Walls and Ceilings - Paper v. fiberglass tape

Hi:

I've used paper tape on several drywall projects. What are the advantages of fiberglass tape to paper? Any specific types of projects that one is better than the other?

Thanks.

Mesh tape is great for patchwork. The advantages of using mesh tape are, you don't get blisters, and you don't have to pre fill your joint. Disadvantage is you can't angle tape with it. Or you can but its hard.

Probably 6 or 8 years ago I was told by a U.S. Gypsum factory rep not to use fiberglass for anything but small patching jobs. They had been seeing a fairly high incidence of cracking along one side or the other of fiberglass tape; at that time they didn't know what the cause was, why 1 job cracked and another didn't. Haven't used fiberglass since.

Besides, I have never seen a pro use fiberglass tape for anything but small patches; must be a reason for that.

Bruce

ASTM C475/C475M-02 Standard Specification for Joint Compound and Joint Tape for Finishing Gypsum Board approves mesh tape for use on gypsum walls. USG does not make a mesh tape.

Well, that's interesting about USG! They couldn't hardly recommend something they don't make.

I just checked Gold Bond's (National Gypsum) catalog and they do not recommend mesh tape with their drying type joint compounds (only with their Sta-Smooth compound). Talked to their tech support person and was told that they see cracking at joints fairly often; "sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don't" was the comment made.

Guess it boils down to what each individual manufacturer recommends.

Bruce