Hardie Board, WonderBoard and Durock are all classified as cement boards. These sheet goods are made with a mixture of Portland cement and sand instead of the powdery gypsum that’s used in drywall.

“Mudding,” the process of applying multiple thin coats of drywall compound to the joints and screw indentations in newly hung drywall, sounds messy, and it is. When done correctly, the result is a ...