GB2487210A

GB2487210A - A waterproof sealing tape system and method

Info

Publication number: GB2487210A
Application number: GB201100497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Coulson; Robert Fleet
Original assignee: POLYMER RECOVERY Ltd
Current assignee: POLYMER RECOVERY Ltd
Priority date: 2011-01-12
Filing date: 2011-01-12
Publication date: 2012-07-18
Also published as: GB201100497D0

Abstract

A sealing arrangement 10 for sealing a gap 12 between an edge of a first component 14 and an adjacent second component 16 is provided. The sealing arrangement 10 comprises: an elongate tape 26 extending substantially along the length of the gap 12 and between the first and second components 14,16; and a bead of sealant 48 extending substantially along the length of the gap 12 and between the first and second components 14,16. The tape 26 is folded longitudinally along its length and defines first and second longitudinal portions 38,40 that are at an angle to each other with the first portion 38 adhesively attached to a surface of the second component 16 and the second portion 40 extending away from the said surface of the second component 16 beyond the edge of the first component 14 adjacent the second component 16 and adjacent to a rear surface of the first component 14. The bead of sealant 48 is disposed between the first portion of the tape 38 and the edge of the first component 14.

Description

I

WATERPROOF SEALING TAPE SYSTEM AND METHOD

The present invention relates to a sealing arrangement for providing a waterproof seal between a panel element and another component, and in particular for sealing between a horizontal surface of a bath or shower tray or worktop and a vertical surface such as waIl tiles, wall board or panels against which they abut.

It is generally desirable to provide a seal between, for example, a bath, shower tray or worktop and the adjacent tiles, wallboard or panel. This is in particular to prevent water generally present in these environments (eg bathrooms or kitchens) from getting behind the tiles or wall panels and/or bath or shower tray and causing damage. In addition it provides a more aesthetic appearance. Such a seal is conventionally provided by ensuring that the gap between the elements is relatively small and then filing the gap with a bead of flexible sealant, for example silicone or acrylic flexible sealant dispensed from a tube or from a cartridge using an applicator gun. The sealant is used both to close any gap and also to achieve a watertight seal.

However achieving an effective watertight seal at the joint between the horizontal and a vertical surface, such as that between a bath, shower tray or worktop and the adjacent tiles, wallboard or panel, is difficult. It relies on the care and skill of the installer and the.

effectiveness of the sealing profile or tape and associated sealant that may also be employed. In particular to achieve a watertight seal care must be taken to ensure the surfaces to which the sealant is applied are clean and free of any surface treatment or contaminant, which can adversely affect the bond of the sealant with either of the two surfaces. Ideally an installer should use an alcohol wipe, white spirit or similar, to remove all contaminants. However totally effective removal cannot be guaranteed and many installers fail to follow the procedure at all. Secondly to further avoid a subsequent break in the seal, no movement must occur between the horizontal and vertical surfaces. Typically silicone or acrylic sealant designed for this purpose will shrink as it cures by 10 to 15%. If the contact between the sealant and surfaces is perfect, the elasticity of the sealant will allow for this shrinkage. However, if the contact and bond between the sealant and surfaces is not good as is more typical, then the shrinkage of the sealant or any subsequent movement between the surfaces after installation will break the seal and water will leak through.

Solutions to these problems have been proposed. One is to use a profile incorporating a tape applied to the inside face. The silicone sealant cannot bond to this tape after it cures. However the sealant can bond to the untapped horizontal surface below the profile. This allows movement to occur without breaking the seal. This profile is also difficult and slow to install with installation instructions involving eighteen different steps to combine the profile and sealant.

Other solutions include the use of adhesive tape. For example GB2387627 describes the use of a double-sided tape in a vertical plain only, with one adhesive face applied to the back surface of the bath, shower tray or worktop and the other adhesive face to the wall above. WO2OI 0/086428 proposes using a tape to attach a vertical upstand to the back of a shower tray or bath.

A principle disadvantage now identified with both of these vertical arrangements is that baths and shower trays are manufactured with a sloping side and with a rounded corner and top edge. This leaves a large gap when they arc located against the vertical wall, with a pronounced gap at the corner. GB 2387627 envisages bridging this gap by an area of non-attached tape. In practice this is not easy to achieve. Too much length to cover the gap leaves a fold, which may either indent downwards into the gap, potentially forming a water trap, or if folded upwards prevent good contact between the wall and any subsequently applied tiles or panel. If too little length is left to cover the gap, the adhesive applied to the rounded edge of the tray or bath will pull away. This again leaves a void into which water may subsequently run unless a well bonded run of sealant is applied along the length of the gap. Should any water enter the gap this may progressively detach the adhesive below from the back face of the bath or shower tray. Another problem with these tape arrangements is that the tape must be of a wide enough width to attach to both vertical surfaces. This in turn requires more width to allow for misalignment. The result is a tape, which is very difficult to align straight. This means that folds or pleats form in the tape on the adhered face. If these are on the side of the bath or shower tray they may also allow water to enter and cause a breakdown of the adhesive seal. The further disadvantage of a these tape arrangements, or applied upstands as in WO 2010/086428, is that they are unlikely to adhere to the entire surface at the 90-degree corner of the tray or bath, due to the rounded edge required by the manufacturing process. Furthermore applying sealant into any such resultant voids to address these problems requires the surface of the tape to be chemically compatible with the sealant and free of contaminants with the associated difficulties described above with traditional sealant type seal arrangements.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved sealing arrangement which addresses the above described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing arrangements.

According to the present invention there is therefore provided a sealing arrangement, and method of sealing, as described in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a scaling arrangement for sealing a gap between an edge of a first component, for example a wall panel or tile, and an adjacent second component, for example a shower tray, bath, or worktop. The sealing arrangement comprises: an elongate tape extending substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second components; and a bead of sealant extending substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second components; wherein the tape is folded longitudinally along its length defining first and second longitudinal portions that arc at an angle to each other with the first portion adhesively attached to a surface of the second component and the second portion extending away from the said surface of the second component beyond the edge of the first component adjacent the second component and adjacent to a rear surface of the first component; and wherein the bead of sealant is disposed between the first portion of the tape and the edge of the first component.

Preferably the first component is mounted to a wall. Furthermore preferably adhesive attaches the second portion of the tape to the wall.

The scaling arrangement may further comprise adhesive on a surface of first portion of the tape to which sealant bead is attached.

The sealing arrangement may comprise adhesive on a surface of the second portion tape to attach the tape to the rear surface of first component.

Preferably the tape is a double sided adhesive tape. Alternatively the tape may comprise a single sided adhesive tape.

Preferably the adhesive comprises a high tack adhesive. In particular the adhesive may comprise a modified or unmodified acrylic adhesive, or a rubber based adhesive.

The first portion of the tape is preferably sized to substantially correspond to the edge of first component.

The second portion of the tape is preferably substantially perpendicular to the first portion of the tape. The second component and surface of the second component may be substantially horizontal and the first component may extend substantially vertically from the second component and a surface of the second component.

In an embodiment of the invention there is also provided a method of sealing a gap between an edge of a first component and an adjacent second component. The method comprises: providing a length of tape; folding the tape longitudinally along its length to define first and second longitudinal portions that are at an angle to each other; attaching the first portion of the tape adhesively to a surface of the second component substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second component and such that the second portion extends away from the said surface of the second component; positioning is the second portion of the tape such that it extends beyond the edge of the first component adjacent the second component and adjacent to a rear surface of the first component; and applying a bead of sealant substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second components, wherein the bead of sealant is disposed between the first portion of the tape and the edge of the first component.

Positioning the second portion of the tape preferably comprises fitting first component on top of and over the second portion of tape.

The method may further comprise adhesively attaching a surface of the second portion tape to the rear surface of first component.

The method may further comprise attaching the first component to a wall, and preferably further comprise adhesively attaching the second portion of the tape to the wall prior to attaching first component to wall.

The first portion of the tape may be sized to substantially correspond to the edge of first component and wherein attaching the first portion of the tape adhesively to a surface of the second component comprises attaching the first portion of the tape to a portion of the surface of the second component substantially covered by the edge of the first component.

The method may further comprise providing adhesive on a surface of first portion of the tape to which sealant bead is attached.

Providing the tape, may comprise providing self adhesive tape on at least one release sheet, wherein the release sheet comprises a first portion corresponding to the first portion of the tape which is divided along the longitudinal fold from a second portion corresponding to the second portion of the tape. The first portion of the release sheet is preferably divided from the second portion by perforations or a cut line. The method may further comprise selectively removing the first portion of the release sheet from the tape prior to applying and attaching the first portion of the tape to the second component.

Preferably adhesive and a release sheet is provided on both a front and rear surface of tape.

The method may then comprise removing the release sheet on the front surface of the first portion of tape after attachment of the rear surface of the first portion of the tape to the second component but prior to applying sealant bead to the front surface of the first portion of the tape.

Embodiment of the invention may therefore provide a solution to the above described problems by the use of a specially designed double or single sided tape designed to be folded and fitted to the upper horizontal surface of the bath, shower tray or worktop and the vertical wall or other surface. This can be applied in a precise way, to achieve the required overlap on each surface and achieve unifon-n contact and adhesion to all surfaces.

Embodiments of the invention overcome problems in folding the tape by the use of a double sided tape with two release papers or a single sided tape with one release paper, where at least one release paper is slit to create two or more parallel bands. This may be achieved by a continuous slit or by perforation. This allows a perfect fold and straight line to be easily achieved by hand. Additionally the separately removable strips of release paper permit one or more strips to be adhered with exactly the required overlap, by unfolding the adjacent strip or strips still with their release paper attached, at approximately 90 degrees to form a straight edge for alignment. The remaining release paper may then be removed and the remaining tape attached to its adjoining surface.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross sectional view end view of a double sided tape used in the sealing system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention prior to application; Figure 2 is a schematic cross sectional end view of the tape shown in figure 1, folded prior to application; Figure 3 is a schematic cross sectional end view of an alternative single sided tape that may be used in the sealing systems in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention prior to application; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing fitting of the tape shown in figure 1 or 3 to an interface between a shower tray and wall in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of the tape shown in figure 1 or 3 showing the longitudinal and corner fold lines; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the sequence of steps associated in applying the tape shown in figures 1 or 3 in the sealing arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 is a schematic cross sectional illustration of the sealing system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention applied to the interface between a shower tray and wall with a wall panel.

Referring to figure 7 there is shown an installed and fitted seal arrangement 10 according to an embodiment of the invention sealing a gap 12 between a first component, in this case a shower tray 14, and a second component in this case a wall panel 16 or in other embodiments a wall tile. The shower tray 14 extends and is generally horizontal and abuts against a wall 22 to which the wall panel 16 extend generally vertically from the shower tray and a facing surface 20. The wall panel is preferably mounted, for example by adhesive or adhesive tape to the wall 22. The shower tray 14 and facing surface 20 is typically plastic or porcelain having a smooth waterproof facing surface. The wall panel 16 may be a plastic or composite waterproof wall panel 16 or ceramic wall tiles having a waterproof front face 24. More specifically the sealing arrangement 10 seals the gap 12 between a generally horizontal facing surface 20 of the shower tray 14 an end edge 18 of the wall panel 16 which is located adjacent to and substantially abuts against the facing surface 20 of the shower fray 14. The sealing arrangement 10 may however be used to seal a similar gap 12 between other components. For example in other embodiments it may be used to seal a gap between a wall panel or tile and a bath or worktop, or even between a floor and wall panel or tiled wall. The sealing arrangement 10 is in particular suitable for -sealing between a first, typically horizontal surface and component and second surface extending at an angle, typically but not essentially, perpendicular and vertical, to the first surface.

The installed sealing arrangement 10 comprises an elongate preferably self adhesive waterproof tape 26 extending along the length of the gap 12 between the shower tray 14 and wall panel 16 and wall 22. The tape 26 is shown in an uninstalled state in figures 1,2 and 5, and comprises a waterproof laminar preferably non-woven carrier layer 28 for example of PVC coated preferably on a front and rear surfaces with an adhesive layer 30,32. It is important that the adhesive tape and carrier layer 29 has sufficient strength and elasticity to compensate for any slight misalignment while positioning, without leaving a crease and gap through which liquid may pass. The same properties also allow for any movement between the surfaces post installation.

Prior to installation the tape 26 is carried on protective release sheets 34,3 6 on both sides and faces covering the adhesive layers 30,32. The tape 26 is folded longitudinally along its length dividing the tape into first and second longitudinal portions and lengths 3 8,40. To facilitate this at least one, and preferably both of the release sheets 34,36 are preferably divided longitudinally by perforation or a cut line 42,44 along the intended fold line. This allows the tape 26 to be accurately folded and creased along this defined cut or perforation lien 42,44 and cut line and for a sharp angle and crease to be formed. The cut or perforations 42,44 also divided the release sheets 32,34, and allow portions of the release sheet 34,36 corresponding to the portions 3 8,40 of the tape 26 to be selectively removed from the portions 3 8,40 of the tape 26 during installation protecting the adhesive 32,34, and making installation easier. The folded tape is shown in figure 2.

The tape 26 is adhesively fitted and attached to the shower tray 14 by removing the release sheet 36 covering at least the first portion of the tape 38 and pressing the tape onto the edge portion of the facing surface 20 of the shower tray 14. The tape 26 is applied along the length of the edge of the shower tray 14 to be sealed and gap 12. This is shown in step 2 of figure 6. The second portion 40 of the folded tape 26 extends at an angle preferably vertically perpendicular to the first portion 38 and projects vertically from the shower tray 14 and facing surface 20. The tape 26 maybe folded into this position either as it is applied along the length of the edge of the shower tray 14 or may be prefolded as shown in figure 2 and then installed in the folded state. The tape 26 may also be fitted to the shower tray 14 prior to fitting the shower tray 14 in position and against the wall 22.

During installation the portion of the release sheet 36 covering the second portion 40 of the rear of the tape 26 is removed and the second portion of the tape 26 preferably adhesively attached to the wall 22. This is shown in steps 3 and 4 of figure 6 and in figure 4. Alternatively the first and second portions of the release sheet 36 may be removed at the same time and the tape 26 simultaneously applied to both the shower fray and wall 22. In other embodiments the second portion 40 of the tape need not be adhesively attached to the wall 22 and the release sheet 34 covering this second portion may remain attached. This would then allow for movement between the shower tray 14 and wall 22 without interaction with the seal arrangement 10.

The separately removable portions and strips of release paper 36 and the perforation or cut line 42 form a straight edge for alignment and permit the first and second portions 38,40 to be more easily aligned along the edge of the shower tray 14 and adhered exactly with the required overlap. The selective removal also protects the still covered portion and adhesive premature attachment, protecting the adhesive 30,32. This all makes installation easier.

The release sheet 44 covering the front surface of the tape 26 is removed and the wall panel 16, or tiles then fitted to the wall 22 on top of and over the second portion 40 of the tape which is sandwiched between a rear surface 46 of the wall panel 16 and wall 22. It should be noted that this release sheet 44 covering the front surface of the tape 26 protects and covers the adhesive 30 on the front surface as the tape 36 is attached to the shower tray 14, folded and fitted to the wall and makes this folding and fitting much easier. The adhesive 30 on the facing surface of the second portion 40 of the tape adhesively attaches to the rear surface 46 of the wall panel 16. This is shown in step 5 of figure 6. The second portion 40 of the tape may be attached the rear of the wall panel 16 prior to the wall panel being fitted to the wall or as the wall panel 16 is fitted to the wall 22. Alternatively, but less preferred, the second portion 40 of the tape need not be attached to the wall panel 16.

The wall panel 16 is positioned such that the bottom edge 18 of the wall panel 16 is adjacent and preferably as close as possible to the upper facing surface 20 of the shower tray 14. Indeed it may almost abut against this surface 20 minimising the gap 12 to be scaled although it is difficult to completely eliminate this gap 12.

A bead of sealant 48, for example flexible silicone or acrylic sealant is applied to and between the facing surface of the first portion of the tape 26 and the bottom edge 18 of the wall panel 16 to fill the gap 12. The sealant 48 readily bonds to the adhesive 30 on the facing surface of the first portion 38 of the tape 26. In particular the sealant 48 bonds much better to the adhesive 30 covered tape 26 than to the tape carrier layer 28 along andlor surface 20 of the shower tray 14. In addition no cleaning of the surface to which the sealant is attached is required since this adhesive 30 provides an improved bond and furthermore this adhesive and surface has been protected during installation by the release sheet 34 over the adhesive 30. The bead of sealant 48 may alternatively be applied prior to fitting the wall panel 16 with the bead 48 apphed and covering the adhesive 30 on the facing surface of the first portion 38. This would then enable the installer to lower the wall panel 16 or tile onto the high tack adhesive face without it immediately sticking to the face. This then permits the installer to align the tile or panel and the push it back onto the vertical surface to bond with the high tack adhesive on this face. The bead 48 would then be squeezed out to completely fill the gap 12 as the bottom edge 18 of the wall panel 16 is lowered onto the first portion 38 of the tape 26 and shower tray 14. In either case once this bead 48 of sealant cures and hardens with any shrinkage an additional bead of sealant (not shown) may be applied to neatly fill any remaining gap between the horizontal and vertical surfaces.

It should also be noted that the tape 26 provides the main waterproof sealing of the gap 12 and between the shower tray 14 and wall panel 16 with the sealant primarily providing an aesthetic filing of the gap 12 and filling the gap 12 to prevent dirt accumulation.

The first portion 38 of the tape 26 is preferably dimension and sized so as to correspond to the thickness of the wall panel 16 or tile fitted over it. In particular the width of the first portion 38 is preferably the same as, or slightly less than, the thickness of the wall panel 16. As a result when installed the tape 26, and first portion 38 is covered by the wall panel 16 providing a clean and neat appearance. Wall board panels 16 may be typically 15mm thick and in the preferred embodiment, a tape of 25mm overall width is used with 10mm wide first portion 38 applied to the horizontal surface and 15mm to the vertical rear surface 46. The thickness of tiles and wallboards however varies, with tiles are typically 4-8mm and wallboards 4-15mm thick. In a further embodiment of the invention, tape may be divided into more longitudinal sections, with the tape then selectively folded along alterative sections and fold lines to provide selective first and second section 38,40 of different required sizes to suit particular applications. For example the release paper may be slit or perforated into 3 or more strips rather than two. An example is: 5mm on one edge to suit tiles, 10mm on the other edge and 10mm in the centre to combine with either edge to create a very versatile combination of widths, suited to both tiles and boards and leaving no tape exposed beyond the face of the vertical surface.

The adhesive may comprise any suitable adhesive that gives good adhesion to the surface 20 of the shower tray 14, wall 22 and wall panel 16, and typical sealant. The adhesive may be mbber based or a modified or unmodified Acrylic. Tests established that a modified Acrylic High Tack adhesive gave good adhesion to standard surfaces of shower tray, bath or work surface and to most wall surfaces. The modified Acrylic is solvent free and based on an aqueous dispersion. Its adhesive strength builds up with time and in addition to forming a waterproof seal, it is highly resistant to humidity and to change in climate when applied. It was found that this tap; in the preferred embodiment as a double-is sided tape, also formed an excellent bond with the sealant.

The tape 26 preferably extends around the corners of the shower tray 14 as shown in figure 4. To achieve this the tape 26, and specifically the first portion 38 may be further folded at the corner location 54 along comer angle lines 52 across the tape 26 defining an angled wedge portion 50 as shown in figure 5 at the corner location. This angled wedge segment 50 can then be folded back onto the facing surface of the first portion along one of the sides of the shower tray 14 and with the release sheet 34 from the facing surface removed stuck down to form a neat and watertight seal, without the need to cut and mitre the tape 26, which risks creating a leakage point.

Preferably, and as shown the tape 26 is a double sided self adhesive tape 26.

Alternatively a single sided waterproof tape 26' as shown in figure 3 can be used.

However, without a high tack adhesive facing surface, it is less able to achieve a good bond with any sealant subsequently applied to its face. It also is less able to form a good corner seal compared to double sided adhesive tape. It will also be appreciated that non self adhesive tape could be used in other embodiments with the adhesive then be subsequently selectively and separately applied as the tape is installed. This however is much less preferred.

The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sealing arrangement for sealing a gap between an edge of a first component and an adjacent second component, the sealing arrangement comprising: S an elongate tape extending substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second components; and a bead of sealant extending substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second components; wherein the tape is folded longitudinally along its length defining first and second longitudinal portions that are at an angle to each other with the first portion adhesively attached to a surface of the second component and the second portion extending away from the said surface of the second component beyond the edge of the first component adjacent the second component and adjacent to a rear surface of the first component; and wherein the bead of sealant is disposed between the first portion of the tape and the edge of the first component.
2. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim I wherein the first component is mounted to a wall.
3. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein adhesive attaches the second portion of the tape to the wall.
4. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising adhesive on a surface of first portion of the tape to which sealant bead is attached.
5. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising adhesive on a surface of the second portion tape to attach the tape to the rear surface of first component.
6. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tape comprises a single sided adhesive tape.
7. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the tape comprises a double sided adhesive tape.
8. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the adhesive comprises a high tack adhesive.
9. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the adhesive comprises a modified or unmodified acrylic adhesive, or a rubber based adhesive
10. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first portion of the tape is sized to substantially correspond to the edge of first component.
11. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second portion of the tape is substantially perpendicular to the first portion of the tape.
12. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second component and surface of the second component is substantially horizontal and the first component extends substantially vertically from the second component and a surface of the second component.
13. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first component is wall panel or tile.
14. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second component is shower tray, bath, or worktop.
15. A method of sealing a gap between an edge of a first component and an adjacent second component, the method comprising: providing a length of tape; folding the tape longitudinally along its length to define first and second longitudinal portions that are at an angle to each other; attaching the first portion of the tape adhesively to a surface of the second component substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second component and such that the second portion extends away from the said surface of the second component; positioning the second portion of the tape such that it extends beyond the edge of the first component adjacent the second component and adjacent to a rear surface of the first component; and applying a bead of sealant substantially along the length of the gap and between the first and second components, wherein the bead of sealant is disposed between the first portion of the tape and the edge of the first component.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein positioning the second portion of the tape comprises fitting first component on top of and over the second portion of tape.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16 further comprising adhesively attaching a surface of the second portion tape to the rear surface of first component.
18. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17 further comprising attaching the first component to a wall.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising adhesively attaching the second portion of the tape to the wall prior to attaching first component to wall.
20. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 19 wherein the first portion of the tape is sized to substantially correspond to the edge of first component and wherein attaching the first portion of the tape adhesively to a surface of the second component comprises attaching the first portion of the tape to a portion of the surface of the second component substantially covered by the edge of the first component.
21. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20 further comprising providing adhesive on a surface of first portion of the tape to which sealant bead is attached.
22. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 19 wherein providing the tape comprises providing self adhesive tape on at least one release sheet, wherein the release sheet comprises a first portion corresponding to the first portion of the tape which is divided along the longitudinal fold from a second portion corresponding to the second portion of the tape.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the first portion of the release sheet is divided from the second portion by perforations or a cut line.
24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23 fUrther comprising selectively removing the first portion of the release sheet from the tape prior to applying and attaching the first portion of the tape to the second component.
25. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24 comprising providing adhesive and is a release sheet on both a front and rear surface of tape.
26. A method as claimed in claim 25 comprising removing the release sheet on the front surface of the first portion of tape after attachment of the rear surface of the first portion of the tape to the second component but prior to applying sealant bead to the front surface of the first portion of the tape.
27. A method as claimed in any of claims 15 to 24 wherein the tape comprises a single sided self adhesive tape.
28. A method as claimed in of claims 15 to 26 wherein the tape comprises a double sided adhesive tape.
29. A method as claimed in of claims 15 to 28 wherein the first component is wall panel or tile.
30. A method as claimed in of claims 15 to 29 wherein the second component is shower tray, bath, or worktop.
3 1. A sealing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as shown in any one or more of figures 1 to 7.
32. A method of sealing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as shown in any one or more of figures 1 to 7.