How to Finish Drywall with Joint Compound

Hanging drywall really doesn't require a lot of skill. Basically if you keep the joints tight, you've done a good job. The main problem with hanging drywall is that's its cumbersome and very heavy, so having a helper or two is critical. Many people who decide to do home improvement themselves often hang their own sheetrock and sub contract the drywall finishing to a professional. It's something that really not that necessary if you have a little skill and a sense of adventure.

You should start in a room that inconspicuous first, like a closet or pantry. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be finishing drywall like a pro. A few of the tools you'll need are several sized spackle knifes for mixing joint compound and small areas. You will also need a large drywall knife. This is also known as a broad knife. It's used primarily for taping the seams. It usually cost no more than $10 at any hardware store. You can also buy a corner knife, or butterfly knife. It's not necessary but it comes in handy for those hard to reach corners. If you don't have a real steady hand, buy one, it's defiantly worth the extra money. The other tool you definitely need is a joint compound pan or tray. This is a small plastic rectangle that the joint compound is held in while you work. It has a metal edge on one side for scraping the knife clean.