I switched from mesh tape to paper tape for butt joints and it actually matters

Been using mesh for years on butt joints but kept getting cracks. Switched to paper tape on the last 3 jobs and zero cracks after 60 days. Has anyone else noticed this difference or am I just lucky?

4 comments

4 Comments

mileslane10d ago

Sixty days? That's wild man. I've been using mesh for years too and every time I go back to check a butt joint it's got a hairline crack. I bet your next batch of jobs will be the same way, paper just holds up better. I've been doing this ten years and never even thought to switch. I'm honestly a little mad you just blew my mind like this.

davis.olivia9d ago

Did your friend ever try the paper tape on a really humid job? A buddy of mine did a full basement with mesh and had to redo every single joint three months later because of cracking. He finally switched to paper and hasn't touched mesh since.

evan_davis10d ago

So paper tape really held up on all three jobs? How long did you let the mud dry between coats when you switched? I'm wondering if the key is actually giving paper more time to set before the next pass, or if it's just the tape itself.

thomas_price9d ago

Mileslane said "every time I go back to check a butt joint it's got a hairline crack" and that honestly hit home. I'm probably the guy who would go back to check, see the crack, and just tell myself it's "character" for the paint job. But yeah to answer your question, I let the first coat dry a full 24 hours before the second pass. Not because I'm patient, just because life got in the way and I forgot about it. Maybe the real secret is me being forgetful?