Fiberglass Tape, Cloth & Mat
What Is Fiberglass Tape, Cloth & Mat?
Fiberglass tape, cloth, and mat are the foundational reinforcing materials behind some of the most durable repairs in automotive, marine, and general maintenance. Whether you're patching a cracked hull, rebuilding a rotted-out fender, or reinforcing a structural seam, these woven and non-woven glass fiber fabrics provide the tensile strength and conformability that no filler alone can match. Understanding the differences between the three product types is key to choosing the right material for your project.
- Fiberglass Tape: A narrow-width, cloth-woven fabric — typically between 3" and 12" wide — with finished, non-raveling edges. It is ideal for glassing seams, chines, keels, bulkheads, and inside or outside joints of rectangular shapes. Because the edges are clean-cut and finished, tape will not unravel during application.
- Fiberglass Cloth: A broad, flat-woven fabric that offers a smooth surface finish once saturated with resin. It is well-suited for patch repairs, surface layups, and applications where a thinner, more refined laminate is needed. Cloth is compatible with polyester, vinylester, and epoxy resins.
- Fiberglass Mat: A non-woven material made from randomly oriented chopped glass fibers held together with a binder. Mat is best used for high-build repairs of holes and damaged areas — it conforms to any shape and builds thickness quickly, making it ideal for rebuilding larger damaged sections.
Why These Materials Matter
Fiberglass composites are widely used across automotive body panels, boat hulls, decks, rocker panels, and countless other structures. When these surfaces crack, delaminate, or suffer impact damage, simply filling the void with putty is rarely sufficient for a lasting repair. Fiberglass reinforcing fabrics, saturated with resin, restore structural integrity by distributing stress across the repair area. The result is a bond that can withstand impact, vibration, and moisture — the same principle used in original fiberglass construction.
Selecting the right weight and weave matters too. Heavier fabrics build thickness faster, while lighter cloths conform more easily to compound curves. The weight of fiberglass cloth, tape, and mat is measured in ounces per square yard, giving you a consistent way to compare materials across brands and projects.
Top Brands in Fiberglass Tape, Cloth & Mat
Evercoat has been a trusted name in fiberglass repair since its founding in 1953, when its first formulations were developed specifically for the marine market before expanding into automotive body repair. Today, as part of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), Evercoat offers fiberglass tape, cloth, and mat products designed for use with polyester and vinylester resins. Their cloth-woven tape features non-raveling edges purpose-built for glassing seams, chines, keels, and structural joints, while their fiberglass mat is formulated to conform to any shape for effective high-build repairs.
West System is a well-respected epoxy and fiberglass brand with deep roots in marine repair and composite fabrication. Their fiberglass fabrics — including woven cloth and tape in a range of weights and widths — are engineered specifically for use with their WEST SYSTEM® epoxy resins, offering excellent wet-out characteristics and structural performance. West System's repair kits pair fiberglass fabric with their 105 Epoxy Resin® and hardener systems, making them a go-to choice for boatbuilders, repair professionals, and serious DIYers tackling hull, deck, and composite repairs.