Self-adhesive border (tape ) Bath : pros, cons , installation and maintenance

Every year in the repair appear dozens of products that can make our lives easier: modernbuilding materials, convenient tools, new models of equipment, etc.But, despite the advances in technology, there are challenges that today, as in the last century, facing everyone who made repairs in the apartment.

One such "eternal" problems - the gap formed between the bathroom and one or more walls.To date, there are several ways to solve this problem.The simplest of them - is the use of self-adhesive border, which is also called curb tape.She pasted on the joint bathtubs and walls, and provides reliable protection from water.In addition, curb tape allows you to disguise an ugly seam between the edge of the font and tiles.

• Of all the possible options for seam sealing adhesive - curb the most budget.Buying tape will cost you a few hundred rubles.Standard skein is enough for 7-8 uses.
• Cover the gap with the help of the tape is very easy to curb.One person can easily cope with it in less than an hour.
• Tape is made of waterproof material, so it is a reliable protection against moisture.
• Damage at the stage of production of an adhesive layer allows firmly strengthen border of the tub and tile edge.
• tape is virtually impossible to damage because it is soft and elastic.
• Self-adhesive border is very flexible, so it can be used for work on uneven surfaces (this happens, for example, if a font of irregular shape).

• Self-adhesive border for a bath - a short-lived product.Depending on how active family enjoys bath, self-adhesive border will serve you from one year to 3 years.
• Since curb tape quickly becomes unfit for use, it should be replaced periodically.And it will have to spend some time, because the need to remove the old border and to prepare the surface for gluing the new.
• To prevent water from entering under the bath, builders often treated joint silicone sealant for sanitary fittings.Note that the curb tape loses its properties when brought into contact with the acidic silicones are often present in the sealant composition for a bath.

The main objective of the border for a bath - is to protect the unprotected surface water from entering, as high humidity contribute to the appearance of mold, mildew and insects.Therefore only waterproof and water-repellent materials are used to produce tape fascia.

The vast majority of types of self-adhesive border made from synthetic polymers, most often - polyethylene.In addition, in the fascia includes a special adhesive tape resistant to moisture and temperature extremes.

Many manufacturers edging bath particular workpiece a composition comprising Phytoncidal components.They repel insects, which quite often can be found in the bathroom.

In most part, different kinds of tape fascia, which are sold in the building and hardware stores, virtually indistinguishable from each other.The price difference is due to the presence or absence of additives phytoncide, which we discussed above, and manufacturing companies.

However, there are two key points that need to pay attention to when buying a curb tape:

• tape dimensions. border length is usually standard - it is sold in rolls of 30 meters.But the width may be different: There are options available to 3, 4 and 6 cm rarer narrower or wider patterns..The width of the belt should be selected based on the size of the gap: so that the margin remained on both sides, but it was not too large - otherwise it will look messy.
• tape color. Self-adhesive border for a bath is not only white.In shops with a wide range can be found Curbing tape suitable color to your plumbing - beige, cream, bluish and other light shades.

Mounting curb tape - a very simple task, but to the result is a durable and aesthetic, need some preparatory work:

• If necessary, removeold border or its residues;
• Clean butt baths and ceramic tiles from pollution - it may be the remnants of the old adhesive or sealant, ingrained dirt, soap, mold, etc .;
• treated surface degreasers and dry well;
• Protection bath enamel and ceramic tiles from getting glue and sealant, gluing on both sides of the gap masking tape.

Getting started over, and now you can proceed directly to the installation of a self-adhesive border:

• Fill the gap sealant.Experts recommend use of silicone-based sealant, dressed in mounting the gun.
• Smooth sealant with a rubber spatula or just a finger dipped in soapy water.
• Measure the length of the bath and cut the appropriate piece of ribbon curb, leaving the stock in a couple of centimeters.It is necessary to carefully attach the tape on the corners.To
• tape become even more flexible, for a few minutes warm hairdryer throughout its length.
• Moving from the corner, attach the curb, slowly peel off the protective strip.Do not stretch the tape and pressed tightly to the surface.
• bath in the corners of the tape are cut and pasted overlapped at an angle of 45 degrees.

Most of the work is made, it remains only to wait for the drying of the adhesive composition and to check the quality of work done:

• stick the border, do not use the bathroom during the day.This is to ensure that the glue grabbed better.
• After the allotted time, try to move the ribbon curb.If it can not be, then the work is done well.If in some places the tape edge behind the surface, gently CONNECT it on any waterproof glue, used for repair.
• The final phase - the removal of masking tape.Now you can take a bath!

Self-adhesive border for a bath totally unpretentious in care.Clean it must be as required by the same detergent you use to wash plumbing.The only thing that should be excluded - is the impact of abrasives and contact with hard, metal brushes.Curbing tape - durable material, but soft, so "aggressive" cleaning can damage it.