Bathroom curb tape: a simple yet reliable way to seal joints

When installing plumbing in the bathroom, it is required to make the seams as tight as possible, not only in order to avoid flooding of neighbors, but also to prevent the appearance of mold in hard-to-reach places. After installing the bathroom bowl, a small gap will inevitably remain between the sides and the lined walls, where moisture will accumulate. Bathroom curb tape is considered the best option to prevent the occurrence of most problems.

Bathroom curb tape is the optimal solution for eliminating the gap between bathtub sides and tiled walls

When to use self-adhesive bathroom curb tape, consumer reviews

Some owners, during the repair, install the bathroom bowl as close to the wall as possible, after which they believe that there is no need to seal the seams. This statement is completely wrong, because in any case, small gaps remain, through which unnecessary moisture will penetrate under the plumbing fixture. Most plumbers find it necessary to seal joints that are 1.5 mm wide or more. This is due to the fact that it is these gaps that become the place where water droplets constantly, albeit in small quantities, penetrate.

Installation of the tape does not take much time and does not require significant financial costs

Important information! Fungus and mold not only spoil the attractive appearance of any bathroom, but they can also cause unpleasant odors and, in some cases, provoke the development of certain health problems, including respiratory diseases and allergic reactions.

A properly selected bathroom sealant helps not only to preserve health, but also to save time on cleaning the room due to the fact that you do not have to constantly clean out mushroom spores, which are distinguished by an unattractive black color. Moreover, the installation of the tape in most cases does not take much time and does not require large financial costs.

The construction market does not stand still: new materials are constantly being developed to simplify repair work. Plastic curb tape is a convenient device that provides high-quality sealing and prevents water from entering large gaps and even small crevices.According to reviews, border tapes have a number of advantages:

The curb tape has such advantages as reliability, ease of installation, resistance to damage, low price

1. Affordable cost. The average price of a curb tape for a bathroom starts at 300 rubles. It all depends on the selected parameters.
2. Reliability. Subject to the installation rules, the use of the material guarantees a reliable seal between the wall and the bathroom.
3. Convenient installation. Due to its high elasticity, the curb can be laid not only on a flat, but also on a curved surface.
4. Ease of installation. The material is fixed on a ready-made adhesive base, which makes it possible to quickly and easily apply it yourself without the involvement of a specialist.
5. Good stability. The adhesive tape for the bathroom has good resistance to mechanical damage. Even with pinpoint impacts, pits or depressions do not form on the curb.
6. Easy maintenance. The product does not require any special care or the use of specific cleaning agents. For cleaning, it is enough to use a standard sanitary ware cleaner. It is only important not to use aggressive abrasive compounds and hard brushes.
7. Moisture repellent properties. Correctly installed tape prevents water from accumulating on the sides of the bathtub, shower stall or sink.
8. Environmental Safety. The material does not contain toxic elements that can be harmful to health.
9. A wide range of. A large number of goods on trading floors will help you choose the best option (from a constructive and aesthetic point of view). There is an opportunity to purchase tapes-borders for bathtubs of various shades, shapes and sizes.

Correctly fitted bathroom curb tape helps prevent mold and mildew

The main disadvantages of self-adhesive bath tapes

The basis of all tapes for sealing is a PVC film, which is durable and particularly elastic. Even so, permanent exposure to solid particles can cause damage and scratches. In addition to the advantages, the products also have some disadvantages that are not significant, but nevertheless you need to know about them before starting the installation work.

Among the main disadvantages of waterproofing tapes for bathrooms, there is a short service life. In most cases, the period of service will depend on the nature of the care, the intensity of use of the bathroom and the quality of the ventilation performed. The average service life ranges from one to three years, which is significantly less than other types of borders, for example, plastic or ceramic tiles used for the main wall decoration.

The disadvantages also include the difficulty of replacing a damaged tape with a new one. In addition to buying new material, which entails some financial costs, you will have to make physical efforts and acquire certain skills. Replacement requires not only removing the self-adhesive curb tape, but also getting rid of the sealant residues on the wall and surface of the bath. To perform this procedure, it is recommended not only to clean and degrease the surfaces, but also to choose the right sealant, because the adhesive on the tape is not used in conjunction with acid silicones.

Important! If, before gluing the border tape, apply silicone with an acid composition to the surface, the material will not only come off, but also lose its shape.

The main disadvantage of the bathroom curb tape is its short lifespan.

The disadvantages include the limited choice of colors. Most of the products are presented in pastel colors: most often it is white, which is considered the most common color for bathroom decoration.If you need to install a black, gray, or colored tape, you will most likely need to contact your distributor to order customization.

And yet, despite the listed disadvantages, in a situation where it is necessary to carry out a reliable and fast sealing of the joint with minimal financial and physical costs, the best option is a self-adhesive border tape for the bathroom.

Bathroom curb tape: main types of material

The composition of the seal is determined by its main function, which is considered to be the protection of a certain surface from the influence of moisture. Constant exposure to water causes the development of fungi, mold and the multiplication of other harmful microorganisms. That is why only waterproof and water-repellent compounds are used for the manufacture of self-adhesive border tape. Most manufacturers use polyethylene for this purpose, much less often a synthetic polymer is the basis.

For better adhesion to the surface, an adhesive mixture is applied to the base of the curb, which is resistant to temperature extremes and constant exposure to water. Leading manufacturers also additionally treat products with special chemicals that repel pests, for example, various fungicides.

Curb tapes are made only from waterproof and water-repellent compounds

It is interesting! More recently, only silicone or even cement mortar was used to seal the joints in the bathroom. How much the sealant dries in the bathroom is influenced not only by the type of material, but also by the conditions in the room: temperature and humidity. On average, it takes 6 to 24 hours for a liquid sealant to completely solidify.

Clean the surface well before installing the curb tape. The installation of the flexible strip does not take much time, but nevertheless the appearance of the bathtub will be more attractive than after applying silicone. Many users note that irregularities and other flaws in the joints are hidden, which is especially true when it comes to an uneven surface. Bath tapes have a wide range of applications, due to the fact that the material differs in such parameters as:

• the size;
• decorative performance;
• fixation method;
• Colour.

As for the shape of the profile, the ribbons are divided into two main groups: angular and curly. Corner models are distinguished by the presence of a bend in the central part of the product, which allows the border to be correctly and evenly attached to the vertical surface and the side of the bath. Such a product is suitable for closing narrow gaps and adheres well to a base made of basic materials used to create plumbing fixtures, such as:

The curb tapes are divided into angular and curly according to the profile shape

• acrylic;
• metal;
• faience and porcelain.

A distinctive feature of curly tapes for bathtubs is the presence of two fold lines dividing the product in length into three segments. It is important to know that there is no applied glue in the central part, since the main task of this part of the curb is to hide the wide gap between the curb and the wall. Only edge strips are processed with glue. To choose the right curly tape, you need to determine in advance the width of the slot that you want to close with the product.

Basic sizes and designs of self-adhesive border tapes for bathrooms

On the trading floors there is a large selection of sizes of bath curbs. The average length is 3.2-3.5 meters, which allows you to choose the option you want, regardless of the dimensions of the plumbing. In the event that this length is not enough, you will have to purchase two separate rolls of tape.

By width, the curb strips are divided into the main groups indicated in the table:

Useful advice! Plumbing experts point out that before using the curb tape, you should carefully measure the gap parameters. It is considered optimal to install a curb, the size of which exceeds the gap by no more than 5 mm. Stripes that are too wide will look unaesthetic, and too narrow stripes will not provide reliable sealing.

Most often, it is white products that can be found on sale, since it is this color that is considered universal and most in demand in the arrangement of bathrooms. As for the choice of plumbing, most often there are devices in this color. The same trend can be found when choosing a material for vertical and horizontal surfaces. Although, in addition to white ribbons, you can find products in light pink, pale green and creamy beige. It is recommended to select a suitable shade, focusing on the color of either the plumbing or the surrounding walls.

Some manufacturers use curly edging and embossing to make the tape attractive. These decoration options especially help to play up and complement the interior of the room.

In addition to white ribbons, there are products in light pink, creamy beige, pale green.

Other important parameters to look out for when buying

With regard to installation, the strips have an important advantage here, such as the presence of a factory adhesive mixture applied to the back of the product. So that the glue does not lose its qualities, it is preliminarily covered with a protective film, which is removed before gluing the border tape for the bathroom. If there is no adhesive layer, acrylic or silicone sealant is used for installation, but in no case acidic.

During the installation of the tape, on which there is no adhesive layer, it is the sealant that firmly fixes the material on the surface and prevents moisture from penetrating into the gap between the plumbing and the wall. In order to avoid misunderstandings, before purchasing, you must carefully study the product in order to understand what type of product you plan to purchase.

When buying, it should be borne in mind that the basis of any strip for sealing is synthetic substances that give the strip the necessary elasticity, flexibility and waterproofness. The butalon adhesive solution has good adhesion properties and is suitable for most surfaces. It is this glue that tolerates constant changes in temperature and humidity levels that constantly occur in the bathroom. Other important points to pay attention to before purchasing:

• suitable profile shape;
• the presence of additionally in the composition of the adhesive mixture of fungicides;
• correctly selected width, on which the tightness of the joint will depend;
• color scheme that fits perfectly into the overall design of the bathroom.

If there is no adhesive on the curb tape, use an acrylic or silicone sealant for installation

When buying, it is also recommended to check for the presence of silicone corners and an applicator in the kit, because you cannot neatly glue the border tape in the bathroom in the corners without them.

Important! Before purchasing, you need to pay attention to the recommended shelf life, because even in a sealed product, the glue may lose its characteristics over time.

The average life of the strips is usually 3 years, but, as testimonials indicate, bath curb strips can be used for 5 years with careful handling. If the surface has lost its attractive appearance earlier, it is better to stick on a new tape. That is why it is more convenient to use a self-adhesive version for this purpose.

How to glue bath curb tape: video and photo

Before starting work, in addition to purchasing a tape, you need to check the presence of such items:

Before starting work on the installation of the tape, it is advisable to bring the room temperature to 10 ° C

• degreasing agents, it can be any solvent, acetone or ammonia;
• silicone sealant;
• a gun for sealing seams;
• masking tape;
• scissors;
• a hairdryer (a regular household one is also suitable);
• lint-free fabric.

It is important to bring the temperature in the room to 10 ° C before work, because it is under such conditions that the glue completely dries out most quickly. The entire installation process is conventionally divided into several stages:

• surface preparation;
• gluing material;
• checking the quality of the work done.

Related article:

Bathtub skirting: neat and practical design of joints

How to choose the most suitable material. Features and benefits of each option. How to install a plastic border yourself.

At the first stage, before gluing the curb tape in the bathroom, preliminary work should be carried out, namely, prepare the wall and the side. If the old tape is dismantled before installation, it is imperative to completely wash off the remnants of the glue and clean the surface well with any degreaser, except for turpentine. After that, it is necessary to let the surface dry well.

In order not to subsequently have to clean the walls and sides of the bowl from silicone sealant, it is recommended to pre-seal them with masking tape. Before gluing the curb tape in the bathroom, a sealant is applied into the gap using a mounting gun, which, if desired, can be further leveled with a spatula.

To prepare strips of the correct length, a roll of tape is completely unwound according to the size of the plumbing fixture and cut to the desired location. At the same time, for reliability, it is better to leave a small allowance - 1-2 cm. If you watch the video "How to glue the border tape in the bathroom in the corner", you can pay attention to the fact that in order to obtain a neat joint, glueing begins from the long end.

Useful advice! To give the material greater elasticity, it is recommended to warm it up with an ordinary hair dryer.

During the installation of the curb tape, it is not immediately separated from the protective strip, but gradually, in order to avoid mistakes when gluing. It is recommended to open 10-15 cm. During operation, the tape is carefully applied to the gap and pressed. You should not stretch the material when applying, because installing the border tape accurately in this case will not work. It is better to simply smooth and press firmly on the strip, while constantly monitoring the adhesion to the surfaces, especially in the area of ​​the tile joints.

During the installation of the curb tape, the protective strip is not separated immediately, but gradually

If you look at the materials that demonstrate how the curb tape is glued in the corners of the bathroom, you can see that the tapes are glued one to one with an overlap, after which the adjacent part is cut at an angle of 45 degrees. It should be cut from the corner. Some professionals prefer to use bathroom curb corners for better performance.

The final stage of gluing, useful tips for installation

After installing the tape, you should not rush to use the bathroom, it is better that during the day the possibility of water getting on the curb is excluded. It is this time that is enough for the adhesive mixture to dry completely and ensure a reliable connection of surfaces and the product. After a day, you can accurately check how well the installation is. To do this, the tape needs to be slightly moved to the sides. If it does not move, then the work can be considered good quality.

If you find places of poor-quality fixation, you can try to apply a little building glue to the inside with a thin brush, and then firmly press the glued area to the surface. Upon completion of all work, you need to carefully separate the masking tape.

The reasonable price and reliability of the curb tape have contributed to the widespread adoption of this material among users. In this regard, you can find a large number of useful tips that allow inexperienced owners to avoid mistakes:

On places with poor adhesion, you can apply a little building glue and press the bonded area tightly to the surface

1. Do not use tape whose packaging is damaged, deformed or leaking.
2. Particular attention should be paid to surface preparation, because if there are protrusions or remnants of old glue, a high-quality joint will not work.
3. 24 hours after the tape is installed, water and detergents will not affect the gluing quality. It is after this time that the strips can be cleaned from dirt or sealant residues.
4. When buying, you should pay attention to the intended purpose of the goods, because, for example, the "Country" curb tape is intended for gardening. It is distinguished by its black color and less elasticity. This option is not suitable for sealing joints.

Bath curb strips are considered the cheapest and easiest way to avoid water dripping behind the bath. Cope with the installation of the product is available to every owner, and you do not need to buy any special tools or expensive tools. In most cases, gluing (including preparation) will not take more than 3-4 hours. Using tape is not considered a durable option, but the ease of installation allows you to enhance the look of the room when needed.