My buddy told me to prep my wall joints with mesh tape not paper and I called him crazy

I've been patching drywall for years and always used paper tape because that's what my dad showed me. My friend Joe who does remodeling in Columbus kept saying mesh tape is better for corners because it doesn't bubble up. I laughed at him and said paper tape is the only way to go. Well I had a big ceiling repair last week in a house built in the 50s and decided to try his way on a whim. The mesh tape stuck perfectly flat with no wrinkles and the mud went on way smoother than usual. Now I feel like an idiot for ignoring him for three years. Has anyone else had a buddy's dumb suggestion actually turn out to be the better method?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix_williams711mo ago

Ha, you and me both buddy! I've got a journeyman uncle who'd probably disown me for saying this, but that mesh tape is a total game changer for ceilings especially. I had the exact same bubble problem with paper tape on an old plaster ceiling a few months back (driving me up the wall, literally) and finally caved to a guy at the hardware store who was all about mesh. It stuck so flat I didn't even have to sand half as much as usual, and the whole job felt way less fussy. Makes you wonder how many other "old school" methods we've been clinging to are just stubborn habits, not actual better ways. I'm starting to think our dads and uncles just had to deal with worse materials back then, so paper tape was all they knew. Now I'm eyeing all my other go-to tricks with a real skeptical eye, you know?

grace_gonzalez4611d agoTop Commenter

@rowanharris Mesh tape actually isn't great for flat patches, it's the paper's strength there (just needs a wetter mud to stop bubbles).

rowanharris1mo ago

Wait, are you saying mesh tape actually works better for ceiling patches? I've been doing drywall work on the side for years and always swore by paper tape too (my old man would roll over in his grave if he heard me even asking about mesh). But you know what, I had a similar thing happen with a bathroom ceiling last month where the paper tape kept bubbling up no matter how careful I was with the mud. I switched to mesh mid-job out of pure frustration and it stuck like a dream, no wrinkles at all. The mud went on so smooth I actually finished the whole thing in half the time I usually budget for paper tape. So yeah, your buddy Joe might be onto something, and now I'm wondering what other "dumb" tips I've been ignoring for years that could save me a ton of hassle.