river182•2d agoMost Upvoted

Had to choose between paper tape and mesh tape on a big ceiling job

I was finishing up a 2000 square foot ceiling last month in a house near Austin. The GC wanted me to use paper tape because he said it holds better on flat seams, but I usually grab mesh tape for speed. I went with paper tape and honestly it took longer but the finish came out way smoother with less bubbling. Has anyone else had a rough switch like that mid job?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron7242d ago

Paper tape's actually stronger on flat seams.

barbara3992d ago

Hang on, I gotta push back on that. Paper tape might be fine for some things, but it doesn't hold up to real moisture like mesh tape does. I've seen paper tape bubble and peel right off in bathrooms or kitchens where there's a lot of humidity. Mesh tape with setting compound gives you a stronger bond on those tricky inside corners too, because the mud grabs through the mesh instead of just sitting on top. Paper has its place on big flat walls where nothing's moving, but for any kind of repairs or tricky spots, mesh is the way to go.