Preventing Adhesive Transfer: What NOT to Put on Your Finished Floors
When it comes to construction, protecting finished floors isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. One of the most common and costly mistakes contractors make is using the wrong tape when securing Ram Board to the floor. The result? Adhesive transfer – a sticky, stubborn residue that can damage surfaces and delay project timelines. The good news? Ram Board has a solution.
What Is Adhesive Transfer, and Why Is It a Problem?
Adhesive transfer occurs when the sticky backing of a tape or film leaves behind residue on a surface after removal. This residue can attract dirt, discolor finishes, and in some cases, permanently damage the floor.
Adhesive transfer isn’t random – it’s triggered by specific conditions and by user error. Here are the most common culprits:
High heat or direct sunlight: Heat can soften adhesives, making them more likely to bond with the floor. Leaving tape or film on too long.
Using the wrong product for the surface type: Not all tapes are created equal – some are too aggressive for delicate finishes.
Applying to uncured or porous finishes: These surfaces can absorb adhesive, making removal nearly impossible.
3 TAPES TO Never use on Finished Floors
Some tapes are simply not designed for use on finished flooring. Avoid these at all costs:
Duct tape: Strong adhesive that almost always leaves residue.
Packing or shipping tape: Designed for boxes, not floors.
Ram Board Seam Tape: This tape is designed to bond with the fibers of Ram Board, not to the floor.
Tape Types: What’s Safe?
Now that you know what to avoid- here are two tapes that you can used to secure surface protection products to the floor:
Specialized clean-removal tapes: Engineered for temporary use on finished surfaces, like Ram Board’s 14-day or 90-day Edge tapes.
Low-tack painter’s tape: Ideal for short-term use on delicate finishes.
Best Practices to Prevent Adhesive Transfer on Your Floor
To prevent adhesive transfer and protect your finished floors, it’s essential to follow a few key best practices. First, always use surface protection products that are designed for the type of flooring you’re working with – Ram Board offers a variety of solutions tailored to different materials and finishes. Equally important is pairing your protection with the right tape; Ram Board tapes are engineered to work with our products, not directly on your floors, ensuring clean removal without damage.
Lastly, be mindful of environmental factors like time and temperature, as high heat or prolonged application can increase the risk of adhesive residue. And when in doubt, always test any tape or film in a small, inconspicuous area before full application to ensure compatibility with your surface.
Ready to protect your floors the right way? Explore Ram Board solutions and find a distributor near you.
