Switched from mesh tape to paper for inside corners last year - huge difference

I used to always use mesh tape for everything because it was faster to slap on. But I kept getting cracks in my inside corners after a few months, especially in this one house I did up near Tacoma. Finally tried paper tape for the corners last fall and I haven't had a single crack since. Paper takes a little more time to bed in but it's way stronger and doesn't bubble up like mesh can. You still using mesh for inside corners or did you make the switch too?

2 comments

2 Comments

lucas1653d ago

yeah I remember using mesh tape everywhere back when I was helping my uncle redo his basement. that stuff was a pain with the bubbles. I never really had a problem with paper tape though, my dad always swore by it and made me use it on all the corners when I was learning. actually reminds me of a time I tried to use that sticky fiberglass tape on some drywall repair and it just peeled right off after a day. paper tape is definitely the way to go for corners.

lindaw292d ago

...and here I was thinking I was being smart using mesh for everything because it felt faster, but turns out I was just creating more work for myself down the road. I had a job up in Bellingham where every single inside corner cracked within six months, looked like a spiderweb. Switched to paper after that and yeah, total game changer. Only thing is the first few times I tried paper tape I ended up with more mud on my pants than on the wall, seriously looked like I fell into a bucket of joint compound. But once you get the hang of it, paper just locks in there and stays put.