Hire a contractor to remodel your bathroom, and chances are they might use pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) tapes to mount tile, flooring and some fixtures. Walk into a big-box DIY store, and you'll likely find a growing array of PSA-backed products designed to encourage homeowners to tackle many bathroom remodeling tasks on their own.
Bathroom remodels are booming
The integration of PSA tapes into more bathroom remodeling products comes at a perfect time for tape converters serving the building and construction industry. Bathroom remodels are booming. According to Global Market Insights, they make up a significant portion of the U.S. home remodeling marketplace. That segment is expected to reach $507.5 billion in 2026.
According to the 2023 Houzz & Home Study published by Houzz.com, bathroom remodels are among the top two home improvement projects (along with kitchens). Primary bathrooms command the second-highest median spend of all project types at $13,500.
As Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist, noted last August, “Bathrooms have always been a top room to renovate, and we’re seeing that homeowners, driven both by aesthetic desires and functional necessities, are doubling down on their investment in these private sanctuaries.”
We’re seeing more of these “aesthetic desires and functional necessities” adhered to bathroom surfaces with PSA tapes.
Step into a PSA tapes bathroom
PSA tapes can be integrated into a wide range of bathroom products — including many items that traditionally mount with mechanical fasteners or wet glue/mortar.
They make it easier to add luxury features, from heated flooring to hotel-style shampoo and lotion dispensers. PSA tapes can also be used with standard bathroom items such as mirrors, tile and light fixtures.
PSA tapes bathroom applications include:
- Heated flooring
- Towel bars
- Hand soap, shampoo, and toothpaste dispensers
- Wall tile
- Wall mirrors
- Baby toy holders
They're also an excellent option for smaller bathrooms or those in temporary living spaces such as apartments or dorm rooms. For example: An apartment tenant can use PSA-backed fixtures and decor to change the look of their bathroom to suit their tastes. They can then easily remove those fixtures and décor on move-out day.
PSA tape advantages for bathroom products
Bathroom products that use PSA tapes offer advantages for both contractors and DIYers:
Ease of use
PSA tapes adhere quickly with no mess, are conformable, and can be repositionable, removable and/or permanent. They require minimal training to install and are a reliable alternative to mechanical fasteners and wet glue systems.
This ease of use can help a contractor work more efficiently — getting more done in less time and often with less-skilled labor. And it can give the DIYer the confidence needed to tackle a job on their own.
Application flexibility
PSA tapes can be engineered to bond to various challenging substrates, including low surface energy and irregular surfaces. They can also be used for mounting, gap-filling and gasketing applications.
Strength and durability
PSA tapes provide exceptional dead-load shear performance. They resist chemicals, including plasticizers, and resist UV light.
Importantly, for bathrooms, PSA tapes perform well in moist/humid environments and temperature extremes.
