Taping the Seams of Foam Board Insulation

The seams between pieces of foam board insulation reduce the insulating quality of the material and allow moisture to pass into the area being insulated. Reducing the transfer of air and moisture between foam board seams requires taping. Not all tape types are suited for seams in foam insulation. Using the wrong tape will create a weakly sealed seam that will eventually fail overtime. Choosing the right seam tape is imperative to successfully sealing the seams between foam board insulation.

Rag
Metal foil tape roll
Plastic squeegee

Instructions

- 1
  Wipe the seam between two or more installed foam board sheets lightly with a rag. Ensure all loose foam particles and dust is removed from the area.
- 2
  Unravel 12 inches of material from a metal foil tape roll. Pull 2 inches of protective backing from the end of the roll.
- 3
  Align the end of the tape with the top of the cleaned seam. Ensure the seam sits in the center of the tape. Press the exposed adhesive on the tape to the foam board.
- 4
  Pull the tape to the bottom of the foam board seam. Tear the tape to length. Ensure the tape reaches the bottom of the seam. Remove the protective paper from the entire length of the tape.
- 5
  Hold the loose end of the tape away from the seam. Place the end of a plastic squeegee on top of the tape at the top of the seam. Pull the squeegee along the tape to secure it to the seam. Continue flattening the tape until no air bubbles remain in the seam.

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