Hiring a drywall repair company to do the work of taping your drywall may sound like a great idea. After all, they are pros at the task, they do the work fast, and the results are nothing short of amazing. However, bringing in the experts can also leave you feeling a little lighter in the wallet after it’s all said and done.

You don’t need to incur these costs, not when you understand the particulars of drywall basics. The first thing to know is that taping your drywall is not an insurmountable job. In fact, you can probably do a pretty good job if you decide to tackle the work yourself, instead of hiring outside help. If this is something you have been considering taking on around your home, here are some tips to make the job go smoother, faster, and more successfully all on your own.

Mix Thoroughly

The most important thing to remember is that your mud must be thoroughly mixed, so it’s totally smooth. You do not want any lumps in your mud. But mixing and stirring a powdered compound into water can be taxing and time-consuming, not to mention doing it by hand will most undoubtedly result in the mixture being too lumpy.

Instead grab you power drill, place a mixing attachment on the end, and get to work. When you aren’t relying on your own elbow grease to get the best results, you can be sure you are starting the job with the best possible materials.

Watch How You Apply Your Drywall Tape

Taping and mudding your drywall require a delicate touch and that includes knowing how much of your materials should be utilized. In the case of your drywall tape, be sure not to overlap. You want to avoid having a finished wall that is bumpy or uneven and you can bet that will happen if you aren’t careful about creating any raised sections in your surface.

This can be particularly tricky at the vertical and horizontal joints. Be sparing with your paper tape and apply only one layer. Start by placing your compound to the vertical joint with your joint knife. From there, place your paper on top of the mud while it’s still wet. Just remember you want to avoid bumps or bulges so go easy on the mud and spread it out uniformly. With the tape applied to the mud, pull the knife over it nice and smooth, working from the center to each end of the tape.

Mind the Mess

It’s a given; your wet mud is going to get everywhere including your drywall. So while you’re going to wear old clothes you don’t care about and eyewear to keep the compound from splashing you in the eye (because it will), you should also be very diligent about protecting your carpet, furnishings, and even your walls from getting excess mud on them.

Be sure to wipe clean anything that gets compound spattered onto it. Otherwise, you could end up damaging or staining your home interior or belongings.