“Mudding,” the process of applying multiple thin coats of drywall compound to the joints and screw indentations in newly hung drywall, sounds messy, and it is. When done correctly, the result is a ...

Dear James: I have divided a large room to create an office, so I now have to tape the drywall joints. What are some taping tips so the joint locations won't stand out? — Scarlett L. Dear Scarlett: ...

Where two tapered edges of drywall meet, they create a shallow recess that makes taping easy. Just drag your knife over the joint and—after the third coat of mud—you’ll have a perfectly flat surface.

Dear James: I just moved into an older house, and a lot of the drywall tape is coming loose and needs retaping. Why did it come loose, and how should I replace it? -- Randall N. Dear Randall: It is ...