Tapes & Gaskets

Using duct tape for ducting

Duct tape can be used for sealing joints in a duct run to reduce air leaks, however, it should only be used as a short-term fix. When duct tape is left on for long periods of time, it ceases to seal leaks as effectively, due to deterioration in the adhesive, allowing air to leak through the gaps. A longer term alternative sealant to duct tape is our duct sealant.

Types of ducting tape 

With so many options on the market you may wonder which type of industrial tape is the most suited to your application. Below we are going to list the main properties and uses for the tapes we offer:

Cloth duct tape - This type of tape is what is typically known as “duct tape”. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, this adhesive type of tape is strong, long lasting and water resistant and can be easily torn by hand. 

Foil duct tape - Aluminium ducting tape is a flat, thin metal ducting tape coated with adhesive. This is the best tape for HVAC ducts. It uses a large amount of acrylic or butyl adhesive to resist drying out and becoming brittle. The metal foil backing also withstands temperature changes without shrinking and failing the way cloth-backed duct tape does. 

PVC duct tape - This PVC tape is commonly used for joining round and flat plastic ducts. The PVC based tape combines a flexible PVC backing with a pressure sensitive adhesive. 

“duck tape” or “duct tape” 

There is actually quite an interesting backstory to this question. Duct tape was originally invented by Johnson & Johnsons for the military during WWII. It is thought that soldiers used to call the tape “duck tape” due to it originally being green in colour and because water runs off of it. In more recent times “Duck Tape” is actually a brand of duct tape. 

What is foam gasket tape and where is it used?

Foam gasket tape is used to ensure an airtight seal between ducts and other HVAC components. The self-adhesive closed cell foam tape is weatherproof & waterproof and is typically used as a gasketing material where the application requires that air, moisture and other particulate not pass through the gasket. Closed cells can be described as pockets of gas that are completely surrounded by the solid material, making each cell sealed from each other and therefore unable to absorb liquid.