Fixing Drywall Mud Mistake: How to Repair Without Starting Over

Time is precious on construction projects. The pressure to finish a job quickly means even the most experienced drywallers can make mistakes during installation or repairs. But such errors don’t have to derail your whole day. Fixing drywall mud mistakes quickly gets you back on track to finish your work on schedule.

Mudding mistakes on new installations tend to be different than on patch repairs. When repairing, you’re trying to blend new material with existing material, which causes different issues.

This guide covers common drywall mudding mistakes and tips for fixing them. We'll teach you how to use professional drywall finishing tools to get professional results and avoid mudding mistakes on future coats.

Common drywall mudding mistakes often arise from inexperience or when you’re rushing through the process. If you don’t know how to fix them, they can happen again when you’re redoing the installation:

• Over-sanding: Trying to achieve a perfect finish can actually lead to oversanding the joint compound. If you can see the tape, you’ve removed too much compound. Sanding too much could damage the tape.
• Ridges: Improper techniques when applying drywall mud can cause raised, uneven lines or lumps, which are called ridges. Pro stainless joint knives will help you apply an even coat.
• Poor Feathering: During drywall installation, you blend the edges of your joint compound into the wall surface to make it seamless. This is known as feathering. Using too much compound or using the wrong tools to feather can lead to ridges, uneven layers, and visible seams.
• Uneven Drying: Applying thick coats or not letting each coat dry completely often makes drying time uneven. You could end up with cracks or rough patches that you have to sand more.
• Tape Bubbles: When air or moisture is trapped behind the tape, bubbles form under it. Sometimes, tape bubbles happen when you don’t use enough joint compound.
• Mud Bubbles: Mud bubbles form when air gets trapped in the joint compound. This happens after incorrect mixing or applying overly thick coats. It can also result from using too much pressure to apply the mud.

You can avoid many of these mistakes with the right tools. Use flexible knives for even pressure during application. Mix joint compound in a mud pan to reduce the chances of mud bubbles. Use a taping knife for consistent, even layers of joint compound.

Patching and repairing drywall comes with new challenges, because you’re trying to make it look like you never touched the wall. You need to match or create a specific texture, which often involves patching, sanding, and adding joint compound. Common mistakes during this process include:

• Unfeathered Edges: Each wall you work on has a unique texture. With incorrect feathering on the edges, the patch job stands out instead of looking seamless.
• Thick Mud: It’s tempting to apply joint compound in thick layers to match an existing wall. But this can cause cracks, an uneven finish, and even bulges.
• Taping Over Dust: If you don’t clean your surface before applying tape, you risk taping over dust. This makes it harder for the tape to stick, which can cause bubbles and cracks.

As with new installations, the right tools and techniques can spare you from common mistakes during patches and repairs. Prevent mud bubbles by cleaning the wall and removing demo dust before you mix your joint compound. Mixing dust into drywall mud makes it weaker. It can cause bubbles or cracks.

Applying tape on dirty walls makes it less sticky. It can also cause tape bubbles. Use dust-free sanding tools to clean as you go, so you’re always working on a dust-free surface. It also helps to use the right tape. Our self-adhesive tape is flexible to prevent bubbles and is made of fiberglass mesh that adheres to most surfaces, even in humid areas.

Use finishing knives for even application and feathering. Use a drywall patch kit for smaller jobs. They come with pre-measured supplies and detailed instructions for less experienced drywallers.

If you made a mistake, take a breath and follow these steps to fix it.

First, test the mud. Fixes for wet mud are different than dry mud.

Wet Mud

When you see bubbles and ridges on wet mud, press them out or smooth them over. Use a joint knife to cut or remove the bubble and apply a thin layer of mud with a drywall knife. Then smooth and feather the mud.

Fix the ridges by applying and smoothing joint compound and feathering the edges.

Dry Mud

If you don’t notice a mistake until the joint compound is dry, blend it out. Remove bubbles by cutting the bubble with a knife to allow air to escape and applying mud over the top, or ridges by feather your edges with a fine-grit sander or a pole sander. If you need to add more mud for an even finish, apply it in thin coats and let each coat dry before you start a new one.

Let your mud sit after you mix it to eliminate air bubbles.

Older Repairs

Start older repairs, such as a drywall mud cracking fix, by removing loose mud. Clean and sand the area and re-tape it if you need to. Then apply new joint compound in thin, even coats and feather the edges.

Add Hyde’s drywall joint knives to your tool kit for a smooth, even finish every time. Our mud pans help you mix drywall mud without air bubbles to save you from repairing your work later. If you do make a mistake, use our sanding tools to buff it out and fix it.

Sometimes you don’t notice a mistake until the paint has dried. Painting over bad mudding traps bubbles and highlights defects. Fortunately, you can usually fix these flaws with some sandpaper and your drywall kit.

Start with areas that need to be re-taped. Pull off any tape that is not sticking or has bubbles, then reapply the tape and apply a thin coat of drywall mud. If one coat isn’t enough, apply multiple thin coats and feather the edges. Let it dry and sand each new coat.

Next, sand any high spots until they’re level with the rest of the wall. Use Hyde’s dust-free sanding tools to keep the surface clean as you work.

After you’re done sanding, clean the area. Patching over surface contaminants, including oil, dust, and spray, can cause more bubbles and other imperfections.

Compare different types of spackle for textured walls and choose one that matches. When the wall looks good again, prime and paint the spot you’ve repaired.

Get the best drywall finish by:

• Prepping the area for priming and painting by sanding it with fine-grit sandpaper using Hyde Tools' hand sander.
• Buff out any remaining ridges.
• Blend the patch with the surrounding wall. Learn about different drywall finish levels to get it right every time.
• Apply primer to seal your joint compound and help the paint adhere to the repair.

Professional, high-quality tools help you avoid common drywall mistakes. Hyde Tools offers a variety of pro-grade drywall finishing tools, from joint knives to self-adhesive joint tape, for applying drywall mud in thin, even coats without bubbles or ridges.

With the appropriate techniques and supplies, you can avoid rework. Use Hyde Tools’ collection of professional drywall tools to handle high-volume workloads efficiently and reduce the chances of mistakes you have to fix later.