Make Sure You Have Everything Before You Start
Drywall finishing tip #1: You need to have at hand a taping knife spreader, application knife, joint tape, joint compound, bread pan and a corner taping tool.
Get Secure About What You're Doing
Drywall finishing tip #2: Drywall demands that all your measurements are accurate and that every panel is tightly secured to the supports that it's nailed to. Could there be anything more embarrassing than to complete a drywall job - only to have it unexpectedly fall down during dinner or entertaining guests?
Make sure that your nails are long enough to keep the panels on their supports. If you're more comfortable with using screws, then use them instead. You could even use a second set of nails as reinforcement. The important thing as that you feel as secure about your project as they're secured to its foundation!
Beware A Muddy Mess
Drywall finishing tip #3: When mixing your cement (or mud), strive for a consistency that resembles icing on a cake - not too stiff and not too loose. Essentially, you should be able to scoop some of this mud onto a trowel, hold the trowel upside down, and not lose any of the cement. At the same time, you should also be able to easily apply this cement into drywall joints without too much effort.
While mixing, take care not to "whip" the cement. A whipping action will inadvertently attract air - air which will form bubbles in drywall seams.
Mesh Your Work Into A Smooth Finish
Drywall finishing tip #4. Use mesh tape instead of paper tape. Because mesh tape is porous, it allows the cement to seep through it. The end result is much smoother than paper which is sometimes visually apparent.
Use More Glue And Save On Nails
Drywall finishing tip #5: Use an adhesive to hold panels in place. Although this technique can't and should never be used on the ceiling, you'll only need to insert nails at the edges of drywall panels.
Give Your Drywalls A Little Dimple
Drywall finishing tip #6: You can hid the heads of your nails by hammering them in just below the surface of the drywall. This might take a little practice beforehand, as you don't want the nail heads to show, but on the other hand, you don't want to break the surface of the drywall either!
Patch Like A Pro
Drywall finishing tip #7: Stuffing a hole with newspaper tends to leave weak spots on a wall. Instead, cut a sizeable circle around a hole that needs patching. Insert a support piece that will fit behind the hole, and then glue it in place with cement. After about three hours, use even more cement to adhere a small piece of drywall to the support piece you inserted earlier. When dry, cover the hole with more cement and tape. You want to continue this process in the same manner as if you were concealing a joint.
