Rant: The new guys keep skipping the corner bead primer step

I was helping a crew on a big job in Tampa last year, and I saw three different guys just slap the metal bead on and start mudding. They didn't prime the bead first. I had to stop them and explain that the paper tape on the bead needs a quick coat of PVA or a bonding primer, or that mud is going to crack right off in a few months. I learned this the hard way on a condo project about ten years ago. We had to go back and fix a whole hallway of popped corners because the boss at the time was rushing us and skipped that step. It matters because that little bit of prep makes the tape stick for good. It only adds five minutes, but it saves a huge headache later. Do any of you still run into crews that try to cut this corner?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_thomas828d ago

What primer do you even use for that?

averymartin8d ago

Honestly, I had the same question last year. In my case, a good bonding primer made all the difference, the kind meant for tricky surfaces. I used one from the paint store, not the big box brands, and it stuck way better. Your mileage may vary, but that was my fix.

carter.laura7d ago

My old foreman in Jacksonville never primed bead, and I never saw a callback for it. That was on drywall in a dozen strip malls.

-1