Drywall tape is the most important process of your drywall installation.
Drywall tape is the most important process of your drywall installation and should be placed on a drywall butt joint. Over the years, there have been disagreements concerning which tape works best for drywall. There are two tapes used in the trade --- one is fiberglass mesh tape and the other is paper tape. Most home improvement centers endorse fiberglass mesh tape --- mainly for the do-it-yourself market. However, professionals suggest you know what each tape does before making a choice.
Understanding Drywall
Drywall is used to make walls and ceilings in modern construction. Before installation, drywall is measured and cut perfectly into sheets that make up the panels on the walls and ceiling. These sheets are then met at chamfered edges to seal the seam between the boards for a smooth surface. Once drywall is secured to the studs and the sheets based alongside each other properly, they are taped and joint compounded at the butt joint and corners for reinforcement.
Fiberglass Mesh Tape
The fiberglass mesh tape is self-adhesive, developed primarily to bond the seams in plasterboard before applying a thin coat gypsum plaster. The thin layer of coating plaster over the mesh tape actually adheres through the tape to the board beneath, reinforcing the seam. The general advantage of fiberglass mesh tape is that it is quick, easy and self-adhesive. However, what most homeowners or do-it-yourselfers may not understand about mesh tape is its role in drywalling. It is mainly effective at preventing drywall cracks and is easier to manipulate on straight joints.
Paper tape
The paper tape has no adhesive and requires using joint compound to adhere it to the butt joints. It bonds well to the flat surface of drywall when joint compound is applied correctly. Out of the two tapes, it is far more rigid after being coated. The professional rule of thumb is: when it comes to taping inside corners and wall and ceiling joints, for a crisp edge, use paper tape.
Drwall Tape Choices
Choosing the correct tape for drywall depends on the project you will be using the tape for. For example, repairing damage to drywall, such as large holes in the wall, requires putting a patch around the hole with a scrap of drywall and then running strips of self-adhesive fiberglass mesh tape around the installed patch, centering the tape on the seam and sealing it with joint compound. This is where fiberglass mesh tape works best. However, for drywall installation, any place where two end pieces butt up to each other, or any place where two recessed pieces meet, is where paper tape shines. Paper drywall tape is easier to fold and fits in tight corners perfectly, giving your butt joint areas a smooth, flat surface. For overall drywall construction and installation, paper tape is the professional tape of choice for butt joints.
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