| After spending hours
and hours cutting hundreds of 2x4s for your framing, cutting drywall
is a piece of cake! Here's how:
What you'll need:
How to cut drywall (the basics)
1. Using a tape measure (or drywall square) and pencil (never
use a pen- the ink will 'bleed through') mark the front of the
drywall at the appropriate length.
2. Firmly butt the end of your T-square along the edge of the
drywall. Hold the square in place with your knee.
3. Using a sharp carpenter's knife score the front of the drywall
along the edge of the square. Cut along the 'factory edge' of
the drywall whenever possible. This will ensure a straight cut
every time.
Caution: It might go without saying, but BE
CAREFUL when cutting! It's easy to get careless when
you're doing cut after cut. One slip, and you'll be heading to
the hospital for stitches.
4. Bend the drywall back to break it along the cut.
5. From the back of the sheet, carefully cut the back paper.
Be careful not to tear the paper (or slice your finger).
6. If necessary, use a drywall rasp to sand down any high spots.
Drywall cutting tip: Use the rasp only if you
absolutely need it. It's very messy, and the edge doesn't need
to be perfect. The only time you should need to do this is if
you're only cutting an inch or two off of a sheet. In these instances,
the drywall doesn't seem to break as cleanly.
Next, see these sections:
How to hang drywall
- A step-by-step guide to hanging drywall.
Hanging drywall
- Drywall installation tips.
How to cut around
openings and outlets - For cutting around switch
boxes, outlets, light fixtures and other tricky areas.
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