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Three years ago I swore by paper tape for drywall joints, now I'm all in on mesh | Drywall Installers - Free To Speak

Three years ago I swore by paper tape for drywall joints, now I'm all in on mesh

Last month on a job in Cleveland, a guy showed me how mesh tape with setting compound actually cuts my time by about 20 percent on butt joints. I used to think paper was the only way to avoid cracking, but after watching him fix a tricky corner in half the time, I grabbed a roll and haven't looked back. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a difference in finish quality?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana_kim663mo ago

You mentioning "paper is still king for angles" is exactly what my uncle in Chicago says. He's been doing drywall for 25 years and he swears mesh is a trap on inside corners because it folds over and leaves air pockets. But I saw this video from a guy in Phoenix who did a whole house with mesh and setting compound, and he said the key was wetting the mesh down before applying the mud. Tried it on a butt joint in my garage and it cut down the fuzzy texture by a lot. Still not brave enough to take it to a high end finish though.

sage_moore373mo ago

That part about "20 percent faster on butt joints" hit home for me. My buddy Mike tried the same thing on a basement reno in Detroit last fall, and he said the mesh just let him lay down compound way faster without worrying about bubbles. He did have one spot where the mesh got a little fuzzy under his knife though, so he still keeps paper around for real finicky work.

foster.tessa3mo ago

That fuzzy mesh issue, does it happen every time or just on certain joints? I had the same thing happen on a job in a old house with super dry walls, drove me crazy. But yeah, for big flat runs where you just want to move fast, mesh is hard to beat. Paper is still king for angles and repairs though, no question about that.