is not a specification for deep filling of roof depressions. |
| Can it repair a chimney crown? | Yes. A half gallon covers approximately 15 square feet with one coat on concrete. Reinforce every crack with fleece; full fleece coverage needs additional sealant. | Yes. Approximate coverage is 40 square feet per gallon for one coat on concrete. Reinforce cracks with fleece; reinforcement requires additional sealant. |
| How are metal-roof screws sealed? | Tighten or replace loose screws first. The washer must lie flat. Cover the screw and washer with a dab of Turbo, without fleece. Patch abandoned holes with fleece and sealant. | Tighten or replace loose screws first. The washer must lie flat. Cover the screw and washer with a dab of Super Silicone, without fleece. Patch abandoned holes with fleece and sealant. |
| How are metal-roof seams repaired? | Bring loose panels tight before repair. Embed fleece to follow the metal profile without voids, then cover completely. | Bring loose panels tight before repair. Embed fleece to follow the profile without voids. Use thin coats on upright areas and inspect sloping repairs for exposed fleece. |
| When can a repair be submerged? | Apply to a completely dry surface. Above 30°F air temperature, allow at least 2 hours; at 20–30°F, allow 4 hours. These waiting periods are separate from full cure. | Apply to a completely dry surface and allow full curing—approximately 24 hours under suitable conditions, longer in cold weather. This does not establish suitability for drinking water or aquatic animals. |
| Does it help inhibit rust? | Bergstrom Industries describes Turbo Poly Seal as a rust inhibitor. Remove loose rust and prepare the surface before sealing. | Bergstrom Industries describes Super Silicone Seal as a rust inhibitor. Remove loose rust and prepare the surface before sealing. |
| What service life is expected? | Approximately 10–12 years for an exposed repair. Actual life depends on preparation, thickness and conditions; protective-coating maintenance can extend service. | Approximately 12–20 years for a properly prepared and applied repair. Actual life depends on conditions. |
| What colors are available? | Brown, weathering toward light brown. | Black and white. |
| How long should unopened containers be stored? | Recommend use within 3–4 months from the shipping date. Material may remain usable longer if uncured, but extended storage is not guaranteed. | Recommend use within 3–4 months from the shipping date. Material may remain usable longer if uncured, but extended storage is not guaranteed. |
| How long after opening should it be used? | Recommend use within 3–6 months. Keep the lid tightly sealed and store at room temperature or in a cool place. | Recommend use within 3–4 months. Keep the lid tightly sealed and store in a cool place. |
| Special applications | ||
| Can it repair skylight leaks? | Use for compatible curb flashing, especially corners, and the specified Plexiglas-to-metal-frame transition. It does not adhere to glass and is not a general solution for every skylight leak. | Use fleece for compatible curb, glazing-to-frame and specified glass/Plexiglas crack repairs. Sealing a crack does not restore the structural strength of damaged glazing. |
| Can it be used around vent pipes? | Yes, on compatible pipe and roof materials. Lightly sand PVC/ABS bonding areas. Do not bond directly to EPDM boots. | Yes. Super Silicone Seal adheres to PVC and ABS roof vent pipes and directly to prepared EPDM vent boots. It may not adhere to some other plastics; test adhesion first. Use fleece and the appropriate thin-coat method on vertical areas. |
| Can it repair EPDM fish-pond seams? | No. Turbo Poly Seal is incompatible with EPDM. | Bergstrom Industries has tested Super Silicone Seal with fleece over EPDM pond seams for four years. In this ongoing test, the silicone performs well underwater, with no signs of coming loose. No fish have died, and the aquatic plants remain healthy. These observations describe our own pond experience; they do not establish independent aquatic-safety certification or guarantee identical results in every pond. |
| Can it be used on RV or shipping-container roofs? | Assess the actual roof material and repair detail. It may be used for compatible localized repairs, but not on EPDM or as a general whole-roof coating. | Suitable whole-roof substrates include EPDM, TPO and metal. Confirm the existing roof material and coatings; the vehicle or container type alone does not establish compatibility. |
Ready to Plan Your Repair?
Choose a product or open the Knowledge Catalogue for the surface-specific preparation, fleece placement and application sequence.
Read the applicable Turbo Poly Seal SDS or Super Silicone Seal SDS before use. Coverage, timing and service-life figures are approximate company guidance and depend on application and conditions.