Fiberglass drywall tape is self-adhesive.
Drywall tape is used to seal the seams in drywall before they are covered with joint compound (mud). Paper tape is traditionally used for this, but fiberglass mesh tape is an alternative. It is self-adhesive, which may make taping easier, but it can develop cracks that paper tape doesn't unless you use a setting-type joint compound.
History
Although metal mesh has been used in plastering for more than a century, fiberglass mesh tape for drywall is a fairly recent invention. The first company to manufacture metal mesh for use with plaster was the New York Wire Co., which began weaving it in the late 1800s. Before that, the substrate for plaster walls had been made of a combination of horsehair and linen.
Fiberglass fibers were invented by Russell Games Slayter of Owens-Corning in 1938, and in 1971, the New York Wire Co. began manufacturing fiberglass mesh. It wasn't incorporated into the drywall industry until the late 1980s, but today a number of companies, including New York Wire and United States Gypsum, manufacture fiberglass mesh tape for use with drywall.
Features
Fiberglass mesh tape for drywall is quite different from the paper tape that has been traditionally used in the industry. Whereas paper tape is solid, fiberglass mesh is a lattice of fiberglass strands that resembles, but is much more flexible than, metal mesh.
Patching compound easily passes through the mesh while adhering at the same time. The result is a reinforced joint that is pliable, yet strong. Moreover, fiberglass tape is manufactured with a weak adhesive so it will stick to the seam without the need for a primary coat of patching compound.
Benefits
Because fiberglass mesh is self-adhering, the drywall installer can, in theory, tape seams faster. He only has to stick the tape to the drywall, then cover it with a top-coat. When using paper tape, on the other hand, he has to spread patching compound before laying the tape. For large jobs, this can save a significant amount of time.
Moreover, because the patching compound penetrates the mesh, the risk of bubbling and lifting is eliminated. The mesh holds the patching compound in a pliable, strong unit in the same way that wire mesh holds concrete.
Expert Insight
Some contractors do not recommend fiberglass tape for drywall seams. Builder Edwin Brown, on his website Plaster Wall Ceiling Solutions.com, cautions that hairline cracks often develop on seams taped with it because it is too flexible to prevent ordinary drywall joint compound from cracking over time as the walls move and the house settles.
He notes that that you should use a setting type of joint compound with fiberglass tape, and USG recommends this on their website. Unfortunately, many builders do not conform to this specification, and the result, according to Brown, is a seam that has to be retaped after a few years.
Considerations
Brown recommends the use of fiberglass tape for use on plaster veneered walls but not on drywall seams. Many builders do recommend fiberglass tape, but it is important to note that scraping the first coat of mud across fiberglass tape can be trying because it is easy to dislodge with the drywall blade. Hence, it is easier to use it for taping flat seams than it is for inside corners.
If you plan to use fiberglass tape, be prepared to use a type of joint compound that sets, and take some time to learn scrape it properly. Once you have mastered the scraping technique, you may save time in the application.
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