Paper vs. Mesh Drywall Tape: Which One Should You Use?

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Chances are you&#;ve seen paper and fiberglass mesh drywall tape on the shelves of your local home improvement store. What&#;s the difference? To help you choose the better tape for your application, we&#;ll look at three factors: adhesion, strength/flexibility and moisture resistance.

Adhesion

Mesh drywall tape has a tacky backing, allowing it to stick to the wall on its own. Paper tape needs to be embedded in a layer of joint compound. This makes mesh tape easier for the average DIYer to install on a flat length of wall.

Most paper tape also comes with a factory crease in the center. This allows the installer to fold the tape in half, forming a right angle that makes it extremely easy to cover inside or outside corners.

It&#;s possible to fold mesh tape, but it&#;s easy to get off center if done by hand. To apply mesh tape on corners, use a specialty mesh tape corner applicator and hit it with setting compound immediately. Of course, metal-reinforced paper tape makes for an even easier installation process and a resilient corner!

Strength and Flexibility

Hold both kinds of tape in your hand and you might think they bend the same. But the paper tape firms up dramatically after being embedded in mud, a little like papier-mâché.

This added strength makes paper tape an especially good choice for butt joints. If you prefer mesh tape, skip the standard joint compound and use a setting mud, which dries firmer and provides additional strength.

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Moisture Concerns

Mesh tape, crafted from fiberglass, holds distinct advantages, particularly in environments where moisture is a concern. Its inherent mold-resistant properties make it an excellent option for areas prone to dampness, such as bathrooms and backsplashes. Given its resilience against the potential damage caused by water exposure, mesh tape proves to be a reliable solution in these situations.

Furthermore, the utility of mesh tape extends to specific applications like tile installations. When preparing backer boards for tiling projects, it&#;s essential to select an approved fiberglass tape. Mesh tape&#;s compatibility with these scenarios is noteworthy, as it aligns with the durability required for tile work. Its reinforced structure not only aids in preventing cracks and crevices but also ensures that the installation maintains its integrity over time, resulting in a sturdy foundation for the subsequent tile layers.

In essence, the mold-resistant qualities and adaptability of mesh tape, particularly in moisture-prone environments and tile installations, make it a pragmatic choice that contributes to the longevity and reliability of the overall construction project.

Conclusion

In general, paper drywall tape is slightly stronger and more versatile, but mesh tape has a more manageable learning curve and better moisture resistance. It comes down to personal preference: Use the tape you&#;re most comfortable with.

Naturally, this means that paper tape also takes a good deal of time to apply, since you have to first do the adhesive layer, embed the tape, wait a few hours for the adhesive layer to dry, and then apply a second coat of mud. This process also takes considerable practice to master and if you aren&#;t careful to embed the tape perfectly, you&#;ll end up with air bubbles under the tape that will weaken the joint. That said, a perfectly finished paper tape joint will have less movement &#; and thus less potential to form cracks &#; than a mesh tape joint, thanks to that extra mud coupled with the nonelastic nature of paper.

Fiberglass tape, on the other hand, is comparatively easy to work with. It is self-adhesive, so it can be applied to all the joints in one go and then mudded over in a single pass, skipping the first layer of mud entirely. As an added bonus, because it skips the adhesive layer, you don&#;t need to worry about air bubbles causing problems down the road. All this makes mesh tape easier to work with, especially if you&#;re not an expert. It can also save you time and is particularly well suited to patch jobs where the strength of the finished joint is slightly less important. The downsides of mesh tape, though, are that it is much more difficult to apply by hand (it can easily get crooked without an applicator and needs a different, special applicator for inside corners) and that you&#;ll need to finish it with setting-type compound (rather than standard compound), so you&#;ll need some extra supplies. The setting compound protects against cracks that can develop from mesh tape&#;s comparatively high elasticity, which can otherwise give joints more movement than they would have with paper tape.

Bottom line: paper tape is a perfectly good choice which leaves a slightly stronger joint thanks to the additional steps it requires, but those extra steps take time, practice, and patience. Mesh tape has a much shallower learning curve and can save you significant time on the job but you&#;ll need some extra tools and materials to work with it and it can leave a slightly weaker joint even though the material itself is stronger than paper.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Fiberglass EIFS Mesh. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.