Roof tape - what is it and how is it used

A well-built house should not only be durable, have an excellent foundation and have a stable structure. Tightness and insulation are of particular importance during construction or renovation. It is worth learning in detail about the roofing tape, what kind of material it is, and what functions it performs.

Roof tape - what is it

The main task is to maintain tightness between the individual elements of the roof.The experience and opinions of many builders show that it is best to use materials from the same manufacturer's line for roof construction. This guarantees the compatibility of all raw materials used. This reduces the need for modification and adaptation of materials to each other.

It may be that the roofing tape in combination with materials from another brand will show changes over time, leading to a speedy repair.

Each roofing tape has its purpose. They have specialized applications and are not recommended as general purpose materials for any type of application.

Although there is an exception - this is a bitumen-based self-adhesive roofing tape. It can be used to repair, for example, gutters and gutters.

Let's take a closer look at what the roof sealant tape looks like. A layer of glue is applied to the material that forms the basis of the structure, made of plastic, non-woven or metal, which at the same time is a waterproofing layer. The adhesive coating includes butyl glue or rubber. The metal is aluminum, lead or copper.

Advantages and disadvantages

Bituminous roofing tape has a lot of advantages, for this reason it is extremely often used in construction work. It has the following advantages:

  • insensitivity to temperature changes and flexibility - the material must work with the roof, shrinking and relaxing depending on the air temperature;
  • UV Resistant - Adhesive cannot loosen and dissolve when exposed to strong sunlight. The outer surface of the tape, in turn, should not turn pale;
  • durability without deformation under the influence of excessive moisture - the roof is exposed to direct raindrops. Therefore, it must exhibit resistance to joint loosening due to water ingress under the adhesive layer.
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Bitumen tape for roofing

There is one downside. Tape must not be used indoors. All work must be done outdoors only. It is also highly flammable, so it is worth treating the place of gluing with a special substance.

Purpose and main features

Sealing coatings in the form of a tape can be divided into 2 groups. The first is used for external work:

  • chimneys;
  • skylights;
  • cable entries, alarms and TV - sewer cable outlets;
  • skates and overhangs.

 

Application of roofing tape

Using metal-backed tapes gives the best results. Made on the basis of plastic components have a shorter operating time. Such material decomposes faster under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from the sun or wind.

The second group is the tapes used in the primary roofing installation. They are used to ensure tightness when laying films and membranes. They consist of many layers (minimum 2) - supporting and adhesive part. Universal plastics such as PET, PP, PVC or plastic-based nonwovens are indispensable components. Adhesives contain acrylic, rubber and butyl resins. Double-sided adhesive tapes are used to stick it to the base. One-sided adhesive products are used to connect the strips.

Roofing Tape Classification

The type of roofing tape is determined by the material from which it is made, so the following can be distinguished:

  • tapes are made of lead or aluminum, which are very durable and are used to treat the chimney;
  • ridge tapes made of copper or aluminum have a special structure that allows you to isolate the ridge and corners in the roof structure;
  • bitumen tape, with which you can successfully seal the roof and eliminate minor defects;
  • roofing foil tapes that allow you to firmly and securely fasten roofing waterproofing membranes, which guarantee the protection of the roof from moisture and air.
Ridge tape
Application of ridge roofing tape
bituminous tape
Roofing bitumen tape with foil

Manufacturers note that roofing tape should be chosen not only for its intended purpose, but also for the type of materials. Each brand has its own parameters and dimensions, and by buying everything from one brand, we will avoid inaccuracies when waterproofing the roof and installing adjoining other structural elements.

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Seam sealing

Bitumen-based roofing tape is a self-adhesive sealing product made of synthetic resins with an aluminum protective film, designed for roof waterproofing and general building insulation.

Advantages:

  • self-adhesive - fast adhesion to many building substrates;
  • does not require the use of specialized tools - cold application;
  • self-sealing - in the event of a puncture or cut with a nail or screw, the tape seals itself at the site of damage;
  • does not require special protection and care;
  • high resistance to weather conditions;
  • the top layer of aluminum provides mechanical protection, protecting the tape from tearing due to loads and impacts - walking on the tape is allowed with caution;
  • the top layer protects against the harmful effects of UV radiation, so that the tape retains its color and functional properties for many years;
  • the possibility of gluing in layers;
  • flexibility - easily adapts to the shape of the surface.

Sealing roofing tape has a bottom layer, which is protected by a dense polyethylene film. This prevents the adhesive bituminous layer from drying out.

Application area:

  • Replaces or supplements skins - skylights, skylights, chimneys and ventilation pipes, skylights, hatches, cornices, gutters, roof edges, balconies, terraces, firewalls.
  • Roofing tape as a sealant for roofing roof joints, as well as for metal tiles and slabs.
  • Sealing of exterior window sills, gutters, drainpipes, boat hulls, caravans.
  • Sealing joints of profiled sheet, including aluminum and copper, steel structures. For example, acoustic, shielding and heat-insulating sandwich panels.
  • Warming of wooden frame structures, for example, greenhouses, verandas, arbors, garden architecture.
  • Sealing corners of terraces.
  • Repair of silos, containers, garden pots.

Application in repair

High-quality sealing tape can be used in a variety of ways at home, as well as in repair and construction work. The same is true with technonikol roofing tape.

Sealing contacts and connections - metal, wood, plastic. There is no surface for this tape that does not adhere perfectly. You will use it in both construction and roof repairs.The self-adhesive surface of the product provides excellent adhesion to slate, plaster, concrete, glass.

Roof sealing tape is an indispensable element of the roof structure under the ridge or slate. You don't need to worry about the durability of this type of fastening, the main thing is to know how to properly fasten it. The perfectly matched bitumen-polymer mixture extends the sealing properties of the tape up to 10 years.

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Hydraulic repair is another possible application. Allows to prevent corrosion of cold water pipes, as well as sewer structures. A leaking roof is repaired with sealing tape.

The colors of the ribbons correspond to the most popular design shades, even metallic ones. This allows you to carry out repairs or reconstruction without violating the shape and color of the roofing material.

Rubber tape can be used not only for roofing, as it is frost-resistant, but also inside the building. It is not surprising that with its help you can install or repair any small elements of garden architecture. Roofing a woodshed or fixing a birdhouse will be much easier with this product. The bituminous layer of the tape is protected from UV rays by an aluminum coating, this solution allows the tape to be used outside.

Gutters on buildings like to open up. Therefore, make sure in advance that they are well connected using sealing tape. This good quality is also suitable for connecting pipes and all plastic and metal elements.

The tape can act as a sealing element when creating coatings for ceramic tiles.It can also be used to mask expansion joints, as it is available in several colors, making it easy to match them to the color of the surface where the gap between the elements is located.

Roof tapes can have more uses than just repairing the surface of a roof. They are useful as waterproofing and weather protection. They are used not only on roofs, but also in basements, on terraces, balconies or on the foundations of houses. They can also be used as anti-corrosion protection, such versatile products save you time and money.

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