morgan_ramirez•1mo agoMost Upvoted

Finally saw why my drywall joints kept cracking

I've been mudding for like 5 years and always just slapped the tape on dry, figured it was fine. Watched a guy at Home Depot in Edmonton last Tuesday show me how to wet the tape first and press it in with a 6 inch knife. Anyone else had a dumb basic trick blow your mind way too late?

3 comments

3 Comments

stella_murray1mo ago

Man I felt this in my bones. Did the same thing for years. Dry tape over every butt joint and corner, wondering why it always bubbled up or cracked. Finally had an old timer show me the wet tape trick with a sponge last summer. Total game changer. Never going back.

oliviat171mo ago

Oh wow, I gotta ask about the sponge part. Did you guys wet the tape itself or the drywall surface before putting the tape on? I tried the wet method once but I think I got the paper too soggy because it tore when I was trying to bed it in. Would love to know how much water is actually the right amount without messing it all up.

abby_wilson511mo ago

Oh @stella_murray you described exactly the same mess I dealt with for way too long. Dry tape on every seam, crossing my fingers, and then watching it all bubble up by the next morning. An older guy at the hardware store told me about wetting the tape with a damp sponge and I thought he was crazy. Tried it on a closet remodel and it laid down flat as glass first try. Best thing I ever learned for drywall work.