How to Select and Use Perforated Mounting Tape

Peculiarities

The tape used to seal joints is a vapor-tight building material. For production, foil or knitwear and a moisture-resistant coating are used. The reverse side of the elastic fabric is usually equipped with an adhesive for reliable fixation.

The positive qualities of the product include the following:

• working ductility is maintained at low temperatures;
• inertness to biological effects and aggressive environments;
• equal resistance to steam and water pressure;
• safety for human health;
• Availability of use inside and outside the building.

Due to its plasticity, the material follows smooth curves and retains its shape over time. The flexible base gives the material additional tensile strength. And also the canvas does not crack when processing different angles.

Scope of use

For the most part, self-adhesive waterproofing tape is used in construction and repair. It serves to protect the corners between the load-bearing structures of the building and the floor base, installation joints in windows, doors, plumbing, ventilation and chimney openings, and ensure the reliability of joints in the water supply system.

In everyday life, the material is used less often. For example, for strengthening and sealing an aquarium and water containers. On an industrial scale, the objects are pipelines and air ducts. In mechanical engineering, metal parts are protected from gasoline, oil and natural precipitation.

Technical characteristics of waterproofing tape

The properties of the material are truly impressive:

• Excellent adhesion to all kinds of surfaces and building materials - concrete, metal (aluminum, steel, zinc), brick, natural wood, plaster and glass. In almost all cases, no additional priming is required.
• Convenient to work due to elasticity, flexibility and low weight.
• Durability, abrasion resistance and high levels of strength.

• Resistance to chemicals, ultraviolet rays, aging, moisture, temperature changes (waterproofing tape does not lose functionality even at a temperature range of -40...+80 degrees).
• Water and vapor impermeability.
• Some types of waterproofing tape can even be plastered and painted, which improves the aesthetic properties of the tape.
• Ease of use, practicality.

In addition, the tapes are indoor, which makes transportation and storage much easier.

Kinds

The scope of application of waterproofing tape is varied, since the material is presented in several versions. There are products that need to look aesthetically pleasing due to outdoor use (windows, aquarium). Sealing hidden areas requires only reliability and durability. Manufacturers also offer a choice of finished products with different compositions.

Depending on the underlying basis

Metallized foil or mesh polyester knitwear is used as a working basis for the manufacture of waterproofing tape. A thin layer of bitumen resin with additives is applied to the aluminum sheet to give the product elasticity. The mass is moisture-proof and acts as an adhesive.

The cells of the woven base are filled with thermoplastic polymers. This option is relevant for sealing seams between the constituent elements in the roof. The reason for this is the wide range of temperatures acceptable for operation: from −20 to +70 degrees Celsius.

The third option includes polyethylene film. A layer of bitumen rubber is applied on top of it. A similar waterproofing tape is used additionally to create protection against corrosion and as a dielectric. The fabric is highly elastic.

A feature of bitumen-polymer products is the self-healing of the sealing coating in case of mechanical damage.

Water-repellent tapes also include universal transparent tape. This is a material that does not have any additional special coating. It is used not only to isolate the base from water. More often it is used for sealing damaged areas of paper products, fastening lightweight structures and objects.

Fum tape is also produced without coating. Its purpose is additionally to seal threaded connections. This is relevant for the installation of mixers, taps and valves, adapters and distribution devices. Similar products are also used to connect any household appliances to the water supply.

Sealing tapes containing bitumen and rubber resins have high strength. Such products are actively used in road construction. We also process joints in wells, stormwater systems, and sewers.

Depending on the area of ​​use

Conventionally, all materials are divided into 2 groups: for external and internal use. Thus, for work outdoors or in cold rooms, vapor-tight products are suitable, which are highly resistant to mechanical loads and temperature changes. From the inside, they often pay attention to external performance.

Polypropylene tape is used to protect slopes, windows and the mounting foam that fills the mounting seam between them. It eliminates the need to apply plaster or sealant when glazing openings. There are 3 types of canvases:

1. For covering external gaps with acrylic adhesive strip. The front color can be white or grey. The width is 70-100 mm, and the roll length is 50 m.
2. The outer tape Psul is black or gray in appearance and resembles foam rubber. A distinctive feature is its applicability during the installation of windows in winter.
3. White vapor-tight protection is installed inside.

A universal tape is used to waterproof corners between walls and floors in the kitchen, toilet or bathroom. More often it is based on knitted reinforcement. This allows the material to be resistant to mechanical stress from the screed or decorative finish.

To insulate the joints between the chimney floors and the roof, and to process the connections of the elements of the drainage system, a product with a foil base is used. This is due to aluminum's resistance to high temperatures. The moisture-resistant coating must also be thermoplastic.

Robiband mounting tapes – a course for durability

Robiband mounting tapes are tape sealants that have been produced by Robitex Group of Companies at a plant in the Moscow region since 2006. Over the course of 15 years, the company has become a leader in the production of mounting tapes and an expert in this field. More than 50 million windows have been installed in Russia using Robitex materials.

The company not only produces mounting tapes, but is also a patent holder. In 2008, Robitex Group patented a revolutionary installation device - the UFM mounting clamp. With its help, window installation can be easily done by one person. Aligning the structure in the opening takes five times less time compared to installation on support wedges. This technology is especially relevant for strip glazing and balcony blocks.

Advantages of Robiband mounting tapes:

• 3 layers vs 1 . Waterproofing and vapor-permeable tapes consist of three layers, this is the only way they can perform their function - releasing water vapor and not allowing water to pass through and vice versa.

Photo: Noname tapes consist of one layer and allow water to pass through as easily as air. And getting the mounting seam wet is a direct path to freezing and the formation of ice on the window, ©oknamedia.ru

• The durability of the tapes for at least 20 years has been confirmed by tests in Russian and European testing centers. Robiband tapes are the only ones in Russia that have a quality certificate from the European Institute of Window Technology in Rosenheim (IFT Rosenheim Germany), which is recognized throughout the world. With these tapes you can forget about blowing out the slopes for the entire service life of the window.
• Can be used in any region of the country . The operating temperature of the tapes at which they do not lose their properties is from -40°C to +80°C.
• Installation can be done all year round at temperatures from -15°C to +50°C. The vapor barrier properties of internal tapes (vapor barrier) are many times higher than the requirements of the standards. A seam protected by film will never get wet and will keep the house warm for decades.
• Installation in one day. It is recommended to glue the tapes onto wet foam and not wait until the foam hardens to finish the slopes.
• Adhesion , that is, the peeling force of the surface of the tape with the wall and window, is up to 5 times higher than required by GOST - 1.4-1.6 kgf/cm at a rate of 0.3 kgf/cm.

Photo: Robiband tapes, unlike analogues, withstand the sample peeling time required by GOST, @oknamedia

No deformation of the wall and window can lead to the tape coming off and cracks appearing on the plaster slopes.

Disadvantages of Robiband tapes:

• Higher cost compared to analogues, due to the use of high-quality materials with a long service life of up to 20 years.

The results of comparative tests of Robiband and Noname tapes can be seen in this video:

Classification and properties

According to their purpose, there are two types of tapes:

• for internal use with high vapor barrier ability;
• for processing external seams with high strength and durability.

For interior work

The first type of waterproofing tape is most often used when installing new window units, installing plumbing fixtures and interior decoration. It is this type of material that is made on polymer knitwear.

This sealing tape not only protects against moisture penetration into joints and corners, but also prevents the emission of foam vapors into the room, which significantly increases the safety of any home.

For outdoor use

Tapes of the second type have high mechanical strength and retain their properties even at low temperatures.

Foil options do an excellent job of waterproofing and protecting from sunlight. They are successfully used for external protection of joints and seams of window and door openings, as well as for sealing joints of roofing materials.

Waterproofing tape with a durable aluminum base performs a good protective function when sealing expansion joints in concrete structures.

Bituminous self-adhesive tape provides good adhesion to the base and is not subject to destruction over time.

Types of materials

Type 1. Water vapor barrier tape

A variety of tapes are used for installing PVC windows. Each type of such material has its own characteristics and advantages, therefore, to achieve maximum effect, you should combine materials, combining their functional advantages in the best possible way.

Material for hydro- and vapor barrier

I’ll start my review of materials used when installing windows with the most popular - water vapor barrier tape:

1. Self-adhesive water vapor barrier installation tape (GPL) is a tape material that covers the installation gap on the room side.
2. The basis of the tape is polyethylene or polyethylene foam film. On one side, the plank is laminated with a thin layer of aluminum foil, and on the other, one or two strips of adhesive are applied for installation.
3. The adhesive mixture used for application provides good adhesion to most materials - wood, concrete, brick, etc. Problems may arise when trying to cover an opening made of gas or foam concrete, so before purchasing installation material, I recommend consulting with the seller or carefully studying what the manufacturer’s instructions say about this .
4. The structure of the tape ensures almost complete tightness of the finished assembly seam: neither the gluing area nor the polyethylene strip itself allows air and water vapor to pass through.

Foil version

1. The polymer structure provides the product with additional advantages: the finishing material is not afraid of not only moisture, but also the effects of acids, alkalis, and other chemically active substances, and also does not degrade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.

Type 2. Insulated water vapor barrier tape

Insulated tape is, in fact, a modification of a conventional water vapor barrier material. Its key features include:

• increased thickness of the base, which is made exclusively from foamed polyethylene;
• a denser foil layer based on a durable polypropylene film.

Insulated option

Thanks to these design features:

1. The product is no worse at preventing the diffusion of liquid and water vapor and the penetration of moisture into the middle part of the assembly seam. This ensures the most effective hydro- and vapor barrier.
2. The increased thickness of the base and its porous structure help reduce heat loss. Foamed polyethylene acts as window insulation.
3. Finally, the foil coating also plays an important role. A thin layer of metal on an elastic base reflects infrared radiation, performing the function of a “thermal mirror”. In this case, most of the heat generated by heating devices is returned to the room.

Insulation of the opening with foil material

The disadvantages of such products would include their rather large dimensions: finishing the installation gap with insulated tapes requires subsequent masking of the junction unit using slopes, which is not always included in our plans.

Type 3. Pre-compressed tape (PSUL)

Another universal material is PSUL (pre-compressed sealing tape). This material is used to ensure self-ventilation of the installation seam:

PSUL is most often produced in black or gray

1. The tape is a strip of porous polyurethane foam impregnated with a special composition. On one side, the strip is equipped with an adhesive layer protected by a special protective coating.
2. The product is supplied in rolled form (rolls or reels). It is necessary to unwind the material immediately before installation, since over time the product loses its properties.
3. During installation, the protective coating is removed and the PSUL is glued to the window structure. After this, the impregnation reacts with air, due to which the linear dimensions of the product increase. The tape expands and completely covers the installation gap.

The thin strip of polymer seal that we see in the photo will expand over time

Complete and high-quality overlap is possible only if the nominal size of the product specified by the manufacturer corresponds to the dimensions of the gap. So, for example, if I need to seal a 35 mm gap with my own hands, then for work I take a PSUL about 40 mm wide.

1. After expansion, the material becomes completely vapor permeable. This ensures unimpeded exit of water from the assembly seam.

Type 4. Inner tapes

In addition to these varieties, other products are also used for interior finishing of slopes. It is convenient to analyze their main features using the table, which I will give below:

Dry finishing material

Non-woven material for plastering slopes

Other types of mounting tapes

In addition to the products described above, other types of tapes are used for the installation of translucent structures:

1. Diffusion tape for exterior decoration. Used in combination with PSUL or polyurethane foam. Provides protection of the assembly seam from moisture and ultraviolet radiation while maintaining vapor permeability. Finishing the junction unit with diffuse material allows you to maintain a natural level of ventilation: air will freely flow out from the middle part of the installation gap.

It is also worth installing a diffuse layer under low tide on the outside

1. Butyl rubber mounting tape under the window sill. As the name suggests, it is used to seal the junction under the window sill and protect the insulation from blowing, moisture and heat loss. Like other materials in this category, installation is carried out using a self-adhesive layer.
2. Non-woven material for installation under low tide. It has high vapor permeability and is glued to the base of the opening under the drainage strip. In addition to providing ventilation, it significantly reduces the noise of galvanized metal flashings, acting as a shock absorber and dampening some of the loud sounds.
3. Adhesive tape is a universal material that is used for installing lightweight structures. For example, self-adhesive reflective film is popular, and a mosquito net with fastening tape is also very convenient to use.

This option for fixing a mosquito net is very convenient to use.

Application of waterproofing tape

The scope of application includes products made of glass, plastic, metal, as well as technological openings for windows, doors, ventilation, and chimneys. The tape is also used to seal the joints between component elements in various engineering systems. To connect threaded parts, thin tape is used as insulation and sealing.

Separately, we consider a material that has an adhesive coating on both sides. This tape is useful for ensuring hermetic fastening of membranes and roll waterproofing, which are installed overlapping. The edges of canvases and lightweight products are also fixed.

How to cut products

Perforated galvanized tape is produced in rolls of 25 meters. When laying cables, elements up to 10 or even 5 m are often needed.

Less commonly, corners are made from punched paper tape; small pieces are needed.

Therefore, buyers are faced with the question of how to cut galvanized steel. Points of sale often have cutting tools. If it was not possible to choose the desired length, then the segments are prepared at home independently.

The main requirement for a home cutting tool is a sharp blade. The edges should remain smooth and not deform. At home, they usually use tin snips.

In the metalworking industry, roller knives are used to cut metal sheets.

Where are waterproofing tapes used?

There are many options for using waterproofing tape:

1. Sealing and waterproofing of joints (external and internal) between reinforced concrete panels.
2. Waterproofing joints on foundations, cellars, basements, inspection holes and other places dug into the ground.
3. Steam and waterproofing of sheathing, ventilation and enclosing structures.
4. Bonding building materials together, for example, gluing panels for thermal insulation.
5. Roof repair and sealing.
6. Sealing and waterproofing of the pipeline + anti-corrosion effect.
7. Installation of external door and window blocks, waterproofing of attic windows and even skylights.
8. Structural glazing.
9. Sealing the contact points between the ceiling/floor and the wall.
10. Installation of an air conditioning system, air duct, ventilation with sealing and noise, heat and air insulation.
11. Sealing of balconies, loggias, greenhouses and greenhouses.

Waterproofing tapes are also used for minor repairs (elimination of roof and sewer leaks, waterproofing of roof ridges, gutters and pipes for water drainage, antenna installation sites, etc.).

Interior tape

When carrying out waterproofing work indoors, a diffuse tape is used, which will block the penetration of moisture from the mounting foam into the interior.

The Italian waterproofing vapor-permeable tape “Plaster” has excellent reliability and durability, and also sets high criteria for moisture and vapor protection. It is based on a special bitumen tape reinforced with special polyethylene. On the outside it is covered with aluminum foil, adhesive strips, have silicone protection, and its thickness is one and a half millimeters.

The scope of application of this tape is not limited to any building materials; it adheres perfectly to concrete, ceramic, cement and other walls. The outer film is available in four different colours, and this tape can be easily painted in any color. Rolls from five to ten meters long are available for sale, and the width can range from five to fifteen centimeters.

Internal work on gluing tape

Tape for sealing seams made of Masterflex polyurethane, it is distinguished by elasticity, resistance to mechanical stress, and high protection against the ingress of water under pressure. When installing this film, the contact surfaces require careful processing, but at the same time it is not selective in their composition. This tape is easily glued to surfaces with high humidity, but for excellent tension and adhesion, it can be fixed with nails at a distance of twenty to twenty-five centimeters. This material is used to seal seams.

Roofing tape "Ecobit" is used for waterproofing roofs, and its scope of application is not limited to this; it is successfully used when installing windows, pipes and doors. Tape for plastic windows is completely capricious in the choice of materials on which it will be glued.

It is distinguished by a reinforced reinforced layer and an outer aluminum or copper coating. The outside of the tape is protected by polyester, reaches thirty centimeters in width, covered with silicone film, fixed to any cleaned surface, and porous ones need to be treated with special primers.

Butyl rubber waterproofing tape for windows “Liplent”, place of application: internal window slopes.

There are three types of such tape on the market:

• The base is polyethylene, the reinforcement is fiberglass, and the outside is covered with aluminum foil. Butyl sealant performs the function of adhesive layer.
• Tape for waterproofing, the main composition is butyl sealant.
• “Knauf” has excellent elasticity, is made from polyester, has a long service life, and is used as a hydraulic insulator at various facilities.

Cost of materials

As I noted at the very beginning, the high price of mounting tapes partially limits their distribution. But at the same time, if you know exactly what you need, there is a chance to fit within the budget allocated for glazing.

Non-woven sleep material with self-adhesive base from SOUDAL

PSUL from Robitex

Basics of using waterproofing tape.

Before using any waterproofing tape, it is necessary to thoroughly prepare the surface, since the quality of adhesion and service life depend on this. All listed materials are recommended for use. They are used for sealing work in bathrooms, swimming pools, various tanks, roofs and service systems, as well as for sealing cracks in walls, connections and joints.

The common distinguishing feature of these tapes is their ability to interact perfectly with various types of construction surfaces, as well as those treated with adhesives, mastics and paints.

Before use, you should select the tape that is suitable in width, determine the required length, remove the protective film and press the tape to the beginning of the joint, gradually spreading it over the entire surface, additionally pressing it with a special roller, trying to remove all the air. Only after this, polyurethane foam is applied, after the complete expansion of which the tape is finally fixed and tensioned.

It is important to remember that in the corners of the deformation the tape is applied in the form of an omega loop. Also, the tape is applied wider than the joint by about six centimeters. The second layer is laid along the edges of the tape, leaving the middle free, while the bottom layer should already be dry.

By following the steps described, you can create an excellent waterproofing joint.

Recommendations for installation of PSUL

• Cut the PSUL to the required length;
• Remove the anti-adhesive tape and glue the PSUL to the window frame or quarter in the following order: first on the top of the window, and then on the sides;
• Install the window into the opening with an installation gap corresponding to the technical characteristics of the material. The gap should not exceed the working expansion of the PSUL.

The full expansion of the PSUL is 3–4 cm, but it is not working, with such an expansion it will not perform its direct function!!!

If the use of PSUL is impossible and a diffusion tape is installed around the perimeter of the window block, it must be covered with a strip!

An important element of insulation in the outer layer is the protection of the joint on the side of the window sill. For these purposes, it recommends using a diffusion tape, which is located directly under the ebb and prevents the penetration of moisture and air from outside, but does not prevent condensate from leaving the joint.

Installation features

Since moisture-resistant tape is used to prevent moisture from penetrating into a corner, seam or joint, the base must first be prepared. Reliable continuous adhesion of the wrong side of the fabric is possible only with a clean, even and smooth surface. Any protrusions contribute to damage to the integrity of the material. The dimples contain air, which can cause the tape to peel off. The adhesive substance has poor contact with grease, water, dust and dirt.

On a note! The waterproofing tape is installed without the use of special equipment. It is enough to have scissors or a construction knife on hand. First, a piece of the required length is measured and cut. Then the protective film is partially or completely removed. Next, the material is fixed by pressing from the center to the edges to evenly expel air bubbles.

Structure of waterproofing tape

Structure:

• The outside of the film is most often covered with aluminum foil, which is represented by a reinforced structure, but there are also tapes on the market that are based on other materials, as well as in different colors.
• The base is a layer of bitumen or butyl rubber, which easily adheres to any surface and at any angle.
• The material is covered with a special protective film on top, its purpose is to prevent the tape itself from gluing and drying out.

Install the film on a surface that has been specially prepared and cleaned.

When carrying out waterproofing work in places where door and window blocks are installed, the tape should be glued before the construction foam fully expands, this will allow the material to fully stretch and fix tightly.

The price of this product depends both on its width and on the production company.

Familiarization with its various types of structure and application will help you choose a waterproofing material from a variety of proposals.

Types of Robiband mounting tapes

Robiband mounting tapes are divided according to the following characteristics and purpose.

By type:

External

• PSUL
• Diffusion
• KMP

Domestic

• Vapor barrier

By scope:

• Window
• General construction

By function:

• Waterproofing + vapor permeability
• Combined (waterproofing + vapor permeability + opening alignment)
• Vapor barrier

At installation location:

• Under the window frame
• At low tide
• Downhill
• Balcony joint
• Facade

For window openings:

• With a quarter
• Quarter to
• Prepared equals
• Unprepared destroyed

According to installation temperature conditions:

• Universal
• Winter

Outer tape

When installing waterproofing using a special tape, the one that has increased resistance to mechanical stress and temperature changes is used on the outside of buildings. Self-adhesive waterproofing tape “Nikobend” is made specifically for use when installing PVC windows; it is based on polypropylene.

Tape for PVC windows, main characteristics of self-adhesive: highly durable, butyl based, has excellent adhesion to the surface of any material.

Window tape does an excellent job of protecting against various moisture; its use makes it possible not to use expensive sealants. Window tapes, a functional feature of these films is its ability to remove condensation settling on construction foam, as well as preventing moisture from entering the premises from the outside.

External taping work

"Tape-PSUL". It is similar to foam rubber and copes well with excess moisture that is formed during the full formation of foam used for installation work on door and window blocks.

A distinctive feature of this product is that it protects the foam from direct sunlight. In addition, thanks to the reliable protection of the foam, there is no need to urgently plaster door and window slopes, and this allows them to be installed even at sub-zero air temperatures. Excellent for window installation.

Recommendations for installing diffusion tape

• Cut the diffusion tape to the required length with an allowance of 10 cm;
• Remove the anti-adhesive tape and stick it to the stand profile from the outside;
• Then remove the second anti-adhesive strip and glue it to the bottom of the window opening, pressing it tightly.

According to GOST R 52749 “Window installation joints with vapor-permeable self-expanding tapes,” requirements for the service life of installation materials are established - at least 20 conventional years.

All materials used in the TBM trade program have quality certificates.

Installation in accordance with GOST using BAUSET tapes will save time, money, and, most importantly, our nerves, because... will allow you to forget about the problems that arise after poor-quality installation! Your window will serve and delight you, your family and friends for decades!