Switched from paper tape to mesh for my last drywall job and the corner cracked anyway

Always used paper tape for inside corners cause my old boss said mesh was junk, but after watching a YouTube video from a guy in Portland I tried it on a 12 foot ceiling joint and now I'm wishing I stuck with paper because it's already showing a hairline crack 3 days later - anyone else had mesh fail on them like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly6318d ago

I read a forum post from a commercial guy in Arizona who swore mesh was only good for patches, not long runs like ceiling joints. He said the mesh doesn't have the same give as paper when the mud shrinks, and that's why you get those hairline cracks. Your experience matches what he was talking about, 'especially with a 12 foot span where there's more movement. Might be worth trying a fiberglass tape with a setting-type compound next time, I've heard that combo holds up better for corners.

kim.dylan18d ago

Screwed that up myself last year on a buddy's garage ceiling, @holly63. Used mesh over a 14 foot span and let me tell you, those hairline cracks showed up like a bad tattoo the next spring. Felt real smart watching my work split apart while his paper taped corners held solid. The setting compound tip makes sense too, I've noticed the mesh just floats around in premixed mud like it's trying to escape. Ever tried the hot mud with mesh on a longer run and had it actually hold?