[hellohello]

I can't imagine a small 2"x2" square hole would develop cracks if backed with a 1x2, filled with a 2"x2" piece of drywall, and then spackled a few coats WITHOUT tape. As a matter of fact, I can't imagine cracks to develop in that same situation with, say, a 4"x4" square patch.

So, how large can a drywall patch be without having to tape it?

 

[Nestor_Kelebay]

Well, the answer to your question is "How long is a piece of string?"

The whole purpose of taping around a repair is to carry any tensile forces across the patch SO THAT the joint compound around the perimeter of the patch doesn't crack.

The smaller the repair, the less that perimeter tape is needed because of the undamaged drywall paper around the patch.

No one is going to tape over nail holes, but I think it's reasonable to tape any repair where tape would reasonably fit. Paper tape is cheap and fiberglas mesh tape is easy to use, so I don't see why a person wouldn't tape all around ANY repair where tape would reasonably fit. So, basically, IMHO, any break in the drywall paper over 2 inches long is worthy of taping.

Taping your repairs takes little time considering the time for the whole job, so I don't see any good reason not to err on the side of caution and tape everything where tape would reasonably fit.

 

[Bud9051]

Not that you want anyone running around pounding on your drywall, but a 2"x2" hole with no tape is likely to let go. Without tape you are trying to glue the drywall patch to broken drywall. Yes, the strapping behind will hold it mechanically in place, but the tape, as Nestor said, will connect the surfaces.

Easy job and not worth skipping.

Bud

 

[Gymschu]

And don't forget that joint compound shrinks as it dries. Sooooooo, you end up with cracks or indentations that never quite get filled without tape.

 

[joed]

I tape all my joints. For holes like you describe I use what is referred to as a California patch.

http://drywall101.com/articles/taping/californiapatch.php

 

[firehawkmph]

I tape all my joints and anywhere there is a large gap, like say next to an electrical box, if it's more than a 1/4".
Why would you NOT want to tape a small hole? Takes nothing to place a pice of mesh over it.
Mike Hawkins:smile:

 

[hellohello]

Well I'm glad we're all on the same page then. I usually DO tape my patches. I've been following the thought that if it needs any size piece of drywall to fill the hole, then I will tape the patch. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing overkill and doing extra work for nothing by taping even the small patches.

 

[joecaption]

And "spackle" is for filling small nail holes, not got repairing patches.

 

[hellohello]

And "spackle" is for filling small nail holes, not got repairing patches.

Eh, tom-ay-to, tom-ah-to. In my market, a lot of guys use the words "spackle" and "joint compound" interchangeably. Much easier to say "I spackled that patch" instead of "I joint-compounded that patch".