If your area recently had a bad storm with hail that caused a lot of damage to nearby properties, you should let a commercial roof repair contractor check your flat PVC roofing membrane for damage. PVC roofing can be damaged by hail, although it can often tolerate small hail.

If the recent storm produced large hailstones, it's worth calling in a roofer to check the membrane for damage before you get a roof leak. Here's how the roofer might repair any damage that's found.

They Hunt For Circular Cracks

Hail makes dents in PVC roofing that can also create cracks that form a circular pattern. The first thing the roofer needs to do is look over the entire roof and draw circles around all the hail dents noted. This marks the damage for the insurance company and it also lets the roofer determine if repairs are possible or if the membrane has to be replaced.

If the damage is confined to one area of the roofing or if there are several individual dents that are far apart, then repairs might be the right solution. If the entire roof is covered in dents and cracks, it's probably easier and wiser to replace the membrane.

They Prepare The Area To Be Repaired

The cracks in PVC roofing can be repaired with a patch. The roof membrane has to be cleaned first so the patch bonds well. This is usually done with cleaners made for PVC that don't have oil in them. The area has to be clean and dry before the patch is applied.

The Roofer Makes Repairs With A Patch

A commercial roof repair contractor can apply a patch to PVC by heat-welding it, which is not possible with most other types of roofing. First, the roofer cuts out a patch that's large enough to cover the entire damaged area. The patch is made from a membrane that's an exact match to the membrane on your roof.

The roofer places the patch on the membrane and then uses a heat-welding gun to heat up the bottom of the patch and top of the roof so they soften and bond together. The two membranes are pressed together with a roller to make sure they bond completely all the way to the edges of the patch.

The Edges Of The Patch Are Sealed

The final step is to seal along the edges of the patch so rain can't leak under the patch and so the edges won't lift up. The roofer might use the appropriate adhesive or caulk. When that's done, they check to ensure the patch is on tight and that it can't be lifted along the edges. This process is then repeated for all hail strikes on the roof.