Reinforcing fabrics & seam tapes
9 products · 9 ready to ship
Coatings fail at details, not in the field. Polyester fabric three-coursed into a base coat, butyl tape run down a seam, fleece-backed bonding tape over a tear: this is the reinforcement that goes in before the roof gets its coats, and it is the cheapest part of the job to get right.
Start with these
Why this range
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Three fabric widths, one roll length
White polyester fabric in 6 in, 12 in and 40 in, all 324 ft long, one roll per case. Narrow widths for seams, pipes and flashings; the 40 in width for broad details and full-field reinforcement.
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Butyl tape in four widths
Self-adhering butyl rubber seam tape in 2, 4, 6 and 8 in by 50 ft, packed 12, 6, 4 and 3 rolls per case respectively, for seams, flashings, penetrations and other roof details.
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Bonding tape that does not need coating over
The MS hybrid fleece-backed bonding tape comes in 4 in and 6 in by 50 ft and is listed for sealing holes, tears and seams in gutters, flashings, skylights and roofing membranes. It goes on from 0 F up, wet surfaces included, and does not have to be coated over.
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Details matched to the system
Under an acrylic system, fabric and butyl tape go into the base coat. Under Silicone44 there is no base coat: metal laps are striped with the silicone and membrane seams sealed with the black MS hybrid. Tell us the finish and we count the details for it.
Where it's used
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Seams and laps
Panel laps on metal roofs and side and end laps on modified bitumen and single-ply, taped or three-coursed before the base coat.
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Fastener rows
Screw lines on panel roofs, where a narrow fabric or tape run covers the whole row rather than each head individually.
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Penetrations, curbs and pipe boots
Vents, drains, conduit, equipment curbs and boots, where the 6 in fabric follows the shape and the coating locks it in.
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Wall and base flashings
Parapet bases, counterflashings and wall terminations, usually in the 12 in fabric or a wide butyl tape.
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Gutters, tears and holes
Existing gutters, torn membrane and punctures, where the fleece-backed bonding tape can be applied on a cold or wet surface and left uncoated.
How to choose
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Fabric or tape?
Fabric is embedded wet into a coat and coated over, which is what the three-course method means. Tape is self-adhering and goes down dry. Most roofs use both: fabric where the coating has to build film, tape where a straight run needs covering fast.
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Which fabric width?
6 in for narrow seams and pipe details, 12 in for flashings and wider laps, 40 in for broad details and field reinforcement. All three are 324 ft rolls, one roll per case, so the choice is width, not length.
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Butyl or MS hybrid tape?
Butyl seam tape is the general self-adhering tape for seams, flashings, penetrations and details under the system, in four widths. The MS hybrid fleece-backed tape is aimed at holes, tears and seams in gutters, flashings, skylights and membranes, applies at 0 F and up including on wet surfaces, and needs no coat over it.
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Case quantities
Fabric is one roll per case in every width. Butyl tape is 12 rolls per case at 2 in, 6 at 4 in, 4 at 6 in and 3 at 8 in. Bonding tape is 6 rolls per case at 4 in and 4 rolls at 6 in.
Compare models
| Model | Type | Size | Sold by | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KST020385 Uniflex polyester reinforcing fabric | Reinforcing fabric | 40 in × 324 ft | roll | In stock |
| KST020802 Uniflex butyl seam tape | Seam tape | 2 in × 50 ft | case | In stock |
| KST020804 Uniflex butyl seam tape | Seam tape | 4 in × 50 ft | case | In stock |
| KST020806 Uniflex butyl seam tape | Seam tape | 6 in × 50 ft | case | In stock |
| KST020808 Uniflex butyl seam tape | Seam tape | 8 in × 50 ft | case | In stock |
| KST058004 Uniflex MS hybrid fleece-backed roof bonding tape | Bonding tape | 4 in × 50 ft | case | In stock |
| KST058006 Uniflex MS hybrid fleece-backed roof bonding tape | Bonding tape | 6 in × 50 ft | case | In stock |
| KST20385A Uniflex polyester reinforcing fabric | Reinforcing fabric | 6 in × 324 ft | roll | In stock |
| KST20385B Uniflex polyester reinforcing fabric | Reinforcing fabric | 12 in × 324 ft | roll | In stock |
Every product
Seam tape
4 products cases
Reinforcing fabric
3 products rolls
Bonding tape
2 products cases
Questions
What is the three-course method?
A coat of material, fabric embedded into it while it is still wet, then another coat over the top, so the fabric ends up inside the film rather than under it. The fabric here is listed for that method with elastomeric or emulsion coatings, and the manufacturer product data sheet gives the wet film and the coverage for each step.
Does the tape have to be coated over?
The butyl seam tape is used at seams, flashings, penetrations and details underneath the system, so the coating goes over it. The MS hybrid fleece-backed bonding tape is listed as not needing a coat over it, which is why it suits gutters and repairs outside a coating project.
How much fabric will my roof take?
It depends on how many details there are and whether the specification reinforces the whole field or only the details. The data sheet gives the coverage and the overlap; send us the detail count or the drawings and the quote counts rolls from that.
Which width covers a metal panel seam?
Most crews run the 6 in fabric or the 4 in butyl tape down a standing seam and step up to 6 in or 8 in tape where the profile is taller or the seam has opened. Tell us the panel profile and we will say what the sheets support.
What goes on the seams of a Hypalon roof?
The butyl seam tape. It is the only detail product in our catalogue the manufacturer lists for CSPE Hypalon, and it is coated over with the elastomeric the same day. None of our cartridge sealants names Hypalon, so on Hypalon the sealant is confirmed with the manufacturer's technical service and an adhesion test before the order. Tell us the membrane type.
How do I order, and when does it ship?
Send the part numbers, quantities, site ZIP and your dates through the quote form. Every price is quoted per project. Stocked rolls ship in 1 to 3 business days; anything not on the shelf is ordered in and runs 1 to 2 weeks.
About this collection
The field of a roof is the easy part. A coating that is going to fail will fail at a seam, a fastener row, a pipe boot or a parapet base, which is why the reinforcement layer gets specified separately and bought separately. Everything here is Sherwin-Williams Uniflex, held in stock, and quoted against the details you actually have.
The polyester fabric comes in three widths off the same 324 ft roll length: KST20385A at 6 in, KST20385B at 12 in and KST020385 at 40 in, one roll per case in each case. All three are listed as reinforcement for general roof repairs, seams, flashings, penetrations and other details, worked in by the three-course method with elastomeric or emulsion coatings.
The self-adhering butyl seam tape comes in four widths, all 50 ft rolls: KST020802 at 2 in, KST020804 at 4 in, KST020806 at 6 in and KST020808 at 8 in. It is also the detail product listed for EPDM and CSPE Hypalon roofs, coated over with the elastomeric the same day. Where the detail is a hole, a tear or a gutter seam rather than a coating detail, the MS hybrid fleece-backed bonding tapes KST058004 at 4 in and KST058006 at 6 in go on from 0 F up, wet surfaces included, and are listed as not needing to be coated over.
Reinforcement is bought with the coats it goes into. Under an acrylic system, pick the base coat that will carry the fabric from Base coats & primers, close the splits and blisters first with Patch & repair, and choose the top layer from Elastomeric & silicone finish coats. Send the details, the roof area, the site ZIP and your dates through the quote form and we count the rolls and price the freight with the rest of the order.
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Pricing a project?
Send the area or the quantity and the site ZIP, and we reply with one delivered price. We reply within one business day.