My job is to talk to contractors about the materials and products they use on a work site. I ask lots of questions about their processes so I can understand how to design materials that make their labor more efficient. I often hear that timeliness and a long lasting, quality outcome are two things these contractors strive for. Believe it or not, a lot of these things can be boiled down to the kind of seaming tape they use when putting up vapor barriers in crawl spaces.
The seaming tape in a vapor barrier system can make or break the efficiency of the final product. | Image Source: Stego Industries, LLC. ©
In this article I’m going to take the countless conversations I’ve had with contractors about seaming tape, and boil it down to a list of attributes to look for when choosing the right tape for your project. This list will help both contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners alike, and will take into consideration both the contractor’s time commitment and the homeowner’s long-term investment.
Which Attributes Will Save You Time As A Contractor?
Here are three things to look for in your seaming tape if you want to save time during the vapor barrier installation process.
- Tape adhesion
Tape needs to stick, that much is obvious. But it needs to do more than just stick. It needs to stick only to what you want it to, for as long as you want it to, no matter the external conditions (e.g. weather/temperature). You don’t want tape that is so sticky that you can’t unroll it, but it should stick to the walls of the crawl space. The tape shouldn’t lose adhesion over time, because no contractor wants to come back and redo work. Tape also needs to stick when the conditions aren’t perfect: Has the tape been tested for performance in really hot, cold, and wet environments? In summary, contractors shouldn’t be looking for the stickiest tape, but rather the tape that adheres to the intended surface for as long as it is supposed to.
- The tape’s ability to tear
In the same way tape must stick when and where you want it, it should also tear only at the right time and place. This one is another tough balancing act. Contractors like to use tape that they can tear with ease, but it can’t tear so easily that it occurs by accident. It also shouldn’t tear in all directions. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of using tapes that tear vertically as you’re unpeeling them. Buying a tape with pinked edges will make it easier to tear and quicker to apply, saving you time and frustration.
- Flexibility
This one is pretty straightforward. The tape needs to be flexible enough that contractors can quickly seal it around any penetrations or tight corners that need to be addressed. If the tape is too thick or too rigid, that can be difficult to do. So, ideally contractors are looking for a thick tape that still has flexibility, a thin tape that still has some give/stretch, or the right combination thereof.
Which Attributes Will Give Homeowners Long Lasting Results?
Here are three things to look for in seaming tape if you want to be sure to offer long lasting results to homeowners.
- Permeance
The reason you install vapor barriers in a crawl space in the first place is to protect the area from unwanted moisture and soil gases. Unfortunately, you can use the highest-rated barriers in the industry and yet still fail to protect the crawl space if the permeance of your seaming tape is too high. Seaming tape with a high permeance rating will allow moisture through the seams it’s meant to seal. When looking for a good seaming tape, aim for a low permeance tape (<.03 perms) designed for protective sealing, hanging, seaming, splicing, and patching applications. They are much better at blocking unwanted gases and water vapor from entering the crawl space.
- Long Lasting
The tape’s job is not only to assist in sealing the barrier, but also to create clean, unobtrusive surfaces in crawl spaces used for storage. Seaming tapes that curl over time will get caught or torn when sliding or shifting boxes or other items. Tape curls when it has a low tensile strength and is unable to stand up to applied pressure. If a crawl space is going to be used for storage, it is especially important that the tape hold its adhesion and have the tensile strength to maintain its form and stay flat against the vapor barrier.
- Cost of seaming tape
After evaluating all the features of a seaming tape product and determining which ones will perform at a higher level, there is the question of cost. Whether the contractor is purchasing the materials or the homeowner is providing them to the contractor, the homeowner is really the one paying for this material. Because of this, it is beneficial to find a low permeance, long lasting, long adhering tape that doesn’t break the bank.
The seaming tape in a vapor barrier system is an often overlooked but crucial part of the process, and can heavily influence a contractor’s work. Choose a tape that suits your needs. StegoCrawl® Tape when installed correctly in conjunction with StegoCrawl® Wrap ensures any crawl space will effectively be kept clean and dry.
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