Warning: tape and mud vs mesh tape on a ceiling corner

I was patching a ceiling corner in a rental last week and grabbed mesh tape out of habit. After the first coat dried, I could see cracks forming right through the mesh. I ripped it off and switched to regular paper tape with all-purpose mud, pressing it in firm. Three days and two coats later, no cracks at all. Paper tape just holds better on those tricky inside corners, am I wrong about that?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_ryan28d ago

Wait, you're telling me the mesh tape actually let cracks form through it? I've been using that stuff for years on corners thinking it was the way to go.

grant_perry28d ago

Yeah I stopped using mesh tape years ago because of that exact problem. It's way too rigid for corners and just lets the crack go right through the tape instead of stopping it. Paper tape takes a bit more skill to apply right but actually holds up.