Can I use duck tape or masking tape to tape drywall?

Question

I am putting up drywall and I really don't want to mud and sand. Can I put duck or masking tape over the cracks and screws and then apply paint primer over it all? I realize the tape will show under the paint but that is fine with me.

Answer 1

Do it right, or the tape could blister, separate and fall down. Use joint compound, drywall tape and a spackling knife. Let it dry, then mud and sand.

Answer 2

Over time the tape will lose it's stickiness and fall off the wall and you'll need to do it again. If I were you, I would just do it right the first time and get it over with. You can use the fiberglass mesh tape that is much easier to use than paper tape and they make plastic reinforced corners that you can screw in the corners that are super easy to use. You can also go to Home Depot and get a new kind of joint compoud made by sheetrock that reduces dust by about 80%. Rather than have dust go all over the place when you sand, 80% of it falls down the wall and ends up on the floor. It's really easy to use, but a little harder to sand and blend in.

Plus, masking tape will get britle over time and be easily punched into and leave big holes in the seams. The good thing about taping and sanding the seams is that they don't need to be 100% level or lined up. You can just add more mud to smooth out the differences between the two sheets of drywall where if you just use making tape, it will really be noticable to see differences in the heighth between two sheet.

Your right, it does suck and it will take you about a week to do an average sized room, but it's always been my philosophy to do it right the first time so you don't have to spend even more time doing it over in the future. If you haven't done it before, just go on-line and reasearch a few sites on how to do it and give it a go. It's really not hard, just time consuming waiting for it to dry so you can sand it, etc. When doing the corner, do one wall at a time. Not both at the same time. You'll see what I mean. A 4", 6" and 8 or 12" tape knife is all you need and a clean container to put the mud into. Also remember that premixed mud that you buy in 5 gallon buckets in home improvement stores should still have a little extra water added to it and mixed in so it gets the consistency of heavy mayonaise.

Answer 3

NO. the only way to put up drywall the corrrect way is to mud and sand. Don't use shortcuts, you'll be sorry you did.

Duct tape or any other kind of tape will eventually peel back and reveal the spaces between the drywall. Terrible idea.

Answer 4

What about using MASKING TAPE, just as drywall tape is used... mudding over it, sanding and paintng..

Seems that the DRYWALL TAPE is about the same as MASKING tape, just not sticky...

This would knock out the initial mudwork needed just for the tape to stick....

Answer 5

Anything is possible. But as my mom would say, "Do it right the first time, as it will save you time, money and energy." I just drywalled an entire room, and I did it correctly with the drywall tape, nails, mud and sanding. It looks great! My motto is, "I never do anything half ***."

Answer 6

It won't ever look right. If you don't want to tackle the mud/sand yourself, you should consider hiring someone.

With a little practice, you'll find it isn't too hard. Go easy on the mud so you don't have to work too hard on the sanding.

Answer 7

Either tape will peel off due to the moisture of the paint. You will first experience curling of the edges.

Answer 8

Sure you can. You can also use duct tape to wipe your butt, but as with the drywall, I wouldn't recommend it.

Answer 9

Well..yeah...you can do anything...long as you understand that the paint will look REALLY bad...as the tape will show through...
My Momma always said, "any job worth doing is worth doing right"....
Think about it...

Answer 10

Use drywall tape and do it right!