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Different Types of Drywall Tape

The Different Types of Drywall Tape For Home Renovations

What is drywall tape?

Drywall tape serves an important function in the drywall trade. Drywall tape was explicitly created to seal the seams between the sheets of drywall improving the overall integrity of drywall.

Drywall tape is a crucial element of any repair to drywall because it offers the necessary reinforcement and stops the drywall from deteriorating.

Since there are many kinds of drywall on the market, determining the correct type of drywall tape isn’t always straightforward. Picking one randomly from the shelves of your local hardware store is unlikely to produce the desired effect. The following article will discuss the various drywall tape types and their typical applications.

Types of Drywall Tape Sizes

This section of the article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the size of the drywall tape you can use. Drywall tape is available in sizes between small and extra large. 

Small

Small drywall tape is any tape measuring between 1.7 and 1.8 inches across. Small drywall tape is the most popular and readily available from an online store or local hardware retailer. While it isn’t the most prominent kind of drywall tape available, it’s typically sufficient to cover the places where two pieces of the wall meet.

If you’re undertaking an enormous task, small drywall tape could prove challenging to use. Repairing a giant hole could necessitate several pieces of drywall tape of small size, making it difficult for people who are not professionals to make accurate decisions. In the event of overlapping tape, it can lead to ugly bubbles that are difficult to eliminate.

Medium

Medium drywall tape is between 2 and 2.5 inches. If you’re working on a task that is too big for the more small drywall strips, you can avoid lots of hassle using medium drywall. What is possible with two small drywall tape could be easily accomplished with only one medium-sized drywall strip.

Medium-sized drywall tape is widely used and is available at a lot of hardware stores, as well as online shops. It can be found in the majority of the various types of materials, as mentioned below.

Large

Large drywall tapes have an overall width of more than 6 inches. This tape size is perfect for areas that have suffered significant damage that is not easily covered by smaller types of tape. Some workers prefer using larger drywall tape for decoration purposes.

If you use self-adhesive drywall, it is essential to provide ample detail to the application of the tape as it can be prone to wrinkles.

Extra Large

The large drywall tape isn’t the largest type of tape that is available. The extra large version of drywall tape can be 36 inches wide or greater. It is ideal for those looking to cover a large area of your wall. However, there is an option to trim the drywall tape in this size down. A massive piece of tape will make you less likely to have wrinkles as there is no need to cover several sheets.

Types of drywall tape

In addition to different sizes, drywall tape also come in a wide variety of different types. Each one has its use case and excels at certain things that others do not. 

Paper Drywall Tape

Paper tape for drywall is the most well-known kind of drywall tape and is likely to be the first thing you think of when you imagine the term drywall tape. One of the main reasons paper drywall tape is used frequently is its durability. Even though it is composed of paper, the drywall tape is highly durable. When dried, it looks similar to paper mache.

The paper drywall tape is known for being highly flexible in its use. It usually includes a factory-applied wrinkle at its center that makes it adjustable. This implies that the installer can apply it to difficult-to-reach areas such as tight corners or sharp angles.

Mesh Drywall Tape

Mesh drywall tape has an adhesive backing that allows for easy application. This makes it an excellent option for those who aren’t necessarily experienced in DIY projects or drywall for their home but require materials that do not require much knowledge to operate effectively.

Another benefit of mesh-based drywall tapes is their resistance to mold which is an advantage that paper-based drywall tape can’t provide. This makes it an excellent option for areas with high moisture levels, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Mesh tape is constructed out of fibreglass. It is a suitable choice for projects that involve texture-rich drywall because mesh tape may have more significant difficulties in laying flat than counterparts made of paper. However, it is possible to texture your drywall; this shouldn’t be an issue.

However, due to the elastic nature that mesh tape has, it’s suggested that you handle with caution since the tape is susceptible to breaking. In general, mesh tape made of fibreglass is ideal for spot treatments rather than large projects.

Fire-Resistant Tape

Fire resistant drywall tape is, as it sounds, drywall tape is that fire resistant. This specialized tape is specifically designed to reduce or even stop house fires of all kinds. Although drywall is highly fire-resistant, adding fire-resistant tape to wall construction adds an extra layer and is commonly used to construct walls.

The fire-resistant tape is so reliable that building codes require it to be employed. The installation process for fire-resistant tape is easy and requires a drywall knife to dampen the tape and its application after waiting ten to fifteen minutes to allow the tape to dry. After the tape is dry, it’s time to apply two layers of joint compound. After the compound has dried, it is time to sand the compound flush to the wall. Now the job is completed.

Mold-Resistant Tape

Mold is a frequent issue for homeowners especially in rooms that draw lots of moisture, such as the laundry room, kitchen or bathrooms. Mold-resistant drywall tape is specifically designed to protect against various types of mold and moisture.

Regular drywall paper-based tape is a good breeding ground for mold to grow quickly. What makes mold-resistant tape preferrable is that it is composed of a porous mesh.

Moisture-Resistant Tape

If you reside in a humid region, you might want to enhance your mold protection by selecting the correct type of tape for moisture resistance. Drywall tape with moisture resistance is constructed of fibreglass and is designed to prevent the build-up of moisture, which helps to prevent mildew and mold.

In addition to mold, a consequence of high-humidity areas includes the tape peeling off the drywall. It’s not just ugly and unattractive, but it could also cost a lot to repair. To avoid this, you must select your drywall tape carefully when dealing with bathrooms, kitchens, or any other area of an interior of a house with a humid environment.

Rolled Tape

The rolled drywall tape is distinctive in its method of application. It is different from other types of drywall tape that could contain some friction from the installer; the rolled drywall tape rolls similar to the paint roll. This makes it convenient and comfortable when working on projects that cover an extensive area.

Perforated Tape

Perforated tape is another well-known kind of drywall tape readily available. Due to its strength and durability, the perforated tape is a popular choice for any home improvement project that requires sturdy reinforcement. It’s beneficial for strengthening sharp angles and corners; however, the perforated tape can apply to any wall area.

One of the benefits of perforation is that it makes blisters and bubbles less likely. Furthermore, perforation ensures maximum airflow, which prevents mold and mildew from growing.

Flexible

Sometimes, there are situations where the typical drywall tape will not do the trick. This is usually the case when the wall has a lot of difficult-to-access angles, or you have an area of your house which is hard to reach and has a lot of humans, such as doors.

In these situations, you might want to look into what’s called flexible drywall tape. Flexible drywall tape helps ensure that the seams of drywall don’t appear when working in areas that aren’t standard. It also helps ensure that you don’t damage your drywall tape in the long run since constant moving can hinder the ability of drywall tapes to function as they should because it is likely to break as time passes.

Self-Adhesive

We have previously mentioned the need to seal drywall tape by using joint compound, otherwise known as mud. Yet, that’s not always the case, primarily if you use self-adhesive tape for drywall. As the name suggests, the self-adhesive tape can be applied using a sticky residue which eliminates the necessity of using any muddy material that can be messy.

It’s not just that this makes the process of applying the drywall tape less messy and more manageable, but it can also make the process quicker. A word of caution if using self-adhesive tape for drywall, make sure the strips are cut to the correct length. Making strips too long can lead to overlapping which may cause bubbles and other issues.

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