Fast Edge® Tape: Clean Edges, Quicker Installs

What if you could finish drywall around windows, doors and other details faster than ever — saving both labor and material costs — with all the durability of vinyl and all the flexibility of paper? That’s exactly why Trim-Tex designed Fast Edge® Tape: the new time-saving, paper-covered bead engineered for anywhere drywall meets mixed materials.

By combining the unmatched efficiency of our Fast Edge family of beads with the sharp, consistent edges of our world-famous Tear Away® beads, you get a convenient rolled solution that reduces waste, simplifies installation and leaves behind a flawless finish.

Fast Edge® Tape: Your Paper-Covered Tear Away® Alternative

For all the finishers out there who are paper-faced fanatics, we made Fast Edge Tape — available in easy-to-carry 100-foot rolls — with you in mind. This new bead rounds out the Fast Edge family with a Tear Away L Bead alternative wherever a paper-faced system is preferred.

Like other Fast Edge beads, Fast Edge Tape’s vinyl core comes equipped with Mud Locks: a series of small hooks that dig into mud for a stronger bond, with no glue, staples or nails needed. Meanwhile, the flexible paper covering provides an added layer of attachment with a low profile that requires less mud to finish. Together, these features add up to clean edges, secure installation and fewer callbacks.

Fast Edge Tape’s Simple Two-Step Installation

Fast Edge Tape has a uniquely simple, speedy installation process that boosts efficiency, cuts down on waste and delivers a consistently clean finish.

First, apply compound to the drywall and press the bead into place, butting it up against the window (or whatever adjoining substrate you may be working with). Wipe down the excess mud along the sides of the bead, then apply your first coat of mud to its outer edges right away, feathering it out as you go.

That’s all there is to it — once dry, apply your finish coat(s), then sand and paint. With fewer steps involved, you get a faster finish cycle for every opening. Multiply that across every window and door in a single home, and the opportunities for time and material savings are hard to beat.

Commercial Applications for Fast Edge Tape

Fast Edge Tape isn’t just for windows — you can use it for any gap ½” or smaller, making it ideal for everything from skylights to shower enclosures.

In the lead-up to rolling out this handy solution, we gave dozens of boxes of Fast Edge Tape to drywall finishers for testing and feedback. Commercial crews (like the one pictured above) were especially excited about one application: head-of-wall joints.

These gaps — found between drywall and abutting ceilings, usually concrete decks, and often filled with fire- and/or sound-rated materials — are common throughout commercial construction, especially multifamily projects. By using Fast Edge Tape in these areas, crews can move quickly and work more efficiently since they’re only carrying a single lightweight box and no mechanical fasteners.

For commercial crews handling a high volume of head-of-wall joints, Fast Edge Tape is a no-brainer.

Fast Edge Tape is shipping to stores near you now. Find your closest trusted Trim-Tex dealer using the tool below — and call ahead to make sure they stock your newest favorite paper-covered bead.