Sika Sarnafil roofs are PVC, and well-installed ones last a long time. They show up on schools, hospitals, offices and civic buildings around Ventura, often with long runs of wall flashing and plenty of rooftop equipment. Sika sells both Sarnafil and Sikaplan PVC membranes, and the right repair materials depend on which product and thickness are installed.
Our first visit is about the membrane itself. We check how the seams were welded, whether the sheet is still flexible, how the flashings at walls and curbs are holding, and what has been patched before. A commercial roof inspection gives you those findings on a plan with photos.
Near the beach and Ventura Harbor, salt air corrodes metal edges, coping and fasteners long before the PVC gives out. Ponding at slow drains and dirt build-up from the marine layer add wear. When an owner calls us about a Sarnafil roof, the fix is usually at the edges, drains and flashings, not across the whole field.
The named membrane and previous patches
A Sarnafil roof is repaired by hot-air welding new PVC to the old. That only works if the existing membrane is clean, still weldable and actually PVC. We clean a test area, make a test weld and check it before committing to a repair method. Older sheets that have lost flexibility may need a different approach or a larger replacement area.
Earlier repairs often cause trouble. Roof cement, mastic, tape or a TPO patch on a PVC roof will not weld, so those spots are cut out and replaced with matching material.
Our PVC roofing page covers how PVC seams and flashings are put together. On a Sika roof, we also follow Sika’s published installation requirements for the specific Sarnafil or Sikaplan product, including how flashings are attached and how the membrane is fastened or adhered. That is what keeps a repair from turning into the next leak.
Flashings and details in the estimate
Membrane is only part of the job. On most Sarnafil roofs we look at, the work that matters is at the perimeter and around penetrations: wall flashing that has pulled loose, coping with open joints, failed pipe boots, cracked sealant at termination bar and worn flashing at curbs and drains.
Our estimate lists those repairs one by one and by location. You will see what we remove, what we keep and what we install new. No mystery line items.
If you are also looking at a Duro-Last proposal, both systems are PVC, so the two bids should be easy to line up. Ask that they cover the same walls, curbs, drains and edges. One thing we always check before the job is height. If new insulation goes down, the base flashing at walls, doors and rooftop unit curbs needs enough height to stay above the finished roof. A curb that is too short has to be raised first, and that belongs in the estimate, not in a change order.
Wet insulation and deck under the membrane
Water that gets under a PVC membrane moves through the insulation and can wet a far bigger area than the hole would suggest. Before closing any repair, we check for wet insulation with core cuts, and on larger roofs we use an infrared or moisture survey to map it.
Wet insulation gets cut out and replaced with new board. Rusted metal deck or soft wood is repaired first. Dry insulation stays, which keeps the job from growing for no reason.
Other bids should include the same work. A GAF system proposed for the same roof still needs the same wet insulation and deck repairs. Switching membranes does not dry anything out. If more damage turns up once the roof is open, we stop, photograph it, mark it on the plan and price the extra work for your approval. The open area is sealed every evening so the building stays dry. Larger structural questions, like a sagging deck, go to an engineer before new material goes on top.
Related Roofing Work
Equipment preparation before the detail begins
Sarnafil roofs on hospitals, labs and schools tend to carry a lot of equipment. Air handlers, exhaust fans, gas piping and conduit often sit on the very flashings that need repair. Some of that we can work around. A curb flashing under a large unit usually needs your mechanical contractor to shut it down or lift it first.
We put that order in writing: which items need another trade, what we do next and how long our part takes. That keeps us from showing up to a curb we cannot reach.
Occupied buildings set the pace. A school may want roof work during breaks, a clinic may need welding fumes kept away from intakes, and an office may want noisy work done early. When the job runs over several visits, each stopping point is sealed so the roof stays watertight overnight. After each visit you get a short update listing what is finished, what is waiting on another trade and what is left, so nothing half-done gets mistaken for complete.
Records of the Sika work
Access is part of the plan. On a Downtown Ventura roof, an alley may be the only place for a hoist and parking may be tight, so we work out deliveries, staging and debris removal before the first day. School campuses and larger sites in East Ventura bring different questions, such as keeping crews and materials away from students or patients.
When the work wraps up, you receive the Sika products installed, a roof plan marking every weld, flashing and insulation repair, and dated photos taken before the repairs were covered.
We put that together in a roof condition report you can file, share with an insurer or hand to the next contractor. Anything we did not open, or that is still waiting on another trade, is listed separately. If the roof has a Sika warranty, check whether it is still active and what Sika requires for repairs before work starts. We are glad to help you get that answered.
Common Questions
What product information do you need before choosing Sika repair materials?
We need to confirm the roof is Sika PVC, whether it is Sarnafil or Sikaplan, and roughly how thick and how weathered the sheet is. We do a test weld on cleaned membrane, check how earlier patches were made, and pick materials that match what is actually installed.
How do I compare a Sika Sarnafil bid with another manufacturer?
Ask every contractor to price the same seams, wall and curb flashings, drains, edges and wet insulation at the same locations. Then compare. If one bid is much lower but leaves those items vague, it most likely covers less of the work your roof needs.
What needs to happen before you can repair flashing at rooftop equipment?
If a unit sits on the flashing, your mechanical contractor usually needs to shut it down or lift it first. We list that step in the estimate, help you schedule it, and keep that curb on our open list until the new flashing is welded and checked.
What does the next contractor get from the completed Sika work?
They get the Sika products used, a roof plan showing every repair, and dated photos taken before the work was covered. Unopened areas and items waiting on other trades are listed separately, so whoever works on the roof next can see exactly what was done.
Get your Sika Sarnafil roof inspected
Send us the address, the problem areas and any drawings or warranty papers you have. We will check the PVC membrane and flashings, test the seams, and give you a clear estimate for the repairs your roof needs.