Tape to Use to Repair Vertical Crack in Drywall Joint
#1
04-23-12, 12:06 PM
Tape to Use to Repair Vertical Crack in Drywall Joint
The image below shows a crack in my drywall. Close inspection shows it has been "fixed" in the past (at least before I moved in in 1995). The orange dotted lines show the width of the patch.
My plan is to shape the crack into a V about 1/2 inch wide at the outside and about 1/4 inch deep (it's 1/2-inch drywall). After filling the crack with mud I would finish the usual way except instead of using paper tape I would use some special tape. The tape is about 2 inches wide and is a mesh. It's made of either fiberglass or some kind of other plastic. (It's a major job right now to get to the tape so I could say exactly what it is.)
Does anybody see any potential problems with this method, or any "gotchas"?
My plan is to shape the crack into a V about 1/2 inch wide at the outside and about 1/4 inch deep (it's 1/2-inch drywall). After filling the crack with mud I would finish the usual way except instead of using paper tape I would use some special tape. The tape is about 2 inches wide and is a mesh. It's made of either fiberglass or some kind of other plastic. (It's a major job right now to get to the tape so I could say exactly what it is.)
Does anybody see any potential problems with this method, or any "gotchas"?
#2
04-23-12, 01:18 PM
Your talking about the self adhesive mesh tape [often called sticky tape] It has a poor track record. It works best when it's covered by a couple of coats of setting compound [like durabond] While scratching out a crack works well for plaster, it doesn't help much with drywall. I'd use paper tape followed by a couple of coats of mud to feather out the repair.
Any repair that doesn't include tape will only be temporary.
Any repair that doesn't include tape will only be temporary.
#4
04-24-12, 11:43 AM
Because something is more expensive does not always mean it is better. Sometimes it costs more to produce.
While it is true that mesh tape has greater tensile strength that is not what you need. You need resistance to lateral racking which mesh does not have. Cut pieces of equal length of both paper and mesh then grasp it by opposite corners and pull. You will see that in that direction paper is stronger than mesh.
See if you can pull the existing tape off the wall then ease the edges where it comes off and use paper tape set in mud, I prefer setting joint compound for bedding the tape in a little job like this. It takes hours instead of days because the mud sets and can be recoated as soon as it is hard without waiting for it to dry.
Is this a modular home? If so it will likely always crack here.
While it is true that mesh tape has greater tensile strength that is not what you need. You need resistance to lateral racking which mesh does not have. Cut pieces of equal length of both paper and mesh then grasp it by opposite corners and pull. You will see that in that direction paper is stronger than mesh.
See if you can pull the existing tape off the wall then ease the edges where it comes off and use paper tape set in mud, I prefer setting joint compound for bedding the tape in a little job like this. It takes hours instead of days because the mud sets and can be recoated as soon as it is hard without waiting for it to dry.
Is this a modular home? If so it will likely always crack here.
#5
04-24-12, 10:30 PM
No, not modular. 2-story w/basement. Sits on clay (bentonite) soil. 
Cold winters, hot summers.
Thanks to all you guys for your help. Paper it is!
Cold winters, hot summers.Thanks to all you guys for your help. Paper it is!
