How to Camouflage a Bad Sheetrock Job

Inspect the sheetrock in your walls, ceilings and corners. Take note of any imperfections in need of repair or camouflage. Look for gaps in butt joints, where the short ends of two sheets of drywall meet. Check all corners for gaps and openings where the sheetrock comes together. Shine a bright light at different angles on the sheetrock to bring out any cracks or depressions. Use a screw gun and drywall screws to fasten down any loose sheets of drywall.

Scoop some joint compound, called mud, out of a bucket or box and put it in a drywall pan. Mix the mud in the pan with a drywall knife to remove air bubbles. Fill in all gaps with the mud. Use a 12-inch knife for recessed seams and a 6-inch knife for corners and butt joints. Even out any joints that aren't flush with mud. Push hard with the knife to feather the edges of the repaired area. Fill in all holes in the sheetrock.

Cover all holes and gaps more than an inch wide with a piece of drywall tape. Place a dollop of mud on the tape with a knife and smooth it down to remove any wrinkles or air bubbles under the tape. Look for raised nails or screws in the sheetrock. Hammer them down flush with a drywall hammer or remove and replace them if they stick out too far. Apply mud over the screw or nail head. Let it dry and apply another coat if you can still see the head.

Fill in any superficial scratches, dents, or hammer marks, called elephant tracks, by drywallers. Use a knife handle to push in any scratches or puncture holes where screws or nails were removed. Cover them with a thick coat of mud and wipe it off, leaving only enough to fill in the blemishes. Locate any broken corners. Tear them out and fill in the space with mud.

Repair large gaps and spaces with fast drying, quick-set joint compound. Mix the powder with water in a bucket, according to the instructions on the bag. Apply it like regular mud. Use the quick-set to fill in gaps around windows or around electrical outlets and switches. Tape over spaces filled with quick-set. Smooth out the quick-set right away before it sets up to save time sanding the hardened compound. Sand all the repair work after it dries.