Chat with a painter made me rethink my corner bead setup

Guy I was working with on a reno in Oak Park said he always uses vinyl corner bead on high-humidity bathrooms after seeing too many metal ones rust, and now I'm second-guessing my whole supply order. Any of you guys switch materials based on the room type or is that overthinking it?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_eric1mo ago

Wait, have you actually seen metal corner bead rust through or is this more of a "guy said" thing? I've done a ton of bathrooms in Chicago humidity and never had a problem with the galvanized stuff. The key is making sure your mud doesn't crack and let moisture sit behind the bead, which is the real issue with any corner bead. If you're using cheap non-galvanized metal or leaving gaps in the mud, sure it'll rust eventually. But a good galvanized bead properly embedded in compound will outlast the drywall itself. Vinyl is fine if you're worried, but it's way easier to dent and doesn't hold up to kids hitting it with toys or furniture bumps.

sarah_hart1mo ago

kids hitting it with toys" is exactly why I stick with metal.

the_wyatt1mo ago

Wait, did @the_eric ever see my buddy's basement corner bead that rusted through in under two years?