Start by breaking or cutting out broken or crushed areas of the drywall, then peel away any paper shreds left around the edges. Mix up a small batch of setting-type compound; if you mix too much, it ...

Dear James: I have divided a large room to create an office, so I now have to tape the drywall joints. What are some taping tips so the joint locations won’t stand out? — Scarlett L. Dear Scarlett: ...