What type of tape is used to seal vapor barrier seams?

Question

If I was installing vapor barrier in Canada, I'd use Tuck® Contractors Sheathing Tape. However, after a trip to the local Home Depot (USA), I came up empty in my search for Tuck Tape.

I did find Tyvek® Tape, which is used to seal the seams of Tyvek® HomeWrap®.

Can Tyvek tape be used as a stand in for Tuck tape, or are there more appropriate products available?

Answer 1

I too, was in search of Tuck Tape at Home Depot / Lowe's and couldn't find it. When I asked a salesman about it, they didn't understand what I was looking for.

When I said I wanted to seal the edges of vapor barrier, they told me to use the Tyvek tape, the same one you found.

Duct tape won't cut it; it's too porous. We used the Tyvek and it's worked well so far.

Don't use it on hard wood floors as painter's tape; it'll rip the polyurethane right off of the floor (lesson learned).

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) that “Tuck® 205-02 Contractor's Sheathing Tape / DuPontTM Tyvek® Tape”, when used as a sheathing tape in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in Section 3 of this Report, complies with the National Building Code 2005:

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