How to Cut Drywall

Whether you're cutting a long straight piece of drywall, or taking out a piece to make room for a fixture such as an electrical outlet, make sure your measurements are correct and your hand is steady.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring Tapes
• Utility Knives
• Sheetrock Square
• Chalk Line
• Keyhole Saw

Cutting Holes in Drywall

1. 

   Measure the exposed area from where the edge of your drywall will start to the close and far edge of the fixture you are accommodating. Measure from top to bottom of the area and side to side.

2. Transfer your measurements to the sheet of drywall and cut with a keyhole saw (push saw).

3. Cut a circular hole by measuring to the center of the target area from the edges of the drywall. Measure the radius (from the center of the circle to the circumference, or outer edge) of the fixture and transfer this measurement to a compass.

4. Draw a circle on the drywall, using the compass, and cut out with keyhole saw.

Cutting Straight Edges

5. Measure the exposed area of wall to determine what size piece of drywall you'll need to cut. Make sure the end measurements line up with the center of a ceiling joist or wall stud.

6. Set the drywall on sawhorses, finished side up.

7. Mark measurements on finished side of drywall, on both edges of the sheet.

8. Chalk a line between top and bottom marks. (See "How to Snap a Chalk Line" in Related eHows.)

9. Cut or score along the chalk line using a utility knife. (A cut 1/16 inch deep is sufficient. Once the paper is cut you'll get a pretty clean break.) You may want to use a Sheetrock square (an oversized T-square) as your guide.

10. Snap the drywall back away from your scored line.

11. Fold the drywall slightly and cut through the paper backing, along the fold, using a utility knife. You'll get the cleanest cut from the back side instead of sticking your knife through the cut/break.

Tips & Warnings

• If you start measuring the exposed wall space in a corner, go against the intersecting wall and measure out to the stud that is closest to the overall length of your drywall. (Eight-foot drywall is the easiest to handle but sheets can be purchased in lengths up to 16 feet.)
• Make sure that you keep a sharp blade in your utility knife. It makes for easier and cleaner cutting.

[oldhandyman]

on 4/1/2008 Cutting out circles has always been a problem for me particularly when I try to use a keyhole hand saw. I recently came across a company-cutzout.com-that makes templates for guiding rotary tools- Rotozip, Dremel, etc. Their templates include models for cutting out circlular holes that fit most ceiling electric fixtures and even many audio speakers.

[superdave42]

on 10/14/2007 Many times you will have fairly rough edges after scoring, snapping, and back-cutting because of the occasional hard or soft spot in the gypsum. I always smooth out the high spots so that my measured line is accurate for a tight fit. Take a rasp or a course file and knock off any gypsum jutting past your cut line; only a few quick passes should be required. I have also found that the back of a keyhole saw will scrape away high spots in a pinch. Try not to roughen the paper with either technique. The time spent cleaning up the edges will be returned later when you are applying mud, because nice tight-fitting edges will require less mud and you won't have issues with extended drying time or shrinking.

on 2/16/2006 Cut your sheet of drywall to fit the space needed. Then, take a handful of drywall dust from off the floor (there should be plenty), and generously pat the rim of the outlet box, coating it with dust. Stand the drywall against the wall and, using your hand, pound the drywall at the box location. Move the drywall, and look at the back - the box should have left a powder outline. Using a rotozip tool, cut the outline of the box.

on 1/25/2006 Use a drywall square to mark the left and right sides of your box on the floor. Then, measure the distance from the top and bottom of the box to the floor. After installing the sheetrock over the box (without cutting it), use the marks on the floor and the T square to draw the left and right sides of your box on the sheetrock. I place 4-5 screws along the top edge only of the sheetrock to hold it temporarily in place. Use your vertical measurements to mark the top and bottom of the box on the sheetrock. Now draw the box and make your cut. Very precise technique. Works better than cutting out the hole first, because it's hard to get the sheetrock in exactly the right position, especially if you are working alone.

on 11/22/2005 After marking the dimensions on your drywall for the receptical/switch box, score around the edges of the outline with your utility knife. Then score an "X" across the cutout section with your knife. A quick rap with your hammer in the center of the "X" will break out the box neatly without needing to use your keyhole saw. Cut/tear off the scrap pieces from the back of the drywall and clean up any rough edges with your knife.