Seam Tape vs. Foundation Butyl Tape: Essential Tools for Crawl Space Encapsulation

Seam Tape vs. Foundation Butyl Tape: Essential Tools for Crawl Space Encapsulation

Posted by Arthur Jackson on Dec 2nd 2024

Crawl space encapsulation requires precision and durability, and the right tape plays a crucial role. Let’s explore the features, benefits, and applications of two essential products: Crawl Space Seam Tape and Foundation Butyl Tape.


Crawl Space Seam Tape: A Professional-Grade Solution

What Is It?
Crawl Space Seam Tape is a single-sided, 9-mil thick polyethylene film with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. At 4 inches wide and 180 feet long, it’s ideal for joining and sealing vapor barriers in crawl spaces and basements.

What’s It For?

  • Sealing Vapor Barriers: Ensures a tight seal between overlapping sections.
  • Waterproofing: Provides a watertight bond, even in damp or heavily water-filled crawl spaces.
  • General Applications: Splicing, sealing, bundling, and marking in construction, marine, and agricultural industries.

Key Benefits:

  • Exceptional resistance to water and humidity.
  • Bonds to irregular surfaces with ease.
  • Durable 9-mil thickness ensures longevity.
  • Low-residue adhesive allows for repositioning during installation.

Pro Tip: Use 1 roll per 250 sq. ft. of crawl space and add 1 roll for every 4 support pillars for optimal coverage.


Foundation Butyl Tape: Versatile and Powerful Adhesion

What Is It?
Foundation Butyl Tape is a double-sided reinforced butyl tape, 1.5 inches wide and 75 feet long, designed for high-tack, high-peel sealing applications. This black tape adheres strongly to a variety of surfaces, making it indispensable for foundation sealing.

What’s It For?

  • Foundation Sealing: Bonds vapor barriers to concrete walls or flooring.
  • Field Seaming and Repairs: Joins polyethylene or polypropylene panels for a strong, airtight seal.
  • Versatile Sealing: Works on concrete, wood, metal, glass, and various plastics.

Key Benefits:

  • Aggressive adhesive for porous and low-energy surfaces.
  • Excellent performance on damp, cold, or uneven materials.
  • Reinforced for durability in tough conditions.

Application Tip: Measure the linear perimeter of your crawl space to calculate how much tape is needed. For example, a 50' x 20' crawl space (140 linear feet) requires 2 rolls of tape (75 feet each).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-YJR_gaD8U


Which Tape Should You Use?

  • Seam Tape: Best for sealing overlapping vapor barriers and waterproofing crawl space seams.
  • Foundation Butyl Tape: Ideal for attaching barriers to walls and sealing joints or seams that require extra strength.

Conclusion

For a complete crawl space encapsulation project, combining these two tapes ensures a robust, watertight seal. Seam Tape offers superior durability for large surface areas, while Foundation Butyl Tape provides unbeatable adhesion for securing barriers to walls or other challenging surfaces. Together, they create a reliable, professional-grade encapsulation system you can trust.

Ready to get started? Choose the right tape for your project and seal with confidence!