Was dead set against mesh tape for years, one leaky corner joint changed my mind

For 15 years I only used paper tape on inside corners. Last month I was finishing a basement job in a house near Raleigh and the homeowner had a small leak from a pipe above one corner. The paper tape bubbled and pulled away after it dried. I had to cut out a 2 foot section and redo it. That job took an extra hour and a half. An older guy on my crew uses mesh tape on all his inside corners and never has that issue. I tried mesh on that repair and it held solid with no problems. Now I use mesh on any corner that might see moisture. Has anyone else made the switch from paper to mesh for specific spots?

2 comments

2 Comments

ben_shah931mo agoMost Upvoted

Paper tape lets go too easy when it gets damp. Mesh tape all the way for spots that might see moisture.

betty_fisher51mo ago

honestly I think this is one of those things where you got to trust the people who actually see the failures happen in the field. @ben_shah93 is right that mesh tape holds up way better in damp spots. It's like how I noticed with my own house too - I used to always go for the cheap option on stuff like caulking and paint but after a few ruined projects I learned to spend a bit more on the spots that actually take abuse. Same thing with tape. Paper tape works fine in a clean dry bedroom you'll never touch again but throw some moisture at it and it's a weak link. Ngl I bet a lot of guys who swear by paper tape just haven't hit the right leaky corner yet. That one job can change your whole mindset.