A corner bead is a thin strip of metal that attaches to the inside corners of panels. This material aims to strengthen these areas to prevent cracks from forming when the structure bends or expands due to temperature changes.
This corner bead provides a transition between the interior corner and the ceiling or floor. Whether you’re looking for an easy DIY solution or need help from a professional, this blog post will provide some helpful information.
PRIME-LINE U 9129-4 Corner Shield
Wall Protex P4118SS Corner Guards
Trim-Tex Miter Gauge
Our Top 7 Products
The corner bead that you need really depends on what you are using it for and how many corners you’ll be needing it for. They can be purchased pre-molded, kits or angles, as well as those that come in pieces.
They are usually made of steel or plastic and come in a wide selection of colors, patterns, and styles that can be found at most hardware stores. You will be guided to the right choice by our carefully picked products, which will take away the stress of selecting among so many options.
1. PRIME-LINE U 9129-4 Corner Shield
Are you constantly bumping into the corner of a wallpaper mural and concerned it would flake away? There will be no more of that with the support of PRIME-LINE U 9129-4 Corner Shield!
Prime-Line corner shield is a durable product that protects the joint from any corner damage and markings.
These are a fantastic deal and simple to cut with scissors (each is 8FT in extent). From a few feet away, they’re practically unnoticeable.
The clear vinyl corner shields are made of high-quality vinyl and have been pre-drilled with countersunk holes for easy installation without additional tools.
A size of 2.5″, with a 1.5″ angle and 3/4″ spacing, works well for securing a project on a schedule and protecting uneven walls or chipped paint or torn wallpaper throughout the years.
It is manufactured with sturdy materials and comes in a clear finish so that it won’t stand out in your home.
It is constructed of polyethylene with a self-adhesive backing that fits the drywall corner.
The sleek look is great for both commercial and residential cornering projects.
These are sold in packs of 50, so order enough for your home or two-story house!
PRIME-LINE corner shield is made in the USA and comes with a warranty against any defects for drywall corner.
Highlighted Features
- It doesn’t stand out in the drywall corner.
- It comes in a pack of 4 corner shields.
- Comes with self-adhesive backing.
- It is made of polyethylene that can be cut with scissors.
- Manufactured to measure the right 1.5-inch angle and 3/4-inch spacing and has pre-drilled countersunk holes.
2. Wall Protex P4118SS Corner Guards
Wall Protex P4118SS is a concrete joint compound that can give you more space with no hassle when painting your home, as the product has an embossed design on one side and a lower profile than traditional trim.
The low-profile edge ensures it’s easier for contractors to get close enough to seams without scratching or chipping surfaces, which means less powdering, sanding, and priming before painting.
This joint compound also features two notches for screw placement: recessed into the outer surface for corner walls or created during installation on exterior angles made at 45°or right angles.
It’s coated in grey primer, so it reduces the amount of paint by 10% and comes in a 4-inch width that allows effective water control at the corner and has a smooth finished surface, perfect for interior walls such as bathrooms and kitchens.
It comes in 25/bundle for added convenience so that you can get just one or more for your project.
You can use Wall Protex P4118SS with drywall edge to prevent cracks, chips, and paint from peeling from corners and around interior openings such as windows and doors.
It’s suitable for both exterior corners and internal 90° angles, making it perfect for every room in your home.
Highlighted Features:
- It is made of grey primer.
- It has a lower profile than traditional corner beads.
- It’s coated in grey primer, so it reduces the amount of paint by 10%.
- This product is suitable for both exterior corners and internal 90° angles.
3. STRAIT FLEX SO-100 Composite Tape
The Strite Flex SO-100 from STRAIT is an excellent accessory for any homeowner and professional building contractor.
The pre-bent corners make it an ideal solution to finish off your drywall edge by adding to the drywall corner.
An integral end cap keeps dust and moisture out, while its patented dielectric winding makes it a durable product that will not crack or shrink over time.
The product also features an ultra-thin size (22-gauge) that can be reused as a drywall edge lead wire for grounding devices without having to cut the insulation off of the conductor first.
It eliminates waste, reduces installation time and cost.
With its thin width and smooth dielectric coating, the STRAIT FLEX SO-100 is an excellent solution for jobs that require a more discreet bend.
Its flexible nature makes it ideal for tasks such as drywall tackless joining and couplings in tight corners.
The high-quality, non-conductive vinyl winding provides unmatched impact resistance, while the four convenient sizes make installation easier on any job site.
Safe to use around children because of its low voltage hazard classification, this corner bend is approved by many building settlement codes and standards organizations, including UL/CSA and NEC.
Available in four convenient sizes: 3/8″ x 3/4″, 1/2″ x 1 1/4″, 5/8″ x 1 5/8″, 9 /16″ x 2″.
Highlighted Features
- Complements any residential or commercial project
- Pre-bent corners to make installation easier
- Its flexible nature makes it ideal for tasks such as drywall edge tackless joining and couplings in tight corners.
- Four convenient sizes make installation easier on any job site with high-quality, non-conductive vinyl winding.
- As a low voltage hazard, this corner bend is suitable for children.
4. Trim-Tex Miter Gauge
TrimTex Miter Gauge helps make this process swift, effortless, and precise by allowing you to mark bullnose angles without any guesswork accurately.
TrimTex Miter Gauge is a versatile and straightforward tool for marking your bullnose.
This Trim-Tex Template Marker creates 90-degree and 135-degree angles in the inside corner of your nostril to make it easy to complete Interior surfaces of shadow casings, door frames, and arches with the drywall trim finish.
Roll the marker on the product, then lift to get your desired cut.
This inexpensive product can be kept in your toolbox for years to come and works with all 3/4″ inch or 1 1/2 inch bullnose products.
The gauges in this package are composed of light, sturdy PVC that is also flexible enough not to snap when bending.
Unlike other cutters made of steel that can break or make the angle off, these markers fit perfectly on your drywall corner with alignment points during both 90-degree and 135-degree standpoints.
Whether you’re using it to find the correct angle on inside corners for window sills or door frames or want to mark an outside corner for bullnose bead products, TrimTex Corner-Bead Miter Gauge is a must-have product.
These gauges come in packs of four (one for each corner), made from durable polymers that you can trust as they wear over time with plenty more uses.
You’ll love having these on hand for your next project and won’t know how you ever did without them.
Highlighted Features
- It offers quality vinyl Gauges with durable material that won’t break or wear out over time.
- Flexible and lightweight to carry in your toolbox for years to come.
- It works with all 3/4″ inch or 1 1/2 inch products.
- It is made to last from sturdy polypropylene that is also light enough not to snap when bending.
- It saves valuable time and works seamlessly whether you’re looking for an inside or outside corner.
5. STRAIT FLEX AF-50 Tape
The STRAIT FLEX AF-50 is a drywall edge framing product that attaches to a building’s exterior frame and top plate to install gypsum board (drywall).
The Strait-Flex AF-50 is an excellent product for both homeowners and tradespeople.
Its design features allow the flexible vinyl corner bead to conform to any outside corner without cutting.
Also, The steel supports on the top of the vinyl corner bead are used to help hold up drywall edge around corners or other hard-to-reach areas, so you can put them where needed.
This vinyl corner bead is an essential item for every home builder, remodeler, contractor constructing dorm rooms, apartments, or other living space.
The STRAIT FLEX AF-39 now has 50 in stock, which of course, makes it their current bestseller.
This fantastic innovation is tough enough to withstand hail impact, so you’ll never have to replace your entire roof following a storm due to damage from hailstones alone.
This product from Strait-Flex is versatile enough that it can even be used in ceilings!
In addition, the clip design makes it easy to install without any additional securing tools.
It features a bright silver plated finish and comes as a pack for maximum convenience when purchasing.
This product is designed with quality aluminum material, which means it will last for years before needing replacement parts or repairs–saving time and money in the long run.
For one reason or another, users seem to think this is a pretty good product.
Highlighted Features
- It is made with quality aluminum material for durability.
- It can be installed without tools; clips allow it to be used in ceilings for drywall installation.
- Conforms to any outside corner without cutting.
- Supports on top of the bead help hold up drywall edge around corners or other hard-to-reach areas.
- It can be used in dorm rooms or apartments as well as new construction.
6. Retail Specialty Inc. Stainless Steel Corner Guard
Stainless Steel Corner Guard is an innovative product for sticking down drywall edging.
This metal bead will protect your surface from chips and gouges so you can get the most use out of it.
It is made from Stainless Steel, which has very high impact strength. Therefore, the metal beads will not break easily like corner protector silicone products.
With its heavy-duty design, these metal beads are built to last the lifetime of your job.
The guards of metal corner beads can also be cut down to any length and shape as you need them to go around your room, whether you’re looking at square ends or irregular angles.
This DIY angle cut construction prevents sharp angles of this metal corner bead that would otherwise need to be covered with plaster for hours on end.
A tongue and groove design help ensure a secure connection with the floor or ceiling.
The tape lasts better in hot and cold climates because it relies on pressure combined with adhesion rather than a chemical bond that softens around extreme temperatures.
Push out against the drywall edge instead of pulling on the drywall corner guard when fastening it into place so there are no indentations or marks left behind that ruin the aesthetics of your installation.
This industrial quality product will provide you with the best security a galvanized metal bead can provide to drywall
This protector is easy to install, just lay in place and spray adhesive when needed.
The best part about this? It comes at an affordable price!
Highlighted Features
- Heavy-duty design built to last your lifetime for the job
- High impact resistance
- Tongue and groove design helps ensure a secure connection with the floor or ceiling.
- Industrial quality product at an affordable price
7. Trim-Tex Magic Corner Kit
If you’re building a home in an area that experiences frequent earthquakes or other architectural displacements like strong winds and heavy rainstorms, adjustable inside edge beading may not work well.
Instead of using them for this situation where the walls might shift during these natural disasters (and risk causing your house to be damaged even further), use one of these Tri-Tex Magic Drywall Corner Kits instead!
Trim-Tex drywall corner bead is for interior use that provides improved durability and eliminates drywall mud cracking on all drywall corners and vaulted ceilings.
Driving the Trim-Tex bead deep into a joint adds strength to the corner.
It also prevents any event of joining two pieces of drywall without overlapping when overlapping is unavoidable.
This creates an inside edge that will not crack spuriously while it secures your piece to another sheet of drywall effectively saving you time, money, and effort.
A roll of 100 feet comes along with an applicator tool, and an adhesive sprayer container.
In cases where movement is a concern or cracking is an issue, apply to the interior sides of drywall.
Magic drywall corner eliminates the need for mudding and finishing inside drywall corners prior to installation of paint, wallpaper, or other surface treatments.
Highlighted Features
- Provide improved durability and resist cracking on all drywall off-angles and vaulted ceilings.
- Driving the Trim-Tex bead deep into a joint adds strength to the corner.
- Prevents any event of joining two pieces of drywall without overlapping
- It secures your piece to another sheet and saves you time, money, and effort.
- Comes along with an applicator tool, and a container which spray adhesive.
Factors to Consider
There are some things to consider when you are buying this material.
Height & Length
The height of the product will determine how much wallboard will be needed to make a transition from one height level to another. If you also need to install an additional product like a pipe or joist that is taller than your wallboard.
As long as your existing wallboard is up to the standard, then you can use a drywall corner bead.
The product’s length will help you determine how much material you need for your project before buying all of them at once. Longer pieces are more costly, while shorter pieces may not fit your space requirements.
Patterns and Finishes
Some products come in designs and finishes to make the edges of your room look more presentable.
However, you may need to check the durability of these materials because they get hits from time to time. Especially when something falls off a shelf or similar things.
Thickness & Weight
Another important consideration when buying corner beads for drywall is thickness.
If it is too thin, it won’t have enough strength, and it might bend.
On the other hand, if it’s too thick, it will cause cracking on the edges of the cut piece.
They are typically about 0.25″ deep and 1/2″ wide with a gap of about 1/8″.
The intersections will also have different weights, so a drywall corner bead that’s too thick for the intersection will sag under its weight and fall off.
A drywall corner bead that is too thin might also hang over time or break off while it’s being removed during renovations.
Types
Drywall Corner bead styles come in many different ways for specific corner conditions or use.
For example, a drywall corner bead with a corner bracket is suitable for framed corner shelving or other corner conditions where they are unnecessary.
Paper corner bead: A Paper corner bead is a very popular type because they come in different sizes to suit various projects, they are easy to cut and install, and they’re usually relatively inexpensive.
The main drawback is that they tend to curl up at the edges where the paper laps over itself.
Plastic corner bead: It is usually best when you need to cover more than one corner in a room or even all of the edges for an entire room.
They come in many different shapes and sizes.
They can be tricky to install with a small trowel, but they’re more durable than other types of corner beads.
And if you make mistakes, they can be cut down, filled with spackle, and sanded smooth.
Metal corner bead: A metal corner bead is usually a front-runner in terms of strength and durability, but it can be challenging to handle for beginners.
Metal corner beads should only be used with thin-set mortar and not self-leveling mud because they don’t bend easily.
Also, if you have to make adjustments after installation, metal corners are difficult to repair.
Requirement
One of the essential questions is whether or not you need a drywall corner bead.
For example, They are usually required when installing drywall corner areas like doorways and windows.
In contrast, other corner conditions such as framed corner shelving and corner molding do not require drywall corner beads.
Advantages:
Aesthetically Pleasing
Drywall corner beads are aesthetically pleasing because it helps to create a seamless finish.
In addition, they can be used to cover any gaps that might have been created by installing drywall.
This is especially helpful when installing sheetrock around protruding objects such as pipes or wires that are sticking out from the ceiling.
Adds Coverage
Drywall corner beads are made to create a seal with drywall and to maximize the area for added coverage.
They can also be used in areas that require expansion joint compounds, such as around windows and doors or on ceilings where other joints may not work.
The edge along a drywall corner is different from the rest of the area and can crack without something to fill in that space.
Drywall corner beads eliminate this possibility by creating a seal with drywall and giving it a smooth surface to connect to.
This helps minimize or eliminate cracking at the edges of drywall.
Drywall corner bead allows more build-up of the joint compound for easier finishing.
In areas that require a wide, flat plane for finishing, such as around windows and doors or inside corners where two walls meet at a 90-degree angle, use of it is the ideal solution.
A drywall edge is a point where two pieces of material meet or intersect.
For example, when a panel and ceiling join, a corner bead can create a seal to eliminate the need for an expansion joint.
Drywall corner beads create a seal that also slows down cracks in drywall, allowing for an even smoother connection between drywall and the ceiling joint.
Money Saver
Many people will argue that it is a waste of money, but I firmly believe that it’s an investment.
Doing drywall corner beads will save you a ton of money in the long run because they strengthen your walls and stop air leaks.
Adds Strength
It is also beneficial because it can be used to strengthen the joints between walls.
It can be installed into the drywall to create a professional-looking and smooth exterior for your home.
Easy to Install
Beads around the edges of a ceiling, such as beadboard or quarter round, are easier to install than bolts.
The main difference is that a drywall corner bead is installed on top of the drywall while a bolt is screwed into the stud.
Availability
Corner beads are available at any hardware store in a variety of designs and sizes. First, select a design that matches the bead you want to use around the floor molding.
If you don’t know what the invention will be, choose one designed for corner beads, these are wider than other corner beads and will be easier to cut.
FAQs:
Why Should I Install Corner Beads?
Corner beads are a great way to give separation and support to your drywall. They work as an insulator, preventing the cracking of your plaster from the various forms of stress that it faces.
These products also work to hide the edge where the two drywalls meet.
Corner beads help you create a seamless look when installing a drywall, and they are available in many different colors and sizes.
Relevant Reading: What Drywall Taping Knives is Suggested by professional contractors?
How Do Corner Beads Prevent Air Leaks?
Corner beads prevent air leaks by creating a seal. They’re able to do this because they are slightly wider than corner moldings, so corner beads have the ability to create a more continuous seal.
This seal is important because corner beads help you improve air quality in your home and can inhibit drywall cracks as well.
What is Minimum Size for 3/8″ Beads and 5/8″ Beads?
The 3/8″ beads and 5/8″ beads are meant to be used with two different types of drywall.
The 3/8″ beads are meant for use with gypsum board, and the 5/8″ beads are used with cement board.
How Far Away Should I Stand When Cutting Drywall Corners?
Standing between 2 to 6 inches from the corner is fine. You will likely have a few shards of drywall trim on the top of your shoes and around your feet.
Just bring your shoes through the mess to sweep it up later.
What Kind of Tape Should I Use to Attach My Corner Beads to The Surface or Ceiling Joint?
I would recommend using a thin layer of liquid nails or construction glue on the bead to attach it securely to the corner.
You can also use drywall screws, but I prefer liquid nails or construction glue if possible.
Can I Paint Corner Beads?
Yes, you can paint them. However, the color should cover the whole drywall corner, including its bottom, so you will not notice any white spots.
Conclusion
The home is the most important place for a family and no one wants to live in an unplanned and sloppy house. In order to maintain the beauty of your house, you need to install everything that can improve the appearance of your home walls.
Corner Beads for drywall is one such indispensable component for your home.
It is a great way to strengthen the joints between drywall and also gives you an instant drywall corner. They are a great investment for your home and can save you money in the long run.
They will make your walls look nice and also be stronger against cracking and damage. They also allow for more paint to be applied which will make your walls look nice.
I hope this blog has been helpful to you and that it has helped you choose the best corner bead for drywall.