I was at HD the other day and picked up some “new ” corner bead. It is basically a 1/2″ x 1/2″ metal L with drywall paper tape wrapping it creating a 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ L. Whenever I come across new products, I test them out myself before I have the guys use it. That way I get a true analysis (it’s hard to teach some old dogs new tricks) and may have to develope new techniques. Also, some guys need to see it done first before they believe it will work. Just the nature of the biz around here.
I am doing a prewar apt which has old paster walls and so much damage from previous renovations, very “soft” corners, and paint and etc that none of the corners are straight or plumb. The walls will eventually be wallpapered. The paper has a lot of parallel lines so any undulations and out of plumb situations will show. Usually we use regular metal CB and PL it into place. But this new stuff – WOW! I love it. Pack the corner with compound and press the new CB into place and your done. If you use the setting type (30, 60, 90 min) joint compound you can fill in the low spots and true it up even faster. No screws, no hassle. In case you can’t tell, I am very impressed.
I have heard about this product for over a year. It has been featured on the How To shows but this is the first time I have seen it up close. Not what I expected. Better. Have any of you had similar results? How does it work on drywall? I usually screw metal CB to drywall rather than use a crimper. I find the crimped CB can be knocked loose before it is compounded. I figure that because this won’t be applied until it’s time to tape this concern won’t exist. We also tape these corners. Since the new stuff already has tape we are ahead. Any thoughts? Are there new concerns?
Lastly. the only downside is I have only been able to find it in 8′ lengths. I am sure it comes in 10′ lengths but HD doesn’t carry it and the locals don’t even carry the product….yet.
Replies
I buy the kind that comes on rolls. It comes in two widths, too.
The first time I tried it, I thought, "Oh No - I'm not too surre about this stuff"
Then I was at the JLC show a month later and saw a demo of strength and installation technigue, which I tried a while later and was able to share with my SR guy. We're both sold on it now that we understand how to.
It's fanatstic stuff. We'll be using it next week for same kind of plaster OS corners. The best applications I've found are for the horizontal interior corner where sloped ceilings meet plumb or level surfaces. I stays straight and true and saves multiple passes.
Another good application is for remodels wher occasionally it is hard to get tight into the corner with rock, leaving a gap up to an inch. The wider stuff will span it well. I also have the impression that it can avoid separation cracks in some situations.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
I always have a roll or two of this type of bead in my job box too. Works great in a pinch and is the only thing to use with non-90 degree corners. Who'da known that something so flexible can be so rigid!
This "new" corner bead though is NOT bendable. The angle is one piece of metal. I can't say enough great things about it. Quite a change for me don't ya think?
So, you're doing plaster walls soon? Are they tinted, to be left natural, or are you going to paint over it? We did 3 apt's this year using tinted plaster and in a forth (actually the first) I had my guys skim coat one entire apt in plaster instead of compound. First room was like the first batch of pancakes. Thrown out. But the rest were incredible! Once the guys had a success it was like they caught a buzz and could not wait to work. We worked in teams of two applying and one mixing, cleaning, supplying. We can now patch and skim a room in one day and there is ZERO sanding. The only dust comes from opening the bags of plaster. The only draw back is that there is a learning curve and any mistakes cannot be sanded out. These mistakes can be expensive.
BTW the walls are scraped and alkyd primed the day before.
We just finished getting all the old wallpaper off. Gotta do some patching here and there, like where an old chimney was removed and the patching gobbed up, but I'm impressed with what is there. Never been painted at all, still grey and hard surface, flat and smooth as a mirror. The guys who did this eighty or ninety years ago have my respect. Some will get new wallpaper and some will get painted. The OS corners have round wood bead but they are a little looser and punky from all those years of traffic and bumps. Not crumbly but a litle loose. Ideal for this product..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
I don't know about the longer lengths, but as a DIYer who doesn't do enough drywall to get good at inside corners, that stuff is a miracle.
For the first time ever, I can do perfectly straight corners!!
I haven't had the nerve to use it on outside corners yet, though.
K
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"We always think every other man's job is easier than our own. The
better he does it, the easier it looks." -- Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960, Indian-born British Novelist)
This stuff has been around awhile. The best and also the most expensive is No-Coat by Grabber. If installed properly, you can beat the bead with a ball bat, and the board will crush, but the bead will stay.
None of these products are any good for plaster. Even with a bonder like plaster weld you will have a totally different suction, and the corners will flash. Depending on the specs, you need an expanded metal or mesh corner. Unlike drywall, the corners are reinforced, and the bead is not the actual corner. This is one of those issues plasterers will argue about though! ;-)
Don
Ken - Never even concidered using it for inside corners. Can't imagine it for sheetrock, but for very old plaster walls it's worth a try. What you use for inside corners, is it the same thing or is it available "inside-out"?
Don C. - You are correct. Real plaster is another world. The sequence of and materials for construction are different. I only use this stuff for compound. Sweet!
I think this stuff was made by USG. I can't find the "Grabber" version anywhere. Do I have to get it mail-order? I'll surf around and see where it's available.
"Never even considered using it for inside corners. Can't imagine it for sheetrock, but for very old plaster walls it's worth a try. What you use for inside corners, is it the same thing or is it available "inside-out"? "
At the Lowes I frequent, they stock two versions of the paper-covered metal corners. The one for inside corners is a slightly different shape, and IIRC, the paper is on the other side.
Like I said, I'm a DIYer doing a remodel and I never get enough practice to get any good at laying down drywall mud. And since we're doing this on a glacial schedule, there's usually only a little bit to do at one time.
The metal inside corner is a really easy way to get a perfectly straight line from floor to ceiliing, the only place I had trouble was at the ceiling. You have to cut the stuff so the metal doesn't overlap, or else it gets too thick.
I can imagine it would be a good way to straighten up a corner when connecting new work with old plaster.
K-
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"We always think every other man's job is easier than our own. The
better he does it, the easier it looks." -- Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960, Indian-born British Novelist)
don I think that the company that makes it is no coat, it is retailed by grabber and almost any other drywall supply house ( not home center or lumber yard)
James
Frankie,
What part of the country are you in? Don't take this as a criticism in any way, but I'm surprised you haven't come across the taped metal corners before. In Seattle, I know it's been around for at least 7 years now -- that's when I did some rock work for the first time. I definitely share your enthusiasm for the product -- it looked great when I did it (even though I had very little skill at the time), and it continues to look great today.
What's this flexible stuff that you and Piffin are talking about that comes on rolls? I was talking to a sheetrock guy last week, and he mentioned something very similar, and for the exact application that Piffin noted: a non-90-degree corner meeting a sloped ceiling. Do you have a product or manufacturer name so that I can find it more easily?
Thanks,
Ragnar
I'm in New York City. The city so nice they named it twice! I have asked at many places with no luck. Even tried GWB distributers without any luck. That was early summer. Now I'll try again.
I think the rolled up corner bead is called Flexi-Bead. I'll have to check my job box for the manufacturer. It comes in 50' and 100' lengths. Very handy.
Frankie,
I thought they named New York twice in case one got stolen! ;)
Thanks for the name of the product - I'll be looking for it.
Ragnar
Flex corner? I called it other things, but I just checked what was sitting down in the laboratory. roll stuff pic
There are many drywall accessories, and the last place I would look would be at HD.
Wander around a real wallboard supply house when you have some free time, and they do. J, L, paper, metal, vinyl, inside, outside, flex, etc.
Where is Tim when you need him?
Qtrmeg -
Thanks for the pic!
Ragnar