Learned the hard way about cheap seam tape vs the good stuff

I had a job in Phoenix last month where I had to decide between using the $12 seam tape from the big box store or spending $25 on the name brand tape from the supply house. I figured hey, tape is tape right? Big mistake. Within 3 days the cheap tape started lifting on a bedroom install and the customer called me complaining about bubbles. I had to go back, pull up the whole section, and redo it with the good tape. Cost me an extra 2 hours and a $50 gift card to smooth things over. Has anyone else burned themselves trying to save a few bucks on seam tape? What brand do you swear by now?

3 comments

3 Comments

wood.uma16d ago

Used the cheap stuff once on a rental flip. Lasted maybe a week before the edges curled up. Switched to Roberts 5040 and never looked back. Extra cost is worth not having to redo a whole room.

walker.julia16d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way myself. Never skimp on adhesive.

matthew37116d ago

The Roberts 5040 is what I switched to after my own Phoenix nightmare, but @walker.julia, did you have any trouble with the cheap tape in a hot attic before it even hit the floor... or was your failure more about the indoor humidity?