Being a fundamental tool in both daily life and a variety of work environments, tape has become a mainstay in everyday life. No matter if you are sealing packages, protecting surfaces, or need something for a quick repair, the right tape can go a long way. With the variety of tape being so broad, it is essential to understand what the best types of tapes are and in which scenarios they are most effective. This guide will go over just that, going over the common types of tapes and helping you figure out which tape would be best for your work.
Common Types of Tape
Below is a variety of tape that is commonly used across both domestic and commercial tasks, going over what the tape is, the common uses for it and a small tip to keep in mind when using the tape:
a. Duct Tape
- Probably the most well-known type of tape on the planet, duct tape is a strong, waterproof, and highly versatile tape made with a cloth-backed adhesive.
- Ideal for any repairs, sealing, crafting projects or any small fixes you might need to patch up.
- With emergency fixes duct tape is commonly used for these scenarios but do be careful duct tape is prone to leaving behind a sticky residue on delicate surfaces which can take a lot of effort to remove.
b. Masking Tape
- Known just as much as duct tape, masking tape is also an incredibly common type of tape found in both homes and businesses. It is a light adhesive tape, often made of paper, designed for easy removal, so no marks or residual substance is left once removed.
- Masking tape is perfect for jobs that involve painting edges or temporary labelling, whether that be for children’s toys or draws.
- When it comes to the best marking tape to achieve clean, sharp edges in painting projects opt for painter’s masking tape as they are designed specifically for painting projects.
c. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) Tape
- EPDM is designed to be a durable, weather-resistant rubber tape, excellent for outdoor applications due to its weather-resistant design.
- The most common uses are sealing windows, HVAC systems, and vibration damping.
- EPDM should mainly be reserved for projects that are exposed to a large number of UV rays and need to be protected or are subject to extreme weather conditions.
- Surface protection tape is a low-tack adhesive tape designed to shield surfaces from damage, whether that be scratches, dirt or markings, during renovations or projects.
- Its best applications are for protecting glass, metal, and countertops during construction, DIYing or remodelling.
- Each surface reacts differently to surface protection tape, so before covering your surface up with the tape, test a small area of it first to ensure the tape is compatible with the surface.
- Packaging Tape/Buff Tape is a strong adhesive tape designed to be used mainly for securing packages and boxes for shipping or storage.
- As mentioned the main applications for this tape are for sealing cardboard boxes and reinforcing heavy packages, so they stay secure and stable.
- When it comes to using packaging tape for those heavy packages look to use reinforced packaging tape, as normal packaging tape would most likely buckle under the heavier weight, while reinforced would stay strong. Also, would recommend this for packages with fragile items, to ensure they are completely secure.
f. Various Other Tapes
Other than the ones mentioned above, there are many other types of tape, each designed for a specific purpose more niche than the previous tapes but still just as important. Here is a quick list of those other types of tape:
- Electrical Tape: Ideal for insulating electrical wires and preventing short circuits.
- Double-sided tape: Provides adhesion between two surfaces without being visible, ideal for putting up posters.
- Gaffer Tape: A strong, matte-finish tape primarily used in theatre, film, and photography.
- Medical Tape: Used for securing bandages and dressings without irritating the skin, a necessity for any medical profession.
How to Choose the Right Tape
When selecting the appropriate tape, as with most decisions, it depends on several factors, here are the main ones you should keep in mind:
- Surface Type: Some tapes adhere better to rough, smooth, or delicate surfaces, so ensuring you match the tape to the surface is key to its performance.
- Durability and Adhesive Strength: Depending on the length of the job you are doing, or if you need to tape to be temporary or permanent, durability and adhesive strength are vital to keep in mind.
- Temperature and Environmental Conditions: If you are using it outdoors you may require weather-resistant tape, to protect what you are using the tape on.
- Intended Use: Ensure the tape matches the task, whether the job is for repairs, decoration, or packaging.
Conclusion
Understanding the different types of tape is vital when looking to use tape in any project, as the wrong one can cause the work you are doing to run into various problems. We hope this guide has helped you understand the different types of tape out there, their uses and what to keep in mind with them when using them.
If you are interested in any of these tapes check out our range today, or if you have any questions our team of experts are on hand to help you, get in contact today.
