Vinyl Repair Compound

Definition

• A vinyl repair compound is sold as part of a vinyl repair kit. The kit may include patches and additional sealants for vinyl work as well as syringes or other compound application tools. In general, adhesives cannot easily repair vinyl surfaces. So the repair compounds are made from a liquid-plastic material that can bond to vinyl properly.

Uses

• Vinyl repair compounds are designed to fix damaged vinyl and remain flexible and invisible, especially when used with patches. Because of these qualities, the repair compounds are designed primarily for use on flexible vinyl products. Vinyl "leather" is the usual surface. Hardened vinyl tiles or siding cannot be repaired with such compounds. The compounds are designed for use on holes and tears in vinyl fabric.

Process

• Both heated and non-heated vinyl repair compounds are made. Before they are heated, the heated variety of compounds are applied on a tear or a patch to cover a hole, and then they are heated with a low-heat source such as a heat gun on a low heat setting. The compounds melt, turn clear and then cure as a plastic layer. Proper preparation of the vinyl to be repaired, such as cleaning and light sanding, are common requirements.

Color

• Coloring is an obstacle when it comes to vinyl repair. A repair compound may not cure in the correct color, or the patch may not be a color that matches the vinyl surface. Some repair kits include different colors of patches or a dark color that is designed for only certain surfaces. Other kits include small bottles that hold paint in a variety of shades.