When I was younger I would occasionally catch a show on PBS imported from Canada called the Red Green Show.  I’m not really sure what it was about exactly, but it featured a gruff, scratchy-voiced Canadian named Red Green, who attempted to solve all of his problems with duct tape.  All of them.  For instance, I seem to recall an episode in which Red Green taped the bumper back on his van when it fell off, and he probably used the same roll to install a basketball hoop in his backyard, albeit temporarily – the thing toppled over almost immediately to hilarious effect.

Image courtesy redgreen.com

I mention good old Red because when I found out about uneven surface sealing tape, I wondered what sort of mischeif that wily Canadian might get up to if he had access to a roll of it.  Designed to seal over joints and seams in difficult outdoor sealing applications where long-term adhesion is required, the tape has a strong yet flexible ionomer backing that resists abrasion and can be painted to blend in with adjacent surfaces.  

Image courtesy Inventables.com

The idea is that the easy to use single-sided tape can be used in place of sealant, and it will bond instantly to “many metals and plastics without the drying time, dripping, oozing, or cleanup required with traditional sealants. The tape conforms over contours, edges, rivets and screw heads for a water tight seal” (Source: Inventables).  The tape has been used to seal vent stacks on roofs, and I can see how it would be fantastic to tape over penetrations through a roof membrane or in places where sealant can’t be applied.

As fantastic as the tape sounds on first blush, I do wonder how long it lasts, and whether it can resist degrading due to UV exposure. I’m also curious about how it performs in situations where a lot of movement takes place.  And if you’re wondering the same kinds of things, you can order a 2″ by 1 yard sample from Inventables!

WU XING:

I have filed the tape under wood because it is flexible.

Cited:

“Uneven Surface Sealing Tape.” Inventables.com. Accessed 05/25/11. URL.