Repair drywall cracks step 2 how to tape drywall cracks. I used normal joint mud all purpose with the mesh tape and some joints have cracked, but only a few. Make sure you wear a mask when sanding, airborne fiberglass is not cool. Nail pops, cornerbead cracks and bad joints will plague your walls forever. Traditionally paper tape is used when finishing drywall.
I use paper in the corners mostly for sure, and meshfiberglass tape or paper tape over the flat spots and metal corners. A slight lengthwise factorymade crease in the paper helps you fold it down the middle when using it for inside corners. Shop drywall tape and a variety of building supplies products online at lowes. Should you use paper tape or mesh tape for your project. For the longest time, rays preferred method for drywall to plaster work and other small patches was fiberglass mesh tape. Why do the pros use paper drywall joint tape instead of the fiberglass mesh tape. Most joints can be taped with either one, but before you start mixing compound, you need to know the important differences between the two. I specialize in drywall repairs and mesh tape is absolutely the best tape to use, for my application. And ive never had a call back because of tape failure, joint cracks, etc. The paper tape versus fiberglass controversy youtube.
Its your choice really and if mesh is faster for you go for it after all its the finished result that matters. Manufactured from straitflexs patented composite material, it. Paper tape or fiberfuse is generally preferred by pros because it works with. The framing lumber the drywall was screwed to could have had a high moisture content and that water is now gone. Oct 15, 2017 mesh tape or paper that is the question but whats the answer. Nagging flaws will show up right after painting and even months later. When this application has dried, the installer then glues drywall paper tape vertically over the crack and the fiberglass tape, using joint compound to glue it. Paper tape is paper, drywall is paper so i guess we cant use fibafuse in contact with drywall paper. Does that mean it can never crack, of course not, any tape can crack, and ive fixed thousands of cracks, and have seen both types of tape crack.
Matching joint compound with the proper joint tape white. Fibafuse wall reinforcment fabric is ideal for large area repairs. Paper drywall tape can also be ripped by hand rather than cut with scissors. Learn why, when it comes to drywall repair, paper tape is more of a material that an artisan would use, while fiberglass mesh tape is better suited to the average doityourselfer. It isnt that people dont want to answer your question it is just that no one wants to have this debate again. When fiberglass mesh drywall tape came on the market, it was touted as the. When taping drywall, one of these is much easier than the other for you to use. Mesh tape or paper that is the question but whats the answer. Recently i came across fibafuse, which is somewhat different to paper tape and is apparently believed to be much stronger, it feels more flat to me when your bedding the tape. The differences between paper and fiberglass mesh drywall tape. Nov 25, 2018 will the war never end lets dive into the bloody online battle of mesh vs paper. The fiberglass tape will most likely break, so use other taping solutions for this part. Ive never had a crack problem with this combination.
Since the goal of adding tape is to strengthen the joint. To successfully use fiberglass mesh tape over existing cracks, the crack is first cleaned, then the mesh tape is cut into pieces about 3 inches long. Once the fiberglass tape is on the drywall, it may not be perfect. There are different opinions as to what type of drywall tape to use when repairing cracks. Start with a 40 or 20 minute setting compound until you are really proficient and want t.
This taping unit simplifies the application of drywall tape by assisting in application of tape on inside crevices. Tips for better drywall taping the family handyman. Moving from fiberglass mesh tape to fibafuse youtube. Taping drywall can be a frustrating, gutwrenching experience. I specialize in drywall repairs and mesh tape is absolutely the best tape to use. Submittal sheet sheetrock fiberglass drywall tape unique cross. Will the war never end lets dive into the bloody online battle of mesh vs paper. It is best used on joints that may have more tendency to crack, seams with wider. In this segment well go over the strengths and weaknesses of both. Designed for professional renovators, remodelers and drywall installers as well as diyers, the 36 wide fibafuse fabric is engineered with a porous, open fiber design that allows joint compound to flow. Some will say that fiberglass mesh tape can be used to repair drywall cracks. Paper tape is better at preventing cracking along drywall seams. Fibafuse paperless wall repair fabric do you have large areas of damage from cracking, old plaster or wall paper removal.
It did the job paper tape couldnt and kept cracks away for a. Paper tape vs fiberglass mesh tape drywall instruction. Definitely hides the crack, but because of the thickness of the cracktape, i found it difficult to use drywall joint compound to cover the tape and blend it into the existing ceiling without it being noticeable. Since paper tape is nonadhesive, you first need to apply a thin layer of joint compound to the drywall for it to stick to the surface. Fibafuse is an innovative paperless drywall joint tape designed for professional renovators and remodelers. Ten times stronger than paper tape, the tape repairs stress cracks and cracks due to truss uplifts. Fibafuse paperless drywall tapes new fibafuse max reinforced paperless drywall tape learn more the original paperless drywall tape fibafuse is the original paperless drywall tape that is easy to install and creates stronger joints compared to paper tape. We carry a wide selection of drywall joint tape including. Unlike paper tape, which requires mudding to adhere to the drywall, you cannot remove and adjust the. This stuff here is stronger than paper, its a fibre glass product.
Paper is cheaper for a reason but is just fine when taping joints and inside corners, the drywall compound or mud dries like a brick and blends very well into the paper. Fibafuse paperless drywall tape drywall certainteed. Click to add item adfors fibatape cement board tape 150. However, paper tape still yields the more crisp, attractive look for corners.
Care should be taken to avoid overlapping the tape edges because of the uneven surface this will create. I feel like ive kind of opened a can of worms because i go against popular belief in this segment. Mesh tape or paper tape for beginners, find out when to use each. Matching joint compound with the proper joint tape usg receives many inquiries regarding what kind of joint tape to use with different types of joint compounds. Rather than being placed lengthwise along the crack, they are bedded in drywall mud on each side of the crack, then they are placed horizontally across the crack. I finished my basement and garage and have done a lot of drywall in the past. Crack tape cuts easily with a utility knife or scissors, but also resists blisters, tears, shrinkage, and wrinkles. Although mesh tape can be used on inside corners, paper is much easier to handle in these. Matching joint compound with the proper joint tape white paper.
Paper tape folds easily and therefore is easily applied to corners to allow for crisp inside 90 corners. Crack tape repairs difficult cracks on flat surfaces and corners. As i said paper and fibafuse need mud to stick so how can they be in direct contact with each other. Usg sheetrock brand joint paper tape is manufactured with a unique. I realize my experience is limited, but in every single house ive lived there have been spots where paper tape, done by so called professionals, peels up because not enough mud was applied to the back side. Its an efficient way to seal the seams of those drywall boards. When fiberglass mesh drywall tape came on the market, it was touted as the onceandfinal replacement for paper drywall tape, mainly due to its incredible strength. Paper tape can be applied with all purpose drywall compounds. It is much stronger than paper tape, but more difficult to cover using straight tools. Paper drywall tape because paper tape is nonadhesive, it must be embedded in a layer of joint compound to stick. The built in cutter does a good job of getting tape cut to the required length as well. Due to factors beyond the control of the drywall doctor, we. Paper tape i have been using fiber tape for the last 3 years only on the flat joints, and have not seen a problem or crack in it yet.
Question on meshfiber tape page 2 drywall finishing. Now, i say that and its possible the cracks are related to simple lumber shrinkage. The porous design eliminates bubbles and blisters, allowing compound to flow through the tape for a stronger bond. Support this channel by shopping on amazon through our link. Most joints can be taped with either paper or fiberglass drywall tape. Synko also makes a product called confill short for concretefill.
Do not use the fiberglass tape on walls at an angle. The only times fiber mesh tape is used, and what its designed for, is with mortar and cement boarddrywall transition with real joint compound like a tub surround. Wetting doesnt eliminate the squeezeout problem, so you still have to be careful to leave a thin layer of mud between the tape and the drywall. Used the cracktape over a previously attempted plaster cracked ceiling, drywall repair with fiber mesh. Wet paper tape is more pliable than dry tape, so it traps fewer air bubbles behind it. If there are slight movements due to settling, drywall tape will help to avoid excessive cracking. How to use fiberglass mesh to repair plaster walls home. Water also makes the paper slick, so your knife slides over the tape without creating ripples or creases.
A guide to smooth walls tape drywall like a pro each coat of joint compound is a different color in this article so you can easily see the order of application. As an amazon associate i make a small commission from purchases through. In addition, fiberglass mesh tape is more resistant to mold and decay than the paper drywall tape. The crease wheel folds into place and puts the tape right where it is needed to simplify and quicken tape application.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s drywall supply shops began providing self adhesive fiberglass mesh tape as an alternative to paper tape. What works better mesh tape or paper and what is stronger. Adfors fibatape cement board tape 150 x 4 click to add item adfors fibatape cement board tape 150 x 4 to the compare list. Although various specialty tapes exist, the choice of tape in most drywall installations comes down to two products. Mesh drywall tape is nearly impossible to tear since it is composed of fiberglass threads woven together into a tape like form. Cracks wider than 18inch benefit from the addition of. It did the job paper tape couldnt and kept cracks away for a longer time. Click to add item ez taping systems peel and stick drywall finishing tape 125 roll to your list. However, we have found that paper tape makes for a slightly stronger joint. Is it better to use paper drywall joint tape or fiber tape.
It is not a time saver or step saver in drywall contrary to what some people on. Fibafuse is a moldresistant glass mat drywall tape that is ideal for use with moldresistant and paperless drywall systems for highhumidity and moistureprone applications. Fiberglass mesh drywall tape comes in rolls just as paper tape does, but unlike paper tape, is usually selfadhesive and can be applied directly to a seam without an undercoat of joint compound. Then, to hide the tape, additional coats of mud are applied. Paper tape can be used with either dryingtype or settingtype compound. Choose from our selection of fiberglass mesh drywall tape, paper drywall tape, drywall joint compounds, and more. How to put on fiber drywall tape home guides sf gate. This white paper summarizes testing that usg research conducted on the attributes of fiberglass mesh tape and paper joint tape when used with readymixed dryingtype or setting.
Fiberglass has advantages, but as you seem to understand, those advantages are ease of use on flats, at least and speed, not strength or resistance to cracking. It is stronger than most fastsetting compounds, but will crack. New drywall construction requires the use of tape for the best results. This is especially important at butt joints, which typically are the weakest areas in a drywall installation. However, if youre mudding a hairline crack in an existing drywall ceiling or wall, you may apply wet joint compound to the crack with a 6inch taping knife, and smooth it flush with the drywall without using tape. When it comes to inside corners, paper is a better drywall corner tape than fiberglass mesh due to its middle crease.
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