Should you NEVER use Mesh Tape with All Purpose Mud?

It's technically wrong but is it ever okay?

[aaron]

One of the best things I've learned as a DIYer on this channel is quickset mud is VERY useful, and in many cases very necessary. I think a lot of DIY'ers are intimidated by it, and they need not be. The stuff is cheap... just mix the powder with water until it's mud consistency and use it! No big deal... I use the 90 minute stuff, and I am in no hurry. I'm not good enough at drywallery to ever be in a hurry.

[louismartinez]

Mr. Vancouver, you make drywall look like such an art! Your commentary and disposition make watching your video's painless and interesting at the same time, and I for one most certainly appreciate you sharing your art with the world! Thank you!!

[sbbliss]

One I thing I have learned watching you feather the edges is that it take perhaps years to be that good. Being a DIY home owner I know I will never accomplish that.
As it did take me a lot of moves to be able to move a 7' Steinway Grand Piano myself. Great videos Van

[spacecowboyk]

I've been fully converted from a green AP / mesh tape weekend warrior to a 20-minute hot mud and lightweight for topcoat guy. I'll never go back. I've had to fix joints in the past that were mesh & green AP and I don't expect I'll have to fix them again since going with 20-minute. Also, it dries SO MUCH QUICKER and it sets nice and hard, never mind how smooth it goes on. Huge time-saver and the time spent mixing (even adding concrete admixture glue to the water) is still way less than the extra sanding and fixes that I had to deal with every 10 years with green and mesh.

Vancouver Carpenter is awesome and I went from "don't look too closely" work to "I'm actually happy with how that came out"

[m-a]

The first time I ever taped and mudded anything was 26 years ago, when we were getting 2 new walls rebuilt for our upcoming baby’s room. Hubby and father-in-law put up the drywall. I used mesh tape and regular weight all-purpose drywall mud, because that’s what my very handy fil brought over. I was 8 months pregnant too!! We still live in the house so we’re around to know how the wall held up. 26 years and counting — it never cracked!!
Now I have a couple new walls in another part of the house to do. I bought mesh and paper tape “because paper tape is better”. Well, I tried both tapes and the mesh tape is easier for me to use. Mesh tape for me!
Love your videos Ben — I’ve learned a lot! Great explanations.

[MrWaterbugdesign]

I flip a house every 5 years or so doing all the work myself. I use mesh. Tried paper tape but I don't have the experience and I really don't want to put up enough drywall to ever gain that experience. My Dad used heavy all purpose so I did too. The powered stuff looked hard to mix. But after watching this channel I tried 90 minute quickset for prefill and first mesh tape coat. OK, wow, loved it. Does look much stronger. When we say "stronger" it doesn't mean it'll hold up a moving house. But imo it's going to reduce hairline cracks which imo are caused just be vibrations from doors closing, bumping, and maybe temp changes.

Lack of experience also means I need to do a lot of mud framing and 90 minute has been really useful for that.

Because of this channel I also tried lite all purpose (Plus3) for top coats and WOW that sands so much better, easier. Smooth. Much better result.

So for me I've bought my last green bucket of heavy all purpose.

Thanks for the videos.

[nnamrehck]

Had to do a dry wall repair in guest bathroom. Thanks to you and the Kilted Guy, it looks better than before!

[GreenDragonPainting]

I repaired a boat load of stress cracks in my house. Using mesh and 3 coats of all purpose. Primed with drywall primer all over, finished with high quality Benjamin Moore paint. 2 years later, literally EVERY single patch failed. Now I just have a huge mess. After seeing your videos I haven't bought another bucket of all purpose. All 20 minute quickset on my repairs. Wish id known before I made a mess of my personal house. I will fix it all at some point. I just don't look up in my house anymore 😂

[robcosenza]

Fibafuse or Fibafuse Max is a great alternative to paper tape or mesh for DIYers. Easy to avoid blistering and can be used with all purpose. It just may make you a bit itchy. I don't use it when doing larger jobs because it is pricey, but i often use it on small stuff

[IndefinitePoint]

I predominantly use two coats of quickset mud with mesh and pack the mud into and through the mesh in the 1st coat and fill and feather on the second. Mostly scrap and form with knives while the consistency is like firm clay. If possible I wait a day then do a top coat with all purpose (sometimes quickset again), sand and that's it (typically). I've done this on two basement remodels. One area of one of the basements I ran out of quickset and used all purpose with mesh. There are cracks, but not too bad. Everywhere else is crack-free. However, you'll always get a cleaner look with paper and I'd now say fiba-fuse for flat joints.

I think a lot of cracking with all purpose has to do with people putting it on too thick and it therefore can't dry properly which leads to cracking every time. Mesh tape happens to show that easier. However, with thin layers well cured between each you could get away with it.

[Aepek]

6:22 Ben thank you 🙏🏼, having “one of those days”…..and needed a good 😆
That was awesome and definitely “real”, b/c I can guarantee you, not everyone takes the time to turn breakers off when doing a patch or skimming a wall.
Cheers my friend ✌🏻

[gtileo]

Yes you can tape a wall with it and get it covered in 2 coats. A buddy of mine did a 40' wall of flat joints with all purpose with two coats and it's clean, only a few areas that had to be lightly skimmed to cover the tape.

[ebrewste]

I did bedroom remodels in my house with mesh and all purpose. All the more challenging joints cracked.

[andyb]

Curiously, I did a fairly extensive wall repair in 2016. Knowing nothing about drywall beyond what I had seen on Bob Villa and the like, I used some mesh tape that I had on hand and bought some all purpose mud thinking nothing of it. Six years later, the repair is fine, no cracks, weird shrinkage, or anything else. I don’t remember specifically trying to pack the joints with mud, but I assume the the act of working the mud along the joints must have pressed a fair amount through the mesh tape and into the joints. I guess I had beginner’s luck.

[TheOriginalMeek]

I live how honest you are with your professional experience, knowledge, and opinion. When you don't know, you simply say you don't know. I can appreciate that in a professional opinion.

[lelandlewis]

I did my first drywall job in a couple of rooms with mesh and low dust general purpose. I made sure of prefilling larger gaps and squeezing the mud through the tape at any seams, then waited a day to be sure it was well dried and fully shrunk before the next coat. I realize that isn't good for a professional doing a job, but this was for my daughter, so I had lots of time. One thing I found is leaving the tape on for a couple of hours before applying the mud allowed the tape to adhere better and I had no more issues with it lifting or slipping.

My thought was that making sure the mud is squeezed through the mesh would hold the mud in place better and act like rebar in cement, giving it strength. Of course, what seems logical isn't always the best. lol Just ask Bones about Spock's logic. 😁

The interesting thing about this house (1960s vintage) is that the original walls are done with backer board covered with a sand-filled plaster (I assume plaster) and a skim coat finish.

[JtotheRizzo]

I've learned a lot from your channel as well as others and have become pretty good at patch work. If some people are hell bent on using All Purpose and mesh, then at least mix a healthy amount of wood glue with your mud and prefill the joint and let dry BEFORE you use the mesh tape. Then use the mesh tape and All Purpose WITH wood glue again for 3 coats. That's the only way IMO.

[markmclean]

It may make a difference where 2 sheets meet, rather than if it is in the middle of a sheet. Or if new peace of drywall patch is screwed to a stud.

[Mike-]

I used it for years with all purpose drywall patch ready mix which probably considered light mud. I never had any issues with it mostly walls never tired it on a ceiling. I would let it dry then sand it go over it with one of those small spray cans of texture. Primary then paint I can't tell the difference maybe a professional can. The tape is there to just give the mud something to support it between the joints. I always cut my drywall to match the hole so it has very little gap to fill, so it's possible because the gap isn't that big the tape isn't really doing much. The other day at HD in the paint department I looked at one of those mesh patches suppose to cover a larger hole. The directions didn't say anything about using quick setting mud just said use Joint compound.

[liveandlearn]

Just to be safe I always use hot mud for the first 2 coats when taping because in my heart of hearts I believe it sets much harder. I build it up with all purpose or plus 3 for coats 3-5 though