The best waterproof tape can even be applied underwater for making repairs to a filled above-ground pool or to the bottom of a boat without having to pull it out of the water. To find the best waterproof tape for the deck or for your next maintenance or repair project, consider the shopping tips and important product considerations that can help you make a final decision.
Things to Consider while Choosing the Best Waterproof Tape
In order to get the finest waterproof tape product, it’s vital to understand the many types of tape available and how to use them effectively. Consider the material that was used to create the tape and how it influences the product’s durability, ease of application, and amount of water resistance, among other characteristics.
1. Type
Waterproof tapes are available in a wide range of varieties, each of which is distinguished by its purpose, durability, and surface texture.
Reflective Tape – It is common practice to use waterproof reflective tape to mark mailboxes, driveways, and garbage cans so that they are easier to see at night or in bad visibility conditions. Reflective tape may also be used to clearly mark lanes and potentially dangerous areas in a workshop, or it can be used to help make a boat more visible to other boats.
Drywall Tape – Drywall tape is not waterproof, but it does become more bendable and stickier when exposed to water. This allows the tape to correctly fill the spaces between two drywall panels and eliminates the indented appearance that might result from just applying drywall compound to the gaps. Waterproof drywall tape is an excellent choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and any other rooms that are susceptible to high amounts of moisture and humidity, such as basements.
It features a textured backing that helps to keep it from sliding. For slippery surfaces such as the deck or patio of a boat, the floor of a house’s entryway and front steps, this is an excellent alternative. The tape has a textured backing that helps to keep it from sliding.
Gaffer Tape – When it comes to strength and stickiness, gaffer tape is comparable to duct tape; however, it is more heat resistant and simpler to remove without leaving a sticky residue behind. Gaffer tape, on the other hand, is constructed with a strong cotton fabric backing that is often merely water resistant, rather than waterproof, in nature. In addition, waterproof gaffer tape is a specialist product that may be difficult to come by in some areas.
Duct Tape – Duct tape is made of fabric, but the fabric is coated with polyethylene resin, which makes it waterproof. Duct tape is a typical household fixer that can also be used in a variety of businesses, including HVAC installation and maintenance, automobile repairs, and even the hotel industry, where it is used to fasten protective sheets, carpets, and padding.
2. Material
In addition to fabric, plastic, and rubber, waterproof tape is manufactured from a variety of other materials, with each substance having a different effect on its longevity, water resistance, adhesive strength, and application technique.
Fabric is a term used to describe a cotton tape backing that is both strong and simple to remove off the roll once it has been applied. This feature allows users to quickly rip sections of gaffer tape and duct tape using their fingers. However, because fabric does not have a considerable amount of water resistance, it must be coated with another substance in order to function well in damp situations.
Duct tape, reflective tape, and nonslip tape are all examples of common tape types that have a waterproof backing, such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and polymethyl methacrylate, which are all examples of plastic that are used to provide a waterproof backing to common tape types. As a result of its flexibility and strength, plastic allows the tape to expand without breaking. Plastic, on the other hand, might include strong adhesives that can leave behind residues that are difficult to remove after use.
When it comes to waterproof tape, butyl rubber and silicone rubber are both fantastic choices. When it comes to outdoor repairs, this sort of tape is used to cover up leaks in the roof, repair a hole in the side of an above-ground pool, or patch up a boat. Some people can even wear them while they’re underwater.
3. Adhesive Strength
Waterproof tape should be chosen based on the strength of the adhesive and the efficacy of the adhesive. According to industry standards, a waterproof tape can be used for up to 5 years before the adhesive begins to degrade. However, factors such as significant temperature changes, physical stress, and exposure to direct sunlight might shorten the tape’s useful life.
Look for a waterproof tape option that has enough adhesive strength to suit the project’s needs. It takes far less adhesive strength and resistance to temporarily secure cables using gaffer tape compared to placing nonslip tape to a highly utilized section of the house, such as the front stairs, to accomplish this task.
Tape used to block leaks must be able to form a watertight connection with the metal, wood, or plastic surface it is applied to in order to prevent running water from seeping in and gradually tearing the tape away from its surface.
4. Color
Shoppers sometimes miss an essential element of waterproof tape when evaluating the type of tape, the material used, and the adhesive strength. This is the color and finish of the tape. Although it is not always necessary, using brightly colored tape is frequently done in a variety of scenarios, such as plainly and succinctly cordoning off a potentially dangerous area or drawing attention to a difficult-to-see object such as a mailbox or a garage door.
Waterproof tape in neutral hues is ideal for use in interior design since it may blend into the backdrop rather than attracting attention to the area that needs repair. Gaffer tape is normally available in neutral colors with a matte sheen, and it is used in the film and theatrical industries to tape cables and set pieces without reflecting light and detracting from the production or performance.
5. Ease of Use
Choosing the most appropriate product for a certain purpose is the most effective strategy to ensure that the job is finished with the least number of complications. Waterproof tapes meant for general-purpose repairs around the house are often easy to peel, cut, and apply; nevertheless, these materials may have difficulty sticking correctly to outdoor surfaces due to the nature of the surface being waterproof.
Tapes designed to repair leaks or to withstand severe heat and cold temperatures are more difficult to apply because the adhesive is stronger and more viscous, making it more difficult to form a connection that properly seals the hole or fracture in the first place. However, once this tape is in place, it can be difficult to remove without leaving a sticky residue behind, making removal more difficult.