If you don’t use drywall tape to reinforce the seams between drywall panels there is a higher chance for cracks to form at these points. Drywall undergoes a good deal of stress and the tape is used to add additional integrity and smoothen out the finish.
Why do you need drywall tape?
Drywall tape serves a single purpose: To help make the seams invisible. If you skipped the drywall tape and just used joint compound to fill in the seams, the seams would become visible again after the compound dried. Joint compound shrinks! Tape does not shrink! Explore further detail here.
To Tape or not to Tape
Quick and Durable Connection. Perhaps the most important benefit of using the tape is that it can provide additional support to the most vulnerable part of the drywall. The drywall compound that glues the panels together and covers the seams is strong once solidified. Cheap and Flexible.
Embedded in a layer of drywall joint compound, drywall tape creates a physical bond between adjacent sheets of drywall. Although the bond does not significantly contribute to the structural support of the drywall sheets, the bond reduces the movement and cracking of the sheets.
Another common question is “Do I need tape for patching a hole in drywall?”.
A hoe large enough to use drywall as part of the patch needs tape. Mesh tape and setting compound is easier to feather out. Expect to feather out at least 2-3 times the size of the hole. Hi, I have done that before with no tape.
Do you need to use drywall tape?
Yes you need tape. Otherwise the joints will crack. You should also scrape away the existing drywall around the joint to make room to bed the tape and make a flush, smooth repair. If it’s just the paper surface you can cut it with a utility knife and peel it away. You just need slightly more than the thickness of the tape.
Is paper tape or mesh tape better for drywall?
Most drywall tradesmen will say that paper tape is stronger than mesh drywall tape. Paper tape is better at preventing cracking along drywall seams. Paper tape folds easily and therefore is easily applied to corners to allow for crisp inside 90° corners. Paper tape can be applied with all purpose drywall compounds. It can also be used with quick-setting or hot mud.
When I was writing we ran into the question “What tape sticks best to drywall?”.
Fiberglass-mesh tape is self-adhesive, so it doesn’t need to be embedded in a layer of compound. This speeds up the taping process and ensures that the tape will lie flat on the drywall surface. It also means that you can apply the tape to all seams in a room before putting on the first coat of compound.
What happens if you use joint compound instead of drywall tape?
Drywall tape does not offer an mechanical strength at all. If you skipped the drywall tape and just used joint compound to fill in the seams, the seams would become visible again after the compound dried. Joint compound shrinks!
How do you glue paper tape to drywall?
The wetness of the compound is what holds the paper tape in place. Don’t allow the joint compound to dry before applying paper tape or it won’t adhere. After smoothing the tape in place with a drywall-taping knife, let the seam dry, and then apply one or more thin coats of drywall compound over the paper tape.
While I was reading we ran into the query “How to tape drywall like a pro?”.
, measure carefully Measure from the end of the ceiling to the middle of a joist and cut the sheet to length. Pro tip: End cuts should split framing members. Mark fastening guidelines every 16 inches from the end of the sheet with a drywall square. Cut overall lengths 1/4 inch shorter for easier fitting.