Drywall patch cracked in 3 days - should I go mesh or paper tape?

Hung a big patch in my hallway last Tuesday. 3x4 foot hole from a plumbing fix. Used paper tape and pre-mixed compound. Cracking right along the seam by Friday. My buddy swears by mesh tape for patches this big. Says it holds better on wide gaps. But I've read mesh can crack worse over time. Tried sanding and re-mudding the paper tape tonight. Already seeing tiny hairline cracks forming. What's the general consensus here? Mesh tape on big repairs or stick with paper and live with the flaws?

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2 Comments

jason1123mo ago

Mesh tape is way better for big patches, paper just pops off.

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sammurray3mo ago

Your buddy is wrong on this one. I've been doing drywall work for over 15 years and mesh tape is for small cracks, not big patches like that. The real issue is probably how you hung the patch. If the backing isn't solid and you didn't screw it in tight enough, no tape is gonna save it. Paper tape actually has better edge strength for long seams. Mesh lets the mud squeeze through and stick to the wall better but it doesn't hold a straight line as good when you've got a big patch that might move a tiny bit with the house settling. You should check if you left a gap between the patch and the existing drywall bigger than 1/8 inch. If you did, you need to fill that gap with setting compound first before taping. Pre-mixed mud shrinks too much and that's why you're seeing those cracks again.

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