Waterproofing tapes are designed with a waterproof or water resistant adhesive, usually butyl or bitumen based, cold applied which may be single or double sided. It can be very useful to keep a roll around, as this type of tape has a wide range of uses, both at home and on the road.
One of the most obvious uses for waterproof tape is in plumbing, where waterproofing is very necessary, whether it's for a temporary fix or permanent construction. Construction workers also use waterproof tape for things like sealing door and window installations so that they will not leak once they are finished, and for temporary coverage of holes and gaps to prevent water from getting in while construction is in progress. Waterproof tapes, yet different tapes are utilized for pipe connections, foam tape applications, duct work and plumbing and building projects.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A WATERPROOF TAPE
Adhesiveness:
Choose your tape based on the strength and effectiveness of the adhesive. Waterproof tapes tend to last for about five years perfectly before the adhesive starts to break down. Still, outdoor use variables like extreme temperature changes, direct sunlight exposure, and physical stress can decrease its lifespan. You’ll want to go with a waterproof tape that will meet your project’s adhesive requirements of strength. For example, if you’re working on your outdoor deck you’ll want a tape that can withstand the elements like rain, snow, and low temperatures for an extended period of time. It will also need to create a tight waterproof seal with the surface of your deck to prevent running water from getting in and peeling away the tape.
Flexibility:
It’s also crucial that you use the tape you choose for its intended purposes. Both Butyl and Stix Fix tapes are great permanent waterproof tapes for sealing up a leak in the roof or patching a hole in a boat. Or Duct tape for temporary solutions like fixing an umbrella without completely damaging the product after removal. Some tapes require dry surfaces to apply while others don’t.
Durability:
Always pick heavy-duty adhesive tape with a reliable warranty when working on projects you want to be sure that you can ensure the lifetime of your investment by reinforcing it with strong adhesive tape. And visa versa, to go for a tape that would require temporary usage and leaves no residue after removing the tape while working on projects.
TYPES OF WATERPROOFING TAPES
Like any other bonding tapes even waterproofing tapes have options from low tack, repositionable and removable to very high strength and permanent bonding to choose from. Each tape is designed for different purposes, to ensure you are using the correct waterproof tape, it is important to understand the usage.
Butyl Tape
Butyl tape is a solvent-based rubber adhesive developed to augment traditional rubber adhesives. Because it is UV resistant, less temperature sensitive, and maintains adhesion at lower temperatures than natural rubber, butyl is an excellent permanent solution for outdoor, waterproof tape.
Butyl tape adheres to most surfaces instantly because it conforms to the material, making it an excellent repair tape for various situations around the house. The flexibility bonds work well when moisture is a factor, such as creating a flex seal for an outdoor deck.
Butyl is a flashing tape that holds water out, seals around decking screws and fasteners, and is impermeable to air. In addition, it is a thick adhesive with high tensile strength making it optimal for deck building since it won’t break when stretched.
It’s also often a more affordable option than acrylic or silicone tape!
Duct Tape
Duct tape's polyethylene coating makes it exceptionally water resistant. Duct tape is a strong tape made of cloth construction and is a common fixer around the house and in many industries like HVAC and automotive. However, while it is easy to use, it does not provide any real water resistance, so it needs to be coated with another substance to be truly effective on wet surfaces. These coatings can also leave behind some residues that can be tough to get rid of. Duct tape is also not very durable and will degrade when used in adverse conditions compared to most specialized tapes.
Silicone Tape
Made from cured silicone rubber, silicone tape typically contains a thin layer of silicone gel to make the product self-fusing, forming a permanent bond around whatever it is applied to. However, depending on the size of the project, this bond can take some time to form, even up to 24 hours until it is sealed. It is also thinner than your average rubberized tape, making it a bit less durable. Because it is more temperature-sensitive, it also can lose its adhesiveness in the extreme cold.
Stix Fix Tape
Stix fix tape is a super strong, rubberized, waterproof tape that instantly seals out water, air and moisture to create a flexible, rubberized, waterproof barrier! Stix fix tape is specially formulated with a thick, flexible, rubberized backing that conforms to any shape or object, along with an extra thick , super sticky adhesive that creates a super strong bond. Stix fix tape can be applied hot or cold, wet or dry and while being underwater. Stix fix tape is extra wide to quickly cover large cracks, gaps and holes on almost all surfaces. Stix fix tape is UV resistant, environmental friendly VOC-free and has a wide temperature range so it can be used in extreme weather conditions.
HDPE Tape
HDPE adhesive tape is a hot melt tape with heavy duty water resistance and made from HDPE fabric providing properties such as High tensile strength, high binding capacity, strong adhesion, water and moisture proofing. It is a necessity for packaging most products due to its ability to provide high safety to the product.
This is a superior quality self adhesive tape which has been specially made for permanent applications mainly in preparing FIBC bag industry, heavy carton sealing, splicing, bundling and reinforcing.
Teflon Tape
Teflon tape—generically called PTFE or pipe thread tape—is a thin, “stretchy,” tape you wrap around pipe threads before screwing them to their counterparts. It doesn’t have a sticky side, but rather clings to the pipe and itself as you wrap it tightly around the threads.
Teflon tape does two important things: One, it acts as a sealant to plug small gaps that might be present after the joint is assembled; and two, it acts as a lubricant so the pipe goes together more easily initially and also comes apart more easily when disassembled.
Self Amalgamating Mastic Tape
Self amalgamating tape, also known as self fusing tape, is a self bonding rubber or silicone tape used for electrical insulation applications. When stretched and wrapped around itself, this product fuses together to form a strong, waterproof and electrically insulating layer. Self amalgamating tapes are commonly used for waterproofing, corrosion protection, jointing and repair of cables. Products are available for general purpose, low voltage and higher voltage applications. Self-amalgamating tapes are rubber based, extremely versatile, non-tacky materials, making them very easy to use and apply.
Pvc Tape
General purpose, corrosion-resistant PVC tape for use on under and above ground pipe installations. Pipe wrap tape offers excellent moisture resistance and conformability to protect metal and plastic piping. i-STIX's tough non-conducting vinyl pipe-wrap tape fights against common indoor and outdoor elements that can lead to oxidation and other corrosion. It can be applied manually or with machinery to provide an all weather moisture-proof fortification.
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATERPROOF AND WATER RESISTANT TAPE?
Almost all tapes could be water resistible but not all are waterproof.
Although many will use the two terms interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. Water resistant tape, which generally refers to anything that will keep water out for a time but not indefinitely, usage of the product while being in or near water for temporary basis. While, waterproof tape is meant to resist water for longer stretches of time and mostly having a permanent bond with the surface applied to.
The waterproofing depends upon the adhesive backing of the tapes. Water resistant tapes could be solvent or acrylic based adhesive while waterproof tapes will be butyl or bitumen based. Check out out article, 'Silicone vs. Acrylic vs. Rubber? The types of tape adhesive.' for further information on tape adhesives.
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