TIL that pre-filling corner beads can save you a headache

An old timer named Mike told me on a job in Phoenix to always pre-fill my corner beads with mud before taping. I thought he was being over careful but I tried it on a tricky archway last month. Those corners came out way straighter with zero bubbling and I barely had to sand. Has anyone else had luck with this method or was that just a fluke?

3 comments

3 Comments

adamr1415d ago

Why would you want to add more work upfront? I've never pre-filled a corner bead and my tape jobs come out fine with just a little extra sanding. Seems like a fix for a problem that doesn't exist for most guys.

riley4315d ago

Wait, has @adamr14 ever had to fix a corner that bubbled up six months later after the house settled? Pre-filling might add time upfront, but it stops those hollow spots that crack and pop down the road when the framing shifts. I'd rather spend a few extra minutes now than get that late night call from a pissed off homeowner.

pat_fisher2415d ago

Oh man, I gotta jump in here. Adam, pre-filling isn't about adding work for no reason, it's about stopping air pockets from forming behind the bead. That's actually what causes the bubbling you end up sanding down (or worse, cutting out later). I learned this the hard way on a job where I skipped it on a outside corner and had little popped bubbles show up after paint.