Mesh Drywall Tape Cracking

Barry Wines, who lives in Sandusky, OH, is trying to help out his son.

"My son ran out of the plasterboard joint tape and used a mesh kind that he bought at Lowe's.

After putting the joint compound, priming and painting over the mesh tape it has developed cracks.  It has not cracked over the regular joint tape.

Is there anything that he can do other than re-putty, sand, prime and paint again?"

Barry, that's the best fix.

Your son should just get new paper tape and tape over all the places it's cracked.

Now, I say that and it's possible the cracks are related to simple lumber shrinkage. The framing lumber the drywall was screwed to could have had a high moisture content and that water is now gone.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, then just filling the cracks with regular drywall topping compound could solve the problem.

If it were me, I'd just fill the cracks as I just stated an see what happens. If the cracks re-appear, then you know you have to re-tape and finish.

UGH.