Drywall & Hardiebacker meet on a stud...love at first sight? (to tape or not to tape)

Dyoung

Hi

Questions regarding hardiebacker meets the drywall.

I am a tall fella so the tile is about a foot higher than usual.

Thus putting the intersection even farther from the spray of the water.

The tiles sit atop 90-95% of the HB.

They overlap the drywall about 5-10% of the drywall. (maybe 1 cm)

----If the tile overlaps slightly...and its well caulked.....is it totally necessary to use that fiberglass mesh tape?

Structurally I can see little to no benefit as a settling wall isnt going to be deterred by fiberglass mesh tape.

Moisture wise the tile and caulk will repel the water.


Ergo, I get the rationale for mesh tape adjoining the actual sheets of HB under the tile ....but a this HB and DW intersection (higher than normal) I see no real structural or moisture rationale. Am I missing some great equation of life, love and shower installation?


cheers
Drew

Dyoung

Any thoughts?