Tape
Okay, I'm back begging for advice again. We're going to start taping and finishing our drywall soon. My wife and I would like to know what kind of tape you all recomend using. Traditional tape, that wierd, sticky plastic mesh, or something else? Please let us know. Thanks!
posted by John | 4:43 PM
6 Comments:
I use the sticky mesh, seems to work well, especially if I put some joint compound on the joint before I put the tape down, then I work it in and apply a coat over it, smoothing it out nicely, at least for the first coat. I know you're not asking for suggestions on the corners but for the outside corners, I saw the guys building my parent's house using the plastic corners with the holes, and spraying adhesive on them. I have since converted to using that method on the corners, no more nail or screw heads sticking up, or a little bend here or there. I get nice corners every time. And its easier........at least for me.
I was gonna do a whole post on my mudding tips, but I'll give you a preview.
The seams: Plastic mesh tape. (it works great and you don't have to worry about air bubbles.
Inner corner: Paper Tape. It's got a crease in the middle, the mesh stuff is hard to work with in corners.
Outer corner: Metal bead. I don't like the stuff that you have to put compound underneath, and I've never tried the spray adhesive one. There's a crimper for $20 from home depot/lowes that makes the work quick if you do a lot of it, but just use screws if you don't have a lot to do.
The compound: Use All Purpose compound for everything. Don't waste money on "topping compound".
First coat (except inside corners), use all purpose compound out the can.
Second, third, and inside corners: Use a little water in the compound. ON the 2d and 3d coats, it keeps the first coat from sucking the water out and making the compound not stick. On the inside corner, it makes it MUCH easier to get the air bubbles out from behind the tape so it doesn't peel.
Also, eff sanding the first/second coat. Just knock down the high spots with your drywall taping knives.
And most important: LESS IS MORE!
If you put too little compound, you can add more coats easily. If you put too much, you'll be sanding forever.
Awesome timing on this post. I've said that I'll cry tears of joy when we drywall, but it looks like it may happen in April. Thanks for all the tips!
Well, I was gonna give my $0.002, but HINinja kinda cleared that up.
I've only ever used tape, if you're not good (as I wasn't back then) and work over it too much I've had it lift up from the moisture and poke through the compound. And you can't sand tape.
He's right about the inside corners though, that crease is handy.
And I would also agree on the metal bead on outside corners.
For second and third coats, I always had a water spray bottle misting thing to dampen the first layer before laying the second. Otherwise it sucks the moisture out too quickly and you're left trying to spread chewing gum.
Angus
I prefer the sticky mesh. It won't peel off like the paper. The metal beads are, IMO, the way to go. They stay in place and make for nice sharp corners... I hope you are more talented than me: No matter how much care I put into prep work, keeping the mud liquid, etc., I still end up having to sand. And, the imperfections only seem to show AFTER I paint. So, this time around we caved in and hired ourselves some plasterers...
Cool. Thank you all very much. We went to Lowe's and stocked up on everything this weekend. Provided that it isn't stollen, we'll be ready to start on the master bathroom in around 2-3 weeks.
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