Drywall taping: Ultraflex is a great problem solver

Drywall taping:Ultraflex
When I was still working as a remodeling contractor, we did a lot of attic remodels, and they always had tons of odd angles at inside and outside corners that made applying drywall corner bead and tape a challenge. That is, until we discovered No-Coat’s Ultraflex tape. Ultraflex has a stiff plastic core covered with “paint-ready” paper. It’s extra wide, too, which comes in handy if there are big gaps in the corners from sloppy drywall hanging. Because the tape is stiff, it can bridge minor defects and help correct wavy drywall corners—the kind of thing you’ll find in attics.

It’s easy to use. Start by cutting the right length from the roll and bending it to the desired angle. Then you embed it in mud, just like you would with regular tape. To finish it, you only need to apply a couple of thin coats of joint compound over the outermost edge. This saves taping and sanding time, and you end up with a straight, sharp inside corner. The downside is the cost. A 100-ft. roll of Ultraflex 450 (it’s 4-1/2 in. wide) costs $60. That’s why most pros reserve Ultraflex for hard-to-tape-off angles or other problem areas. But if you’ve only got a room or two to tape and want a super-simple, foolproof method to tape inside and outside corners, buy a roll and use it on all the corners. No-Coat also sells Ultraflex 325. It’s the same stuff, just narrower and a less expensive. No-Coat recommends using 450 for long runs and 325 for lengths less than 10 ft.

For more great problem-solving products, look for “18 Problem Solvers” in the April '11 issue of The Family Handyman. See it online here: DIY Problem Solvers and Household Tips. And also check out the Drywall section of our site for more drywall tips and techniques.