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Here's a helpful tip for getting really smooth drywall seams. After you've laid the tape in a four inch bed of compound, apply another thin coat of compound with a six inch knife. Let it dry. Add another coat with a ten-inch trowel, feather the edges out with a knife, smooth it out again with the ten-inch trowel, and let it dry. Apply your final coat the same way, this time with a twelve-inch trowel. Increase the size of your trowel for each coat, and you'll be sure to get an invisible seam every time!

Taking the time to protect woodwork while you paint or work around it will save you time and money. Trim protection tape comes in a variety of widths for any trim detail, from molding to banisters. Look for a product that's easy to use, will stick solidly to surfaces for as long as your project lasts, and won't leave a sticky residue when it's removed.

Before starting your next paint job, have your tools ready. For the prep, you'll need putty, a putty knife, sandpaper, masking tape, drop cloths, wash buckets, rags and liners. You may also need a step ladder for those hard to reach areas. Of course, you will also need the right brushes and rollers for the job.

To determine how many four by eight drywall panels to buy, divide the square footage you need to cover by thirty-two. You'll need about a half gallon of joint compound and forty feet of drywall tape for every hundred square feet of drywall. To estimate fasteners, figure about three pounds of screws (or about 5 1/4 lbs. of drywall nails) for every thousand square feet.

Before you hang that nice big bathroom mirror, be sure you keep these things in mind. You'll need to support the bottom edge by screwing in a length of j-channel. To protect the mirror's silver backing, cover the screw heads with duct tape and be sure to use specially-designed mirror mastic, since other adhesives can eat away the back and leave spots.

If you've ever done your own drywall, you know the corners are the tricky part. These no-coat drywall corners are ready made of high-impact plastic, backed with joint tape for an easy, tight bond with mud.Shove the corner onto a bed of mud. No need for screws or nails. Feather the edges with compound and you're done.

When water supply pipes freeze, first restore home heat to the area. Start working on the supply side and leave a faucet open so you can tell when a flow starts. Pour boiling water over cloth wrapped around the pipe, or use a heat gun, heat lamp, or electrical heating tape. Avoid propane torches: their concentrated heat may cause pipes to burst.