Why Isn’t My Vapor Tape Sticking?

Vapor Tape is a high performance seaming tape most commonly used to seal or join large overlapping panels of vapor barrier liners together.  Using tape seams is an excellent alternative to heat welding or solvent welding especially when site conditions or weather become a factor.  However, if you aren’t clear on how Vapor Tape works or the best practices for storing and installing the tape, you might find that the tape isn’t sticking as you’d expected. As experts on adhesives, we’re here to clarify what you should expect using Vapor Tape, how it’s different than other tapes, and how to store it.

Let’s Get Technical

Not all tape adhesives are created equal.  There are 3 major adhesive category types – Acrylic, Rubber and Silicone – each with their own adhesive systems that perform differently. Vapor Tape is a one-sided tape manufactured with 8 mil thick polyethylene film and a pressure-sensitive, natural rubber adhesive.  For this specific tape, pressure-sensitive refers to the initial bond to the surface.  It simply means the more pressure you apply when installing it, the faster the adhesive bond will become permanent.  Vapor Tape does not have a high tack with first contact like duct tape.  This time lapse allows you to reposition the tape if needed, because – let’s face it – most of us don’t get it right on the first try.  Over time (within as little as a day or as long as a couple weeks) the adhesive will become more aggressive resulting in a permanent bond.

The polyethylene film backing combined with the natural rubber make Vapor Tape waterproof as well as solvent and weather resistant.  It can withstand outdoor exposure and moisture in operating temperatures of 40 to 200° F and 40-60% humidity.  Vapor tape is conformable, flexible, and can contribute toward satisfying EQ Credit 4.1 (Low Emitting Materials) under LEED®.

Best Practices for Storing and Installing Vapor Tape

To extend the shelf-life of the Vapor Tape, we recommend you store it in temperatures less than 85° F/ 30° c, with humidity 50% or less.  When you are ready for installation, you should keep it at room temperature for a minimum of 24 hours.  In order to ensure that the tape sticks well, remove any contaminates or dust prior to adhering the tape to a surface. Lastly, keep in mind the colder the environment is, the longer it will take for the bond to set.

Do you have questions?

We have an awesome staff of professionals who would love to answer your questions! Contact us at 833-261-6501.