Although it may look easy to install and repair, dry wall can also be done very badly by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.  You can end up with lumps which simply makes you interior look hideous.

When doing a repair job, it’s advisable to use 4 thin coats of compound and simply leave the sanding ’til the last coat.  With drywall you should also have the joint out a bit wider than you might normally do.  You want the slopes to be shallow and wide.

You can easily by a dry wall repair kit which contains flexible knives in 3 different widths, a hammer, screwdrivers, utility knife, drywall saw and drill.  However you may also need to have a hacksaw, nail bar, hand sander and a level.  These are pretty basic DIY tools so you probably already have them in your workshop or garage.  Then you’ll need drywall compound, paper tape, mesh tape, drywall screws and nails.

Knives – normally you would need a four inch knife along with a five or six inch knife.  You would use the four inch knife for applying drywall to corners, where you need it for laying the drywall and for the top coats on the tape.  Using a five or six inch knife is good for other jobs such as for the mud coat and wiping the paper tape.

Look out for stainless steel knives as these won’t rust anywhere near as quick as regular steel.  These are considered a must if you plan on doing a lot of plastering work.

In terms of widths, everyone has their own idea of what works.  Women tend to choose the smaller knives as they are easier to use.  Whereas men may prefer using ten and twelve inch knives.  If you’re having difficulty with the larger knives you can always go for an in-between size, let’s say eight inches.

Mud Pans – These come in different types – plastic, galvanized metal, and stainless steel.  The plastic type is the cheapest but don’t last long.  Having a couple of pans is a good ideas, that way you can have a shorter size for taping and a larger size for top coats.