joepro0000

Well here in Florida, we paper tape on drywall, and it drys quick enough to run two coats with the boxes in one day. Mesh is only for patching.

KingOfDrywall

The fact is, depending on where you live I guess if it dries quick enough so that it doesn't hold you up on a job.....either one works fine. People can debate all day and night over which one is "better". In my experience mesh is better only because you'll never have cracking issues or paper popping off(as long as it's applied with the correct compounds). Also with tape, you need to tape-bed-skim....that's a total of 3 steps. With mesh...you can have 2 guys apply it right in front of you and you can be on their toes running you mud box with 90 minute. Here in Ohio we use it on garages almost 100% of the time because garages are exposed to weather elements and constantly changing temperatures.No popping or cracking. The undebatable issue is that the fiber in mesh is far stronger than the paper tape. However, if you are a drywaller that does a ton of large homes or commercial projects.......from a cost standpoint.....nothing is gonna beat paper tape and a taping tube!!!!. To compare one to the other may not be fair......they seem to each have their pros and cons depending on the purpose ,location and application. That's my take I guess.....lol

joepro0000

Absoultely said! It depends on where your working, and the weather. Plus for commerical jobs where you have to do fire-tapping, mesh tape cannot make a wall fire-rated, you need to use paper.

rockmagic

finally, guys that like mesh as much as i do. and knows when and where to use mesh and paper.

Mr Wallboard

1)How about INSIDE corners using mesh?
2)I disagree with mesh being stronger. I dug out cracks and used both and if the crack wants to return , it will , right next to your repair.

TooledUp

1). Mesh isn't recommended for internal corners.

2). If it's done right - With fast set (and not mixed too thin) then it shouldn't crack. The only time I've seen it crack is when it's been put on with regular mud or due to stress on the joints, in which case paper would do the same (known as crowning here in the UK).

__________________
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JoeMudder

Paper and Mesh were made for different reasons, you can use paper anywhere, but mesh is not intended to be used anywhere. Mesh was made for factory seams only with durabond.

When you put mesh over any joint that is not a factory seam, when the joint cracks later on there is nothing that hides the crack. With paper tape it can crack under the paper and it wont show.

I watched another drywall guy put mesh tape on his butt joints and asked him why he does that. He explained that the person who taught him told him that if you wet tape the butt joint the mudd doesn't penetrate the joint enough which will cause problems later on such as bubbling and such. So I explained to him that using mesh will cause more problems because when it cracks there is no paper tape on the joint to hide it.

I went on to explain that neither would I wet tape a butt joint and told him that the guy who taught him was partially right but mesh tape isn't the solution. I apply mud to the butt join first pressing it into the joint, then dry tape over it and wipe it down. I never have a problem with butt joints.

silverstilts

I agree , mesh was not designed to bond joints together and hold , have yet to see one that has not had a hair line crack going through it after a while , I think that it was designed for a want a be taper.... besides the cost is ridiculous and you still can't use it on inside angles.

miguel

WHY CANT YOU MUD OVER WET TAPE? WE DO IT ALL THE TIME AND NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS!! MESH SHOULDNT BE USE IN ANGLES EVER, YOU WILL SPEND TO MUCH TIME KEEPING THE TAPE IN THE CENTER OR FROM FALLING WITH OUT MUD BEHIND IT. JUST USE YOUR BASOOKA ITS FASTER TO APPLY, AS LONG AS YOUR HELP CAN KEEP UP WITH YOU YOU SHOULDNT DROP ANY PERFA TAPE(AKA PAPER TAPE). MESH TAPE IS WONDERFUL FOR PATHCES AND SMALL JOBS WERE ITS NOT WORTH GETTING THE BASOOKA DIRTY(PAIN TO WASH IN WINTER MONTHS BRRR) THERE IS NO NEED FOR SPECAIL MUD OR HOW TO WIPE IT DOWN OR HOT MUD(QUICK SET) JUST APPLY TWO COATS OF WHAT EVER YOU WANT, REMEMBER TO LEAVE ENOUGH MUD ON SEEMS OR BUTTS TO MAKE IT FLAT, THANKS DRYWALL IS MY LIFE MY NAME IS MIGUEL OWNER OF VEGA DRYWALL IN ST GEORGE UTAH SOUTHERN UTAH

silverstilts

I guess to each his own , but where is the time saved using mesh when you have to have an abundant water supply for your so called hot mud , the time it takes to clean up that crap ,the time it takes to mix it , and also the time it takes to fix all the pin holes from the bubbling because the so called quick set may have set but there is still so much moister in it your next coat bubbles not only from the moister but also from the chemical reaction ( the catalyst ) which the mud seems to get heated up in the setting process causing bubbles.... mesh was designed for manufactured homes in a controlled facility where quality is not truly measured but where production is needed to profit the company ... Be honest & Take a good look at a job that had mesh tape and HOT MUD applied and if there were so called flat walls (smooth) you will find many pock holes where the mud bubbled and not fixed...enough said if one is to do a job and do it well take the time and do it right without cutting corners. Yes fiberglass is strong but there is still to much movement where paper tape does bond solid but still has some flexibility and will be less likely to crack... again to each his own.....

Frankawitz

The thing with mesh tape used on new and repairs I have always found that with in six months mesh will show hair line cracks where paper will not unless the house shifts then it will show a mole line but will not open up like mesh does. I had a customer last year had a friend drywall her den with 14' catheral ceiling, her friend used all mesh tape and every seam and joint was cracking within three months. I use paper tape. retaped the whole room, Durabond 20 and paper tape.

www.frankawitz.net

miguel

most of my work any more is to fix others work, also if you prefill your butt joints and seems hair line cracking will be very minimmel. ive work on homes that were built on blue clay so the home is always shifting I fixed and fixed the same patches over and over with mesh and paper tape seems like it take a little longer to crack when i use mesh. I even replace the sheet rock and blocked it still cracks, any of you drywall oldtimers have any suggestions

S&SDRYWALL

We try not to mud over wet tape. It doesnt give the mud proper time to dry and shrink, thus adding more mud on top of wet, unshrunken mud, gives disasters. maybe not short term. but its just one of those things I tell my guys NOT TO do, take an extra day, let the **** dry.

Muddauber

All of the mexican crews around here tape a job then coat everything the same day.Even in cool damp weather.By the time the tape and coat dries and sucks up on the flats it looks like s***, but hey,they're the ones getting all the jobs and I've been off all week.

S&SDRYWALL

Thats stupid, and when we go to a home-owner or a new construction company, we tell them our process, and process of others who hurry just to get the check. we are locked into a 135 unit condo development for the next 2 years, but we still take custom homes on the side and commercial buildings, our guys do everything the same, the right way. You could blow threw the job, to hurry up and get it done. but why spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new house, and then butcher the inside of it? quality doesnt matter to some people.

j m hagelstein

i use mesh tape all the time,never had a problem with it.i agree with butcherman.

S&SDRYWALL

Then you sir are doing drywall incorrectly.

amestaper

Depends on what the client specifies. I'm happy with either method for flat joints but its always paper on an internal corner. Also dependant on how much time you have to finish the job.

During the Scottish winter I've seen a 7 " box over a flat tape take 5 days to dry out properly.

If theres a deadline on small jobs I can use mesh/scrim tape and apply 1 coat of 90 minute setting compound and a 10" box of mud/joint cement in a single day.

However, larger jobs and a warmer climate would get the paper tape and 3 coats every time.

Until I relocate farther south, I have to use both methods dependant on the weather.

j m hagelstein

i have used mesh for years , never gone back on a job ,clients happy.
gone back on other jointers jobs,paper tape failed,clients not happy.
sorry sir not done incorrectly.keep the clients happy.

S&SDRYWALL

Hate to say it but if your using mesh tape in corners, thats terrible.