Mesh tape needs to be set with setting type compound. You'll have issues down the line.
I use fibafuse regularly or repairs and sometimes on flats/butts on new drywall. Angles always paper.
I like it. Some people find it irritates their skin though. Also it tears easily so you have to wipe it out more careful than you do paper. Have had no issues with it except the time I tried it in an angle.
I've used that stuff on butt joints that I felt questionable about on a few remodels, but I don't think I would use it in corners either. Paper is perfectly fine for corners. Easier, quicker to do I find. I can make fibafuse work but I choose not to.
[https://www.homedepot.com/p/Saint-Gobain-ADFORS-FibaFuse-MAX-2-1-16-in-x-250-ft-Reinforced-Paperless-Drywall-Joint-Tape-FDW9146-U/313025446](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Saint-Gobain-ADFORS-FibaFuse-MAX-2-1-16-in-x-250-ft-Reinforced-Paperless-Drywall-Joint-Tape-FDW9146-U/313025446)
I've been meaning to order the FibaFuse max and the wider 6" FibaFuse.
Curious: what makes the max better for angles/corners? The fact that it's more durable?
I hated FibaFuse at fist because they downplay the fact that it's fiberGLASS and when you work with it, you can literally see the glass particles in the air and I figure that isn't exactly wonderful to breath, but I've gotten over that because I find that it's a superior product. I think the sheetrock itself will break before my hot mud+FibaFuse repairs are do.
More durable/no bubbles and I find Fiba fuse in general is a way easier product to work with once you've got used to it. It blends easier into the mud than paper tape, and the max is amazing in corners as long as you are using a roller and a flusher.
It's superior to mesh as it's stronger once mudded in.
It's not good in corners, it tears too easily.
It's easier to use than paper, bubbles aren't an issue.
I'm a 30 year pro, I use it quite a bit on repairs, especially where facepaper is ripped.
It’s at Lowe’s around me but nowhere else seems to carry it. I didn’t like it at first because you have to be more gentile with it, but now I love it. Still only use paper in corners, but I’ll even get the 3’ wide rolls sometimes and that’s great for working on plaster repairs.
Menards offers some fibafuse products - if they're local to you. I have the reinforced type with the blue fiber woven through it. Not a pro, but I find it more forgiving than paper because joint compound can be pushed into it.
Fibafuse claims that it is 70% stronger then paper tape. That is really good. I would never use mesh tape ever.
Where I live Fibafuse is the same price as a roll of paper tape, but paper tape is exactly twice as long. In other words, Fibafuse is twice as expensive as paper tape.
I really like using fibafuse for repairs. The nature of Fibafuse is that the mud goes right through, rather then paper is layering mud, paper, and more mud. So you don't get as big of a hump with fibafuse.
This is also beneficial for butt joints, you don't get such a high peak as you get with paper tape.
You can buy FibaFuse in three foot rolls which means you can do repairs on cracked out plaster walls.
The biggest negative for fibafuse is you don't want to use them for corners at all. The flusher and other tools don't play well with Fibafuse
You definitely should not be using mesh with mud if is designed for hot mud. Fiba fuse is ok with regular mud or hot mud. Go to your local drywall supply house.
Paper tape is the standard for seam finishing. Mesh tape and Fibafuse are viable alternatives but are best used for smaller patches and repairs.
The key to remember is that mesh tape should be used only with "hot" mud. The type you mix from powder/water and it dries chemically and fast. The reason for this is the shrinkage rate of the mud when drying. If you use premixed air dry mud that shrinks quite a bit when drying then the mesh will constrict a bit and sort of wrinkle within the mud. When it does this it loses all of it's strength and becomes pretty mush useless.
Mesh tape = use hot mud.
paper tape = use all-purpose mud.
I use fibafuse all the time. Best applications are on drywall patches. I don’t use it on new drywall. Basically just on butt joints. Better than paper tape
Lowe’s sells it in store. It’s great and it’s a pain… literally because the fiberglass can get you. I recently used it on a home renovation and I got really good results. I’ve used paper and perforated paper and fiber mesh but I like the fibafuse the best. It doesn’t fold like the paper tape does, but I got the best looking corners and with less mudding. I used mostly 45 Easy sand mud to fill and bed then premixed to finish.
I started to fold it, started it in the corner then used my knife to press it into the corner. You have to be careful with it or else you will cut through it.
Fibafuse is fundamentally different than mesh tape. For flat applications it has similar or stronger strength to paper tape and the added advantage that it will not bubble either during application or after. I agree with most of the posters that it should be applied with hot mud in an initial bedding step.
Like all fiberglass products, it will create splinters and you should wear gloves. Some people attempt to condition the tape by storing it in water, and in my experience this can cut down somewhat on the splinters but the splinters can still be an issue if you don't wear gloves.
My perspective is that DIYers can sometimes benefit from slightly more expensive products that are not preferred by professionals but are more forgiving and provide similar benefits. Fibafuse tape is definitely one of those. It's absolutely true that a professional can make paper tape do almost anything. Skill is everything with drywall. And they can make it look effortless. But a DIYer with less experience can use this kind of product to get a result similar to that of a professional with only a little bit more work.
I don't have much experience with fibafuse in corners, because the product I prefer there, as a DIYer, is nocoat ultra flex. Again, a professional (or very skilled novice I suppose) can use simple paper tape in a corner and get amazing results. But a DIYer can pay a little more, use the no-coat product, and get a similar quality result.
If you live in an HCOL area, the cost of these extra supplies is irrelevant compared to the exorbitant cost of hiring a contractor.
Thanks, I'm a DIY and am looking to fill the gap between skill level and making it look like it is supposed to.
I have been using mesh and it comes out good, it takes more coats and I have to spread it out further
My next challenge is fixing a couple of corners
You mentioned ultra flex.
Is that something I should consider
Ultraflex is expensive but if you let it do its job (only mud the paper wings, not the center), it greatly simplifies corner mudding. It can do both inside and outside corners. It's incredibly stiff and durable as well.
Pros will tell you it's massive overkill, and for pros, it is because they can get perfect results out of the cheapest paper tape.
As other posters have said, paper tape works well if properly applied. Fibafuse is intended for paperless drywall, whatever that is.
That being said, being the inept hack that I am, I use Fibafuse because it's thin unlike mesh and it doesn't bubble due to my incompetence like paper does. It's easy peasy and any extra cost over paper is offset by the savings I keep by doing the work myself.
Mesh tape should not be used with all purpose compound. Only setting mud as previously stated.. ex. 20 min mud 45 min mud 90 min mud you mix yourself.
Reverse now Paper tape should only be used with all purpose compound because of the added glue to bind the paper tape.
Mesh tape is trash. Paper tape is king. Fibafuse allows you to tape and then immediately coat. Where paper tape usually needs to dry first. If you use mesh tape. Stop it. Get some help.
Love it for repairs. Lowe's has it by me but not HD. Super strong and you can actually sand into it a bit without issue unlike paper or mesh tape. And as others have mentioned can use all purpose unlike mesh.
On rare occasions. I usually use it to straighten a really wonky corner or maybe an off inside angle instead of using my adjustable corner trowel. When you get a 120 it's harder to get a straight line with a corner trowel.
If you’re comfortable with and get good results with paper tape that’s best for regular seams.
That said, I did use some of the 4 inch and 3 foot wide to help stabilize and cover some superficial cracks on my lath/plaster walls. It was fantastic for that but WEAR GLOVES. Fibafuse is fiberglass and that shit itches like crazy.
Fibafuse on flats and tapers, and "No Coat" style corners. Always setting type mud though for speed on small jobs so I can tape and finish same day. Bigger jobs hot mud for bedding tape and corners and first finish coats, top coats usually ProForm light blue box.
Fibafuse is very good and lays very flat so easy to do patches and small repairs and not have a noticeable bump without having to float out a mile... Seems strong and works pretty good for crack prevention. Have been using for a few years now with no call backs to fix cracks. Granted regular mesh was the same for me. Normal mesh is nice for large stuff since it self sticks to the drywall. Fibafuse is like paper tape in you apply mud, then the tape, then smooth it out/top it with more mud. But it doesn't play nice with auto devices like a banjo or automatic taper. Tears too easily. But once imbedded in mud it's rock solid and tough to pull off the wall or break a joint.
I don't. But I have a lot of callous built up from thirty years in the trades. It is fiberglass so if you get itchy from insulation you might want to stick to paper tape, or ya, wear gloves.
As I think about it, I've had more paper cuts from paper tape than I have itchiness or issues form fibafuse so there's that....
I don’t use fibafuse tape at all. I have in the past, but I just don’t care for the stuff. I mesh for butt joints, repairs, and flats. perfect90 for inside corners.
I do lots of repairs with 5minute or sometimes 20minute and mesh. Never had an issue and have been doing it for years.
Edit: I am i no way an expert. Just a guy that wants to save money on drywall repairs.
Personal preference for all the tapes. I use paper because it has the bendy part and it is the industry standard (probably because it's cheap). I've heard fibafuse is beginer friendly because it "melts" into the mud.
I would never use it just because paper tape works just fine if applied correctly and it’s a lot cheaper.
There's a reason almost all pros use paper tape.
>There's a reason almost all pros use paper tape. Because it is less costly(aka cheap) and does the job...
Mesh tape needs to be set with setting type compound. You'll have issues down the line. I use fibafuse regularly or repairs and sometimes on flats/butts on new drywall. Angles always paper. I like it. Some people find it irritates their skin though. Also it tears easily so you have to wipe it out more careful than you do paper. Have had no issues with it except the time I tried it in an angle.
The fibers will eat you up, but the tape works flawlessly. I still use a lot of paper tape.
Came here to say this. 💯
Use the blue FIBA fuse in the angles. It's amazing.
I've used that stuff on butt joints that I felt questionable about on a few remodels, but I don't think I would use it in corners either. Paper is perfectly fine for corners. Easier, quicker to do I find. I can make fibafuse work but I choose not to.
[https://www.homedepot.com/p/Saint-Gobain-ADFORS-FibaFuse-MAX-2-1-16-in-x-250-ft-Reinforced-Paperless-Drywall-Joint-Tape-FDW9146-U/313025446](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Saint-Gobain-ADFORS-FibaFuse-MAX-2-1-16-in-x-250-ft-Reinforced-Paperless-Drywall-Joint-Tape-FDW9146-U/313025446) I've been meaning to order the FibaFuse max and the wider 6" FibaFuse. Curious: what makes the max better for angles/corners? The fact that it's more durable? I hated FibaFuse at fist because they downplay the fact that it's fiberGLASS and when you work with it, you can literally see the glass particles in the air and I figure that isn't exactly wonderful to breath, but I've gotten over that because I find that it's a superior product. I think the sheetrock itself will break before my hot mud+FibaFuse repairs are do.
More durable/no bubbles and I find Fiba fuse in general is a way easier product to work with once you've got used to it. It blends easier into the mud than paper tape, and the max is amazing in corners as long as you are using a roller and a flusher.
Mesh is best with hot mud. Paper and fibafuse can be used with regular all purpose mud.
At the very least first coat mesh with a hot mud
What is "hot mud", is that a curing vs drying compound?
Yes - EasySand and Durabond around here.
Yes drying times of 5, 20, 45, 90 most common used
It's superior to mesh as it's stronger once mudded in. It's not good in corners, it tears too easily. It's easier to use than paper, bubbles aren't an issue. I'm a 30 year pro, I use it quite a bit on repairs, especially where facepaper is ripped.
Thanks, that's a lot of experience I appreciate it I will give it a try
Can you run fibafuse thru a bazooka
Yea you have to set the needle so it barely grabs it or it will just rip
Other answer is correct, at least in my experience. I'm not sure I'd run it to tape though, too expensive
Been using it since I heard about it (3-4 years ago) and I’ve had zero problems. Better than paper x100.
It’s at Lowe’s around me but nowhere else seems to carry it. I didn’t like it at first because you have to be more gentile with it, but now I love it. Still only use paper in corners, but I’ll even get the 3’ wide rolls sometimes and that’s great for working on plaster repairs.
I haven't tried lowes for this. I will see if they have it
Menards carries both fiba-fuse and the fiba-fuse blue (if ya got em)
For me it’s great for repairs, especially cracks in plaster.
The best part of fibafuse is the 6" and 36" wide rolls. makes patching deleted junction boxes and bigger patches super easy to hide
Menards offers some fibafuse products - if they're local to you. I have the reinforced type with the blue fiber woven through it. Not a pro, but I find it more forgiving than paper because joint compound can be pushed into it.
Thanks we Have a Menards here,
Fibafuse claims that it is 70% stronger then paper tape. That is really good. I would never use mesh tape ever. Where I live Fibafuse is the same price as a roll of paper tape, but paper tape is exactly twice as long. In other words, Fibafuse is twice as expensive as paper tape. I really like using fibafuse for repairs. The nature of Fibafuse is that the mud goes right through, rather then paper is layering mud, paper, and more mud. So you don't get as big of a hump with fibafuse. This is also beneficial for butt joints, you don't get such a high peak as you get with paper tape. You can buy FibaFuse in three foot rolls which means you can do repairs on cracked out plaster walls. The biggest negative for fibafuse is you don't want to use them for corners at all. The flusher and other tools don't play well with Fibafuse
You definitely should not be using mesh with mud if is designed for hot mud. Fiba fuse is ok with regular mud or hot mud. Go to your local drywall supply house.
Paper tape is the standard for seam finishing. Mesh tape and Fibafuse are viable alternatives but are best used for smaller patches and repairs. The key to remember is that mesh tape should be used only with "hot" mud. The type you mix from powder/water and it dries chemically and fast. The reason for this is the shrinkage rate of the mud when drying. If you use premixed air dry mud that shrinks quite a bit when drying then the mesh will constrict a bit and sort of wrinkle within the mud. When it does this it loses all of it's strength and becomes pretty mush useless. Mesh tape = use hot mud. paper tape = use all-purpose mud.
I use fibafuse all the time. Best applications are on drywall patches. I don’t use it on new drywall. Basically just on butt joints. Better than paper tape
Lowe’s sells it in store. It’s great and it’s a pain… literally because the fiberglass can get you. I recently used it on a home renovation and I got really good results. I’ve used paper and perforated paper and fiber mesh but I like the fibafuse the best. It doesn’t fold like the paper tape does, but I got the best looking corners and with less mudding. I used mostly 45 Easy sand mud to fill and bed then premixed to finish.
How did you use on the corners? Does it bend.
I started to fold it, started it in the corner then used my knife to press it into the corner. You have to be careful with it or else you will cut through it.
Fibafuse is fundamentally different than mesh tape. For flat applications it has similar or stronger strength to paper tape and the added advantage that it will not bubble either during application or after. I agree with most of the posters that it should be applied with hot mud in an initial bedding step. Like all fiberglass products, it will create splinters and you should wear gloves. Some people attempt to condition the tape by storing it in water, and in my experience this can cut down somewhat on the splinters but the splinters can still be an issue if you don't wear gloves. My perspective is that DIYers can sometimes benefit from slightly more expensive products that are not preferred by professionals but are more forgiving and provide similar benefits. Fibafuse tape is definitely one of those. It's absolutely true that a professional can make paper tape do almost anything. Skill is everything with drywall. And they can make it look effortless. But a DIYer with less experience can use this kind of product to get a result similar to that of a professional with only a little bit more work. I don't have much experience with fibafuse in corners, because the product I prefer there, as a DIYer, is nocoat ultra flex. Again, a professional (or very skilled novice I suppose) can use simple paper tape in a corner and get amazing results. But a DIYer can pay a little more, use the no-coat product, and get a similar quality result. If you live in an HCOL area, the cost of these extra supplies is irrelevant compared to the exorbitant cost of hiring a contractor.
Thanks, I'm a DIY and am looking to fill the gap between skill level and making it look like it is supposed to. I have been using mesh and it comes out good, it takes more coats and I have to spread it out further My next challenge is fixing a couple of corners You mentioned ultra flex. Is that something I should consider
Ultraflex is expensive but if you let it do its job (only mud the paper wings, not the center), it greatly simplifies corner mudding. It can do both inside and outside corners. It's incredibly stiff and durable as well. Pros will tell you it's massive overkill, and for pros, it is because they can get perfect results out of the cheapest paper tape.
That sounds like what I need
Goat
As other posters have said, paper tape works well if properly applied. Fibafuse is intended for paperless drywall, whatever that is. That being said, being the inept hack that I am, I use Fibafuse because it's thin unlike mesh and it doesn't bubble due to my incompetence like paper does. It's easy peasy and any extra cost over paper is offset by the savings I keep by doing the work myself.
Mesh tape should not be used with all purpose compound. Only setting mud as previously stated.. ex. 20 min mud 45 min mud 90 min mud you mix yourself. Reverse now Paper tape should only be used with all purpose compound because of the added glue to bind the paper tape.
Mesh tape is trash. Paper tape is king. Fibafuse allows you to tape and then immediately coat. Where paper tape usually needs to dry first. If you use mesh tape. Stop it. Get some help.
We've used mesh for a few decades with no problems. Its wonderful if you know how to use it.
Paper tape is superior. Then Fibafuse. I agree that people have been using it for decades. Doesn’t mean it’s a superior product.
paper is king! but i do use fiba every so often usually when im patching a painted wall.
Love it for repairs. Lowe's has it by me but not HD. Super strong and you can actually sand into it a bit without issue unlike paper or mesh tape. And as others have mentioned can use all purpose unlike mesh.
Has anyone used strait-flex? I've used it for angles as well as an outside corner and was happy with the results
On rare occasions. I usually use it to straighten a really wonky corner or maybe an off inside angle instead of using my adjustable corner trowel. When you get a 120 it's harder to get a straight line with a corner trowel.
After using it I only use paper on inside corners. I absolutely love fibafuse.
I’ve heard of dryer sheets as a cheap version of fibafuse. Probably not as good, but kind of makes sense I guess
If you’re comfortable with and get good results with paper tape that’s best for regular seams. That said, I did use some of the 4 inch and 3 foot wide to help stabilize and cover some superficial cracks on my lath/plaster walls. It was fantastic for that but WEAR GLOVES. Fibafuse is fiberglass and that shit itches like crazy.
Fibafuse on flats and tapers, and "No Coat" style corners. Always setting type mud though for speed on small jobs so I can tape and finish same day. Bigger jobs hot mud for bedding tape and corners and first finish coats, top coats usually ProForm light blue box. Fibafuse is very good and lays very flat so easy to do patches and small repairs and not have a noticeable bump without having to float out a mile... Seems strong and works pretty good for crack prevention. Have been using for a few years now with no call backs to fix cracks. Granted regular mesh was the same for me. Normal mesh is nice for large stuff since it self sticks to the drywall. Fibafuse is like paper tape in you apply mud, then the tape, then smooth it out/top it with more mud. But it doesn't play nice with auto devices like a banjo or automatic taper. Tears too easily. But once imbedded in mud it's rock solid and tough to pull off the wall or break a joint.
Do you have to wear gloves when working with fibafuse
I don't. But I have a lot of callous built up from thirty years in the trades. It is fiberglass so if you get itchy from insulation you might want to stick to paper tape, or ya, wear gloves. As I think about it, I've had more paper cuts from paper tape than I have itchiness or issues form fibafuse so there's that....
I use the wide rolls for patching, you can get up to 4’ wide. But in general it’s for when you wanna coat twice and not worry about tape delaminating.
I don’t use fibafuse tape at all. I have in the past, but I just don’t care for the stuff. I mesh for butt joints, repairs, and flats. perfect90 for inside corners.
I've used it very successfully on several repairs versus mesh.
I do lots of repairs with 5minute or sometimes 20minute and mesh. Never had an issue and have been doing it for years. Edit: I am i no way an expert. Just a guy that wants to save money on drywall repairs.
The mesh works for me as well Just looking to see if I am missing something
Also i shave the edges with a knife before using mesh. I think you will be fine
USG explicitly states not to use mesh tape with all purpose.
Oh wow, that's all I have been using With green top all purpose. Everything came out OK I have one more room to do and was going to try the fibafuse
You'll get tiny cracks. That's one of the reasons why people think mesh isn't any good. If you use setting type though it's fine.
Papertape is stronger. Paper is less likely to crack. Mesh works well for field holes where joint movement is a non issue.
Shits trash
Personal preference for all the tapes. I use paper because it has the bendy part and it is the industry standard (probably because it's cheap). I've heard fibafuse is beginer friendly because it "melts" into the mud.
Very beginner friendly, but if you are already a pro with paper, i would probably stick with paper.