Ten years ago, a variety of adhesive construction tapes was available. The choices were limited to rubber, butyl and asphaltic tape, each offering known pros and cons to builders. As higher-performance tapes, including improved rubber, butyl and newer acrylic tapes, entered the construction marketplace, builders were flooded with a widening variety of options. The number of tapes available today is overwhelming; however, choosing the right one could make a huge difference in a project’s integrity, longevity and energy efficiency.
As customers demand more energy-efficient homes and building energy codes become stricter, it’s essential for builders to know the differences between tapes’ performance level over time, longevity in weather extremes, watertight and airtight features, and more. Today’s newer and higher-performing acrylic adhesive tapes offer builders better choices and multiple advantages over previous choices. These tapes actually stick better over time, are more durable, are more weather resistant, are easier to apply and are more environmentally sensitive, producing minimal fumes and off-gases than the less-effective rubber, butyl, and asphaltic tapes of the past.