Spent 6 months chasing a drywall tape issue in my Calgary basement

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2 Comments

Took me a year and a half to figure out the same thing in my Edmonton place. The trick was switching to mesh tape instead of paper for the first pass, then doing a second layer with paper tape over top. Had to make sure the compound was mixed way thinner than I thought it should be, almost like really thick paint. Also found out the hard way that you need to let each coat dry a full 24 hours in a basement, no shortcuts with a space heater. That combination finally stopped the cracks from coming back through the paint.

the_lisa9d ago

Wait, are you saying you did mesh tape AND paper tape on top of that, like a whole second layer of tape? I've always heard mixed things about mesh tape because it's stretchier but doesn't hold up as well on its own for corners. That double taping trick is wild but I bet it works because you get the strength of the mesh holding the crack together but the paper gives you that smooth finish without the mesh texture bleeding through. I ruined a whole wall in my first house because I poured the compound on too thick thinking thicker meant stronger, but it just cracks worse because the moisture escapes weird. The drying thing is real too, especially in basements. You can't rush it or you just trap moisture and it all falls apart later.