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Drywall Tape


Posted by BobF on July 27th, 2003 09:44 PM
In reply to Dry Wall Tape Repair by Ron Klingbeil on July 27th, 2003 09:00 PM [Go to top of thread]

2 of 2 people found this post helpful

Drywall paper tape frequently comes loose in this fashion, which is why I have switched to the mesh tape. If you can see that there is a gap (maybe small) from the edge of the tape to the shoulder of the compound fill, there could be some sideways stress on that joint. Might be that the two drywall sheets are not fastened well enough to the framework.
The other failure mode is where the tape just bubbles off and falls away. If that is the case, the installer did not get enough compound behind the tape. So much for academics!
If the two sheets are not fastened well enough, gluing the tape back on may not work. What you need to do is remove the tape and add some screws to the two sides of the joint and then apply mesh tape.
If the tape just bubbled off, you might be able to fasten it back on with just about anything, from wallpaper paste, to thinned compound, to carpenter's glue. The odds of you getting it smooth are not good! So that puts you back to removing the tape and applying mesh tape in its place.
If you remove the paper tape, sand the recess, if necessary, wipe off the dust, and apply the mesh tape. It self-adheres normally but may not want to stick well in this case. In the end you will have to cover it with compound. Do that and when it dries, expect to sand lightly and apply another coat of compound. Then you need to prime and paint. I use Zinsser's Bulls Eye 1-2-3 (latex) primer for this. You may have to paint the whole ceiling to get a uniform color.
Yes, I know it is a lot of bother to make it look nice, but I'm giving you the whole story so you can make the decision. For more information on working with drywall, visit my website at www.bobf.info.

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