Mix Your Mud

• When you get your sheet rock into place, you may be tempted to open up a tub of drywall mud and begin spreading it. You'll get better results if you add some water to the mud and stir it. Mud is usually sold pre-mixed and ready to be used, but it's often too stiff to spread easily. This makes the job difficult and time consuming. Add a few tablespoons of water to the compound and mix it with your drywall knife. The exact amount depends on the consistency of your mud and the size of your tub, so add a little at a time. Ensure there are no chunks, then add more water if required. The finished product should be the consistency of cake icing.
  
  

Mud, Tape, Mud

• Once your drywall is in place, mud the crack between the two sheets. This can be done with a wide-blade drywall knife. You don't need to give the mud time to dry before running a strip of drywall tape over the center of the crack between the sheets. Drywall tape usually has a perforated line down its center that you can place directly on the line to ensure your tape is centered. Once you've finished taping, apply a second coat of mud to the area. Some people choose to wait to add the second coat, but doing so will delay the process. Once the second coat is added, the whole area can dry.
  
  

Blade Size

• Purchase an assortment of drywall knives, also called taping knives, for the job. These knives often come in one-inch, four-inch, six-inch and 12-inch blade sizes. It's important to have a variety of sizes to make the job quicker and easier. When you've got a long, straight area to mud, use a wide-blade knife to make the job go faster. When you're working in a corner or confined area, use a small-blade knife to give yourself better control and precision. Drywall knives range in price from under $10 for small knives to around $20 for 12-inch knives. Buying a few sizes will make your job easier.
  
  

Smooth Excess Mud

• While it is important to apply a liberal amount of mud to the joints between two sheets of drywall, it is equally important to wipe the excess mud off while it is still wet. After you've applied the mud, take several strokes through the area with a drywall knife to remove excess mud that has built up. If the excess mud is allowed to dry, it will take a long time to sand smooth. The sanding process during drywall installation is physically demanding and dusty, so the less sanding you have to do, the quicker the job will go.