The Waterproof Tape Buying Guide
Whether you need to create a weatherproof seal on equipment at work or want to stock up on duct tape for home use, we offer a wide array of waterproof tape for just about any project or repair. Unlike the tape you use for scrapbooking projects or shipping packages, it’s crucial that the tape you use for your household and professional repairs is highly durable and able to withstand the elements.
From the tried and true duct tape that you grew up using for small fixes to industrial solutions designed to provide safety and protection where you need it the most, we offer a wide variety of waterproof tapes from which to choose. In addition to being able to withstand water and moisture, many of these tapes can withstand other harsh elements as well, such as high heat, cold, and pressure. Beyond basic repairs, many of these waterproof tape options can be used to increase safety and visibility in the workplace. Keep reading to learn more about the many different types of waterproof tapes available on the market and how you can decide which option is right for you.
What Makes a Tape Waterproof?
Generally, it’s a combination of the manufacturing process, the adhesive used, and the material of the tape itself. Many of our tapes are constructed of vinyl or polyethylene, which can stand up to the elements and are highly durable. Industrial grade rubber- or acrylic-based adhesives provide an extra level of security, ensuring that your seal won’t dissolve or lose stickiness due to exposure to moisture. When it comes down to what makes a tape waterproof, it's generally not a one-size-fits-all reason, but usually based on a myriad of factors.
Also, some waterproof tapes are better suited to some tasks than others. For example, electrical tape is specifically designed for electrical projects, such as fixing wiring or minor electrical concerns. We also feature plumbing tape, which is specifically designed to help you with plumbing tasks where waterproofing is of the utmost concern.
Types of Waterproof Tapes
We offer a wide array of waterproof tape options, depending on what you need for the task at hand.
Duct Tape Varieties
Duct tape is one of our most popular waterproof tape choices. It’s become a staple in both homes and business settings alike. As the most ubiquitous and well-known water-resistant tape, its popularity stems from not only its reliable durability, but its ease of use. You may have seen shows where people make boats, houses, and even snare traps out of duct tape. The material is versatile and serves multiple purposes. Do be warned that one trade-off of duct tape is it may leave a residue, but that’s not necessarily a deal breaker for some applications.
Manufacturers tend to keep the width the same, but design and additional qualities can change. Choose the color and strength you would prefer. We offer a wide array of duct tape options in a myriad of colors, which means you can find the exact tape you need for your specific project or use.
Electrical Tapes
As the name implies, electrical tape is widely used by electricians to protect, insulate, or handle minor repairs in electrical wiring and installations. In addition to being waterproof, electrical tape is often cold-resistant and flame retardant, which helps to protect electrical wiring from under or overheating. One of the best qualities of electrical tape is its pliability, which is a result of its highly flexible rubber or vinyl backing materials.
Electrical tape can often be used for minor repairs unrelated to electricity. Like duct tape, it can also sometimes leave behind a sticky residue, so be mindful of that when making your purchasing decisions. While many expect electrical tape to only be available in the standard black color, we offer All-Weather Colored Electrical Tape, which can help you to color-coordinate your electrical and outdoor projects.
Gaffer Tapes
Gaffer tape is used for industrial, construction, and heavy-duty applications. The material is cotton-cloth and made for pressure sensitivity. You can remove it without leaving residue behind, which makes it useful for operations that require clean surfaces. Often gaffers or other technicians in stage, television and film work will use them to prepare a shot or a scene. This is often a smart choice for projects where you absolutely cannot leave a sticky residue behind after removal, which can often be the case with other waterproof options such as duct tape.
Gaffer tapes are well known for their durability, strength, and high weather resilience. In most cases, they are not only resistant to water but also to heat, UV, and other factors that can rapidly weaken, loosen, or deteriorate other types of tapes.
Teflon Tapes
Teflon tape is constructed of polytetrafluoroethylene, a highly durable and resistant material more commonly known as teflon. This tape is designed to withstand extreme heat and cold while maintaining a tight seal, even in areas where moisture and water are present. Teflon tape is often referred to as plumber’s tape, as it’s most widely used in plumbing projects. Our Pipe Thread Seal Tape is a popular choice for preventing and repairing leaks in plumbing. It is highly durable and resistant to the elements.
Silicone Tapes
Silicone adhesives are highly resistant to extreme weather conditions and moisture, but unlike other options on this list, they’re also quite resistant to acids and oils. They tend not to lose adhesiveness with age, which means you won’t have to worry about any seal you create being diminished by time. We offer our Polyester Splicing Tape in both acrylic and silicone adhesive varieties.
Specialty Waterproof Tapes
Non-Slip Surface Tapes
Non-slip surface waterproof tapes are perfect for use on walking surfaces, ramps, steps, and other areas with wet or slick conditions. Substances other than petroleum-based liquids or gels can cause slippery situations, which can be quite dangerous in an industrial or factory setting. These tapes have strong and resilient adhesives that grip onto surfaces and resist moisture penetration, which can prevent slips and falls.
The outer surfaces have a textured grip that can grab onto shoes and boots, equipment, tools, and other items to help people maintain a sure footing. No matter how slick the conditions are, the surface will hold. These tapes are often available in different colors and patterns as well as different widths and thicknesses.
Marine Tapes
Marine tapes are tapes that are designed to withstand marine conditions, including prolonged exposure to salt water. These tapes are a popular choice for boaters, who may use them to repair minor dents and holes in their vessels. However, don’t think that these tapes don’t have practical applications on land as well. They can also be used for minor repairs and emergencies in or around swimming pools, ponds, or any area that experiences heavy rainfall.
Reflective Conspicuity Tapes
Our Reflective Conspicuity Tape and Industrial Aluminum Foil Tape are both highly reflective and perfect for use on vehicles and industrial equipment. This enhances visibility and reduces the potential for accidents in low-light conditions. Think of this tape as similar to the reflective vests and gear that runners wear at night, except on a much larger scale. We also offer fluorescent tape, which can also enhance the visibility of objects and equipment.
Underwater Repair Tapes
Underwater repair tape is a specialized form of tape that does what you’d imagine it does: It helps to create repairs and seals on objects that are completely submerged in water. This type of tape generally isn’t used for permanent fixes, as creating an adhesive that could withstand total submersion forever would be near impossible. However, this is a great type of specialty repair tape to have on hand for emergencies, especially if you work or live in an area with lots of water nearby.
How to Choose the Right Waterproof Tape
Basic Household Needs
If you’re shopping for your general household needs, you really can’t go wrong with classic duct tape. It’s the most versatile waterproof tape on the market, which means it can be just what you need for your basic household repairs and quick fixes. We offer a wide array of duct tape options in multiple colors and patterns. These duct tape options aren't just great for home repairs, either. Many people like to utilize these fun patterns, colors, and designs in their crafting projects as well. Due to its combination of versatility and durability, it's an important item to have in your home. Beyond basic duct tape, SPVC tape can be a great tape to have in your toolkit, as it's good at withstanding moisture and heat.
Extreme Hot or Cold Temperatures
If you’re working in a factory or industrial site where you frequently experience extreme hot and cold temperatures, we highly recommend our Polyester Splicing Tape with a silicone adhesive. It’s able to withstand the elements without losing its adhesive abilities. It can also withstand exposure to fats and oils, making it perfect for refrigerated food production facilities.
Water Resistance
There isn’t one best solution for waterproof tape. The best option for you has a lot to do with how you’ll specifically be using the tape. When it comes to plumbing repairs, we highly recommend our Pipe Thread Seal Tape, which allows you to easily create a leak-proof seal. As for non-plumbing projects, it depends on just how much water you anticipate your tape will encounter.
For many simple seals and fixes, our industrial-strength duct tape will do the job just fine, as our duct tape varieties are truly able to withstand moisture and rainy conditions. Otherwise, our Polyester Splicing Tape is a great choice for jobs that need an extra level of protection. We'd also recommend our Polyethylene Film Tape or our any of our polypropylene tape varieties.
Electrical Projects
You really can’t beat basic electrical tape for electrical projects and repairs. This is also a great choice for any project that requires a tape with a good amount of flexibility. Be advised that most electrical tapes and appliance tapes will leave a sticky residue behind, which means they won’t be the best choice for some tasks. Also, always be cautious when attempting any sort of electrical project on your own. If you're not trained in it, many of these tasks are best left to the professionals, due to the highly dangerous nature of working with electrical wiring.
Safety and Visibility
When it comes to creating safety and visibility in your workplace, we’ll always recommend two tapes for the job. First, our anti slip tape allows you to add an extra element of traction and grip to high-traffic walkways and paths, which allows you to better prevent slips, falls, and accidents. Furthermore, our reflective tapes help you to enhance the visibility of vehicles and equipment in low-light areas, which will help you to better ensure the safety of your employees on the job. Our fluorescent tape can also help to enhance visibility in potentially hazardous environments.
Conclusion
Ensuring that your projects and repairs remain protected from the elements can be crucial. Thanks to our wide variety of waterproof tape options, you can find the right tape solution for just about any need. As an added bonus, many of these tapes are also resistant to pressure, extreme temperatures, and other elements.
Best Waterproof Tape - Deck Joist, Beam & Rim Tape
With so many options to choose from, finding the right waterproof tape for your project can be a difficult task. Check out the guide below to learn why butyl seal tape beats the rest for tough jobs.
What to Look for in a Waterproof Tape
Adhesiveness:
Choose your waterproof tape based on the strength and effectiveness of the adhesive. Waterproof tapes tend to last for about five years 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 can use the tape you choose for different purposes. Butyl tape is great because it adheres to a wide variety of surfaces, such as glass, metal, plastic, and wood. Both butyl and silicone rubber are great outdoor waterproof tapes for sealing up a leak in the roof or patching a hole in a boat.
Durability:
Always pick heavy-duty adhesive tape with a reliable warranty. When working on outdoor projects, you want to be sure that you can ensure the lifetime of your investment by reinforcing it with strong adhesive tape.
Trex Protect 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 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! Check out this buying guide on how to find the right materials for your deck project!
Duct Tape
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. It is covered with polyethylene resin coating, making the tape waterproof. 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.
Electrical Tape
Although very stretchy and elastic, electrical tape is not waterproof. Because this adhesive would likely lose its properties when wet, waterproof electrical tape is simply not practical nor possible. Instead, most electrical tapes have a specific weather and water resistance level. Therefore, it can work in situations where minimal moisture is involved but not in an environment where large amounts of liquid are involved.
Electrical tapes are better suited for minor DIY electrical tasks such as repairing or joining small cables.
Drywall Tape
It isn’t waterproof, but it uses water to become more malleable and adhesive, allowing the tape to properly fill the gaps between two drywall pieces and eliminating the indented look that can come from drywall compounds. Moisture-resistant drywall tape is a good choice for the bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms subjected to high levels of moisture and humidity.
Gaffer Tape
Like duct tape in strength and adhesion, gaffer tape is more resistant to heat and easier to remove without leaving behind a sticky residue. However, gaffer tape has a heavy cotton cloth backing that makes it a water-resistant tape, not waterproof. Also, waterproof gaffer tape is a specialty product that might be difficult to find. Many gaffer tapes use neutral color-coding so that your repairs will blend into the house exterior so as not to draw extra attention.
In the end, you want to be sure to choose a type of tape that will work best towards your project’s needs. For example, while duct tapes like Gorilla and T-Rex can be great fixer tapes for some outdoor projects, they don’t have the versatility and long-term durability that butyl tape provides. So be sure to choose something long-lasting, with good functionality in extreme weather conditions, and with a good warranty!
The Waterproof Tape Buying Guide
Whether you're tackling repairs around the house or working on industrial projects, having the right waterproof tape is essential.
Understanding Waterproof Tape
Waterproof tape is engineered to withstand moisture, providing a secure seal even in challenging environments. The key factors that contribute to its waterproof properties include the manufacturing process, adhesive quality, and tape material. Our tapes are crafted from resilient materials like vinyl and polyethylene, paired with industrial-grade adhesives to ensure long-lasting performance.
Different types of waterproof tapes cater to specific tasks. Electrical tape, for instance, is ideal for electrical projects, offering insulation and protection against water and cold temperatures. Meanwhile, plumbing tape provides a reliable seal for plumbing fixtures, ensuring leak-free connections.
Explore Our Range
Duct Tape Varieties: Versatile and reliable, duct tape is a go-to choice for a wide range of repairs. Available in different colors and strengths, our duct tapes offer durability and ease of use for both home and industrial use.
Electrical Tapes: Designed for electrical applications, our electrical tapes provide insulation and protection in harsh conditions. Choose from a variety of colors, including our All-Weather Colored Electrical Tape, for easy identification and coordination.
Gaffer Tapes: Ideal for heavy-duty applications, gaffer tape offers durability and residue-free removal, making it perfect for professional settings such as stage and film production.
Teflon Tapes: Known for their heat resistance and tight seals, Teflon tapes are commonly used in plumbing projects to prevent leaks and ensure secure connections.
Silicone Tapes: Offering exceptional resistance to weather conditions and chemicals, silicone tapes are suitable for a wide range of applications, from automotive repairs to marine environments.
Specialty Waterproof Tapes: Our specialty tapes include non-slip surface tapes, marine tapes, reflective conspicuity tapes, and underwater repair tapes, providing solutions for unique challenges in various industries.
Choosing the Right Tape
Selecting the right waterproof tape depends on your specific requirements:
For general household needs, duct tape is a versatile option suitable for a variety of repairs.
Extreme temperature environments require tapes like our Polyester Splicing Tape with silicone adhesive, which withstands heat and cold without losing adhesion.
Plumbing projects benefit from our Pipe Thread Seal Tape, ensuring leak-proof seals in wet conditions.
Electrical projects demand the flexibility and insulation provided by electrical tape, available in various colors for easy identification.
Enhance Safety and Visibility
Ensure safety and visibility in your workplace with our anti-slip tapes and reflective conspicuity tapes, designed to prevent slips and enhance visibility in low-light conditions.
We’re here for your Waterproof Projects
Ensuring that your projects and repairs remain protected from the elements can be crucial. Thanks to our wide variety of waterproof tape options, you can find the right tape solution for just about any need. As a bonus, many of these tapes are also resistant to pressure, extreme temperatures, and other elements.
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