Create smooth seams with drywall mesh tape.
Applying drywall mesh tape over joint compound, known as drywall mud, to cover seams and gaps provides walls with a smooth, flawless appearance. Mesh tape has an adhesive back that sticks to the drywall and is easier to apply than paper drywall tape. Paper drywall tape requires setting in drywall mud to hold it in place. Manufacturers make mesh tape by weaving thin threads of fiberglass and adhering them to an adhesive tape. The woven design provides entry points for the drywall mud to penetrate the tape and bond with the drywall more securely than paper tape.
Instructions
1. Apply a coat of drywall mud to the seam, gap or repair edge with a flexible putty knife. Extend a thin coating of mud 1 to 1 1/2 inches past the edges of the seam on each side. Press the mud into the seam, filling it and making it flush to the wall surface.
2. Place the free end of the mesh tape 1/2 to 1 inch above the repair seam. If you are taping a long butt seam, place the tape up to the upper edge of the drywall as close as possible to the ceiling or into the corner. Press the end of the tape in place onto the drywall.
3. Unroll the tape down the length or across the width of the seam. Push the mesh tape into the mud with the flexible putty knife. Make sure there are no bumps or folds in the tape. It should lie flat and smooth. Move the flexible putty knife back and forth over the mesh tape to ensure good adhesion.
4. Cut the end of the mesh tape with a utility knife 1/2 to 1-inch below the seam.
5. Apply a light layer of drywall mud over the mesh tape, extending it 1/2 to 3/4-inch past the edge of the tape. Feather the mud edges as you move away from the tape. Apply another thin coating of drywall mud over the first layer in the same way as the first coat.
6. Allow the drywall mud to dry thoroughly, generally one to two hours.
7. Equip a sanding block with fine-grit sandpaper. Sand the surface of the mud to make it level and smooth.
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