I finally switched to mesh tape after 15 years of paper

Last week I was finishing a basement job in San Antonio and the paper tape just kept bubbling on me. Been fighting with it for years. My supplier talked me into trying mesh for that job. I hated it at first but after doing 4 rooms I realized it's way faster and I don't get those stupid bubbles. The trick is you gotta use the right mud. Has anyone else made the switch and stuck with it?

3 comments

3 Comments

clairem4726d ago

The mud really is the make or break with mesh. Had a buddy swear by it for years but he was using the wrong compound and hated life.

jake_owens24d ago

Yeah, "wrong compound" is the key. I had a buddy who swore by mesh too but he was using the lightweight spackle from the hardware store. Not even joint compound, just that pink stuff. He'd tape it up, slop it on, and wonder why it cracked in a week. Then he tried the setting-type compound and it was night and day. But by that point he'd already trashed two whole rooms and had to rip it all out. So yeah, compound choice can make or break the whole thing.

phoenix_carter26d ago

Paper tape over mesh any day. The mud just feathers out way better and you don't get those weird ridges. Saw a guy use all-purpose on mesh once and it was a mess.