Old drywaller told me to stop using mesh tape on corners and I was so wrong

Honestly, I was doing corners with mesh tape for like 3 years because it seemed easier. Then this old timer named Gord showed up to help me finish a basement in Highlands. He watched me for maybe 2 minutes and goes 'that tape is for rookies, use paper tape with a metal corner bead'. I thought he was being a boomer about it but he made me try it his way. The corner came out so much sharper and the mud didn't crack at all after it dried. Now I switched to paper tape for all my inside corners and it's a total game changer. Has anyone else had a veteran reno guy make you dump your whole method?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia31728d ago

Gord didn't happen to have a leather tool belt and a black and white photo of his first job site from 1972, did he? I swear these old timers have a secret handshake and a manual written in drywall dust. But yeah, I had a plumber named Walt show me how to solder a copper pipe by using a wet rag and telling me I was "making the water gods angry" with my torch technique. Made me feel like a kid getting scolded for coloring outside the lines.

the_zara1mo agoTop Commenter

Oh, I had a friend who went through almost the exact same thing with a carpenter named Frank. He was dead set on using glue and pocket screws for all his cabinet work, and Frank just shook his head and handed him a biscuit joiner. Now my buddy swears he hasn't had a single joint pull apart since he switched, and he still talks about Frank like he was some kind of wizard.

stella_murray1mo ago

Honestly that Frank guy sounds like he knew something a lot of people miss. I mean maybe it's not even about the biscuit joiner itself but just having someone who can show you one simple trick that changes everything. Kinda makes you wonder how many other old school tips are floating around that nobody talks about anymore.