What Is Red Stucco Tape Used For? (It's For More Than Stucco)

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There's no getting around it: Applying stucco is a wet and messy job. And since this heavy-duty material contains cement and sand (among other ingredients), it's not something you want to get on your home's delicate surfaces. That's where red stucco tape comes into play. Before adding stucco siding to your home, a contractor will apply this strong tape around the windows and doors to make sure they stay clean during the application process. (It's also used when installing Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS), commonly known as "synthetic stucco.")

Red stucco tape has several qualities that make it especially helpful for this type of work. For starters, the bright color stands out against your walls, so the tape is easy to find and remove after the job is done. It's also strong enough to hold up the plastic sheeting that protects the rest of your windows and doors while the project goes on.

Moreover, depending on the size of the house, some stucco projects can take weeks to finish. During that time, the tape needs to withstand harsh sunlight, rain, and other outdoor elements. Red stucco tape, which is typically UV- and water-resistant, was designed to do just that. In some cases, the product's packaging will let you know how long you can leave it on. For example, the 3M Stucco Tape sold at Home Depot is safe to keep up for 30 days. When you're done, it should come off without tearing and leave little to no adhesive behind. Red stucco tape's combination of strength, durability, and easy clean-up makes it useful for a range of other projects, too. 

Despite its name, this bright red tape can be used for more than just stucco. It's suitable for irregular, exterior, and painted surfaces in general, and is typically safe to use on wood, stone, metal, and vinyl. Manufacturers and buyers have named several additional applications for it. For example, the Shurtape PC 622 Premium Grade Heavy Duty Stucco Duct Tape can also be used in "high performance motorsports and for heavy duty bundling, holding, and splicing," per Shurtape. The brand Zip-Up says its stucco tape is "great for taping poly sheeting together."

One reviewer for the TapeManBlue Red Stucco Tape on Amazon said, "We use this material for window seals during bed bug heat treatments and it work[s] ideally for the conditions." Another shopper mentioned how they used red stucco tape to seal the bottom of a door and prevent flooding, a testament to its strong adhesive and water resistance. A different reviewer said they had trouble getting the tape to stick during cold weather, but that's common across adhesive products.

Keep in mind: If you don't need such a sturdy, weather-resistant tape for your project, you might be better off buying another kind (such as blue or green painter's tape). After all, red stucco tape is often pricier than other types. On Amazon, the Scotch Stucco Tape costs around $10 for 60 yards; meanwhile, the ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painters Tape is about $6 for the same amount. Similarly, if you're planning to tape over stucco or another stubborn surface (like brick, wood, or concrete), the Scotch Rough Surface Painter's Tape should work well and is still only $6.