Haley Mast is a freelance writer, fact-checker, and small organic farmer in the Columbia River Gorge. She enjoys gardening, reporting on environmental topics, and spending her time outside ...

The smooth featureless walls around your home are easy to paint and great for hanging artwork, but they’re also very effective at transmitting soundwaves from room to room—a less desired feature.

It’s fine to fill screw holes and other small wall dings with patching compound, but for larger drywall repairs, it’s best to use a joint compound that sets up by a chemical reaction. These are ...