Each of us has made repairs at some point in our lives. And many do it every couple of years. To insulate our home or create beautiful figures on the ceiling, in the bathroom or any other room, we often use a material such as drywall. And many of those who prefer to make repairs with their own hands wondered whether it is possible to cut drywall on their own at home, and how difficult it is.
Most often, the owners resort to the help of strangers (specialists), while spending a lot of money. This article will help you cope with this process yourself, do not waste time looking for specialists, and will help you get exactly the result you want.
Peculiarities
Drywall is a relatively young material used in construction work. It gained wide popularity due to its harmlessness, versatility, good sound insulation. GKL itself, as the name implies, consists of two sheets of thick cardboard and gypsum, placed between them. The standard width of one sheet is one hundred and twenty centimeters. Since drywall is large, during construction work it is necessary to resort to cutting it.
For cutting on drywall, we need a tape measure to obtain the desired dimensions (a ruler can also be used), a pencil, a pen (or any other similar tool), with which we will apply the shapes we need on a sheet, a tool for the cut itself (hacksaw, grinder, jigsaw, cutter), a roughing plane (for processing edges after cutting), a saw (can be circular or circular), or a drill with a crown. The cut of drywall, although it does not present any difficulties, but its incorrect sawing leads to a large waste of material, and, accordingly, to an unnecessary waste of money.
The GKLV incision is not a time-consuming work, any beginner, with the proper desire, is able to make the incision himself, without resorting to the help of professionals.
A short process for cutting drywall is as follows. First, the drywall is cut, after the break. Also, the simple composition of drywall is easy to drill, which is necessary for making various holes.
This type of material is divided into different types depending on the endowed functions:
- moisture resistant;
- standard;
- fire resistant;
- acoustic;
- increased strength.
Moisture-resistant drywall is needed when used in rooms with an increased amount of vapors in the air. Fire-resistant drywall is used wherever there are fireplaces and near open flames.
Initially, drywall was used only for leveling surfaces.
There are three standard sheet types:
- 3000x1200 mm;
- 2500x1200 mm;
- 2000x1200 mm.
Depending on the type of drywall, their thickness also differs, which affects the complexity of cutting.
Ceiling drywall has a thickness of 9.5 millimeters, wall - 12.5 millimeters, arched - 6.5 millimeters.
Consider a few features when cutting drywall:
- It is necessary to place the drywall sheet on a flat and stable surface as it is very flexible.
- If the drywall sheet is large, then the cutting should be done gradually.
- Before placing the sheet on the work surface, make sure it is dry. A wet sheet will be unusable.
- It is recommended to cut from the side that will be located against the wall. This will allow later to hide possible defects formed during cutting.
- Protect eyes and respiratory organs with personal protective equipment.
A circular saw should not be used when cutting drywall due to its ability to generate a large amount of harmful dust.
What is the best way to cut?
Drywall cutting is done with various types of tools, some of them are:
- assembly knife;
- hacksaw;
- An electric jigsaw is a hand-held power tool that cuts various types of materials using the reciprocating motion of the saw blade.
Let's consider each of them separately.
Assembly knife
In this method, we need a drill and, in fact, an assembly knife.
To cut drywall with a mounting knife, it is necessary to measure the required size of drywall in length or width. We also need a metal ruler. We apply it to the cut line. After that, a cut of this material is made. The process itself is quite simple, it does not take much time. A sloppy edge left after a cut can be corrected with a planer. It is recommended when drywall is broken on the table so that the edge protrudes one or two centimeters, and when cutting on the floor, place any object resembling a block under it.
When cutting drywall by one person, a fairly convenient way is to cut a part on one side, after which the drywall is gently turned over to the other side and continues to cut on the other side. This method allows, if necessary, to cut thin strips of drywall with minimal damage.
Hacksaw
This tool will only allow us to cut out small shapes such as a circle, square, rectangle, rhombus and others. For best results, a fine-blade hacksaw is recommended.
We draw the shapes we need of the appropriate size, after which, using a drill, we make a hole corresponding to the size of the blade of our hacksaw. Then we cut out the shapes we need. Just like in the previous method, you can use a plane or a file to achieve neat edges if your parts are too small. It is recommended to use a hacksaw for metal, but if it is not available, it is possible to use a hacksaw for wood.
This process can be described in more detail as follows. The drywall sheet is laid on a flat surface (you can use a stack of drywall sheets). Next, the necessary measurements are made, and the dimensions are applied with a pencil (or any other object) on the sheet. Marks are made on both sides of the sheet, starting from the edge of the sheet. Then they are connected to each other, forming the desired line or figure. In some cases, a marking thread is used. Lines are marked on both sides of the drywall.
The next step is directly cutting drywall. The length of the blade of our tool should not exceed the thickness of the sheet. A sheet is cut with a knife (preferably several times to achieve the best effect), the sheet is turned over to the other side. Next, knock several times on the cut line, and cut the rest of the drywall with the same knife.
Jigsaw
Cutting with an electric jigsaw is the fastest of all, but it is also quite expensive. Its price varies from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles. The price depends on the quality of the given product. But the costs are absolutely justified. When using it, our possibilities are greatly expanded. It becomes possible to cut lines and shapes of various shapes, including curved ones, and the amount of waste is significantly reduced. When working with a jigsaw, you must observe safety precautions. And before starting work, check the integrity of the wires and the serviceability of the tool.
To achieve the desired effect, we apply the correct shapes or patterns on a sheet of gyrosokarton. Next, we place it on two stools (or any other supports) placed on both sides of the sheet. Then, with the help of a jigsaw, we cut out the figures we have applied.
When cutting round holes, it is recommended to draw them with a compass, and when cutting out, drill a hole inside the circle. The edges after cutting drywall need minimal processing, which also saves us time and effort, being a significant plus.
When cutting, it is not recommended to stay in one place for a long time, as well as to press on the sheet, using great force, in order to avoid breakage of the jigsaw and the sheet. It is necessary to carefully process the edges of the gypsum board before hanging, for example, a spotlight or an outlet.
Subtleties of the process
When cutting drywall, it is customary to follow some rules, such as:
- placing the sheet on a flat and stable surface;
- the surface must be dry and free of excess debris;
- use personal protective equipment for eyes and respiratory organs, as a large amount of small debris and dust remains during cutting.
When cutting a profile, various types of tools are used:
- Hacksaw. This type of tool, regardless of whether it is narrow or wide, has a high flexibility of the cutting blade, which allows it to deviate from a given direction. This reduces the quality of work and also increases the time spent on cutting.
- Bulgarian. The tool is one of the best in construction work, including when cutting drywall.
- Metal scissors
- Jigsaw.
Also, in our life, moments are not excluded in which it is necessary to make a cut on an already installed sheet of drywall for a lamp, paintings or any other things. There is also a way for this case.
First, you need to make sure that the drywall is securely fastened, after which the small holes we need are carefully cut out with a jigsaw, a drill with a nozzle or an electric drill. It is recommended to cut large holes with a knife according to the markings. If you get uneven edges, they can be removed with sandpaper or a hacksaw.
There are a number of nuances when cutting out circles. The simplest way to cut a circle in drywall is to apply the desired size to the sheet, then carefully cut it in a circle with a blade, and knock out the core with a hammer (with little effort with any similar object). There is also the simplest way that saves time and effort - using a drill with a special cylindrical nozzle. This type of attachment is usually used when cutting into a door with a latch lock mechanism.
There is also a so-called double-sided cut, which is carried out when various obstacles appear in the path of the sheet, be it a door, an opening, a beam or any others. When such a situation arises, you have to make a cut (or cut) from the right side and the desired shape. This manipulation is quite simple, but it requires concentration, accuracy and attentiveness. One side of the sheet must be cut with a hacksaw, and the other side must be carefully trimmed with a knife. After completing the work, making a break and processing the edge with a plane.
When cutting drywall - it folds up. It is advisable to do this carefully without damaging the sheet. There are three possible ways to bend drywall. The easiest way is to attach the desired workpiece to the profile and fix it in the desired position with self-tapping screws. This method is used with small sheets measuring 20-30 centimeters and a small arc size.
During the repair, you have to cut drywall almost every 5-10 minutes. Why? Because a sheet of this material will be at least 2 square meters and it is impossible to mark a wall, ceiling or any other structure without residues. The smaller the structure, the more you will have to cut, and it is not always necessary to cut it straight (corners, uneven walls and ceilings have not been canceled either). What to do? There is only one way out - to learn how to quickly and efficiently cut drywall.
You will need to make not only ruler cuts across the sheet, but also cut triangles, rectangular pieces, ovals or circles (for example, for lighting elements). It is advisable to consider several options for cutting drywall at once, from an ordinary stationery knife to an electric jigsaw. Now we will look at the simplest and most high-quality methods for cutting and processing drywall edges.
How to cut drywall with a mounting knife "without noise and dust"
It is much easier and faster to perform this action with a hand tool. The most interesting thing is that the cut quality will also be much better if you need to dissolve the sheet along or cut an even piece from it. The theory is superfluous here, let's move on to practice and immediately cut drywall:
- We make the necessary measurements and draw a line. It is advisable to stock up on a marker so that it is convenient to look at the "bold" mark from either side.
2. Along the edge of the line, you can attach a long metal ruler or a profile that is used to attach drywall.
3. We put the edge of the knife on the edge of the line, begin to lead, applying a pressure of 2-3 kg on the mounting knife for drywall.
4. After the line is cut, it is necessary to bend the sheet so that the cut is on the outside. You can put the sheet on the floor, hold it by the edges with your hands and kick it slightly with your knee at the cut, but from the opposite side, the sheet will crack and bend.
5. You will have a drywall corner, now you need to take an assembly knife and cut the paper on the other side of the corner. We put the knife on top and stretch it to the very bottom, we get a high-quality cut.
This method is ideal for cutting ONLY long strips as a large pressure shoulder is required for a good fault line. If the lines are oval or cut off a piece only 5-10 cm from the edge of the sheet, it may break unevenly, and the edge may crumble. After the cut, a plasterboard plane should be used to “smooth out the edges and remove the corner for subsequent plastering (then there will be no“ edges ”).
It is convenient to cut on a table or on the floor by placing a sheet of drywall on 2 wooden blocks next to the cut line. Please note that gypsum is often poured after a drywall break, so it will be better to put something under it if the cut occurs on a clean surface.
Features of cutting drywall with a hacksaw - an option for hardworking
A hacksaw is best used when curly cutting is necessary, when you need to cut drywall in a semicircle or make holes of different shapes inside it. This cannot be done with a mounting knife, at least not with good quality. Now let's look at how to cut a sheet of drywall with a hacksaw and make holes inside it.
STEP 1: markup. It is necessary to draw a sheet of drywall from the back side, make holes in the corners of such a size that a hacksaw blade fits in them (you can use a sharp knife or drill). 
STEP 2: sawing. We insert a drywall tool (hacksaw) into the hole and saw to another extreme point, it is better to avoid turns. 
STEP 3: when the cut has been made on all the drawn sides, and the figure inside the sheet has "fallen out", you can process the edges. Use a plane or a file if the hole is very small and you cannot fit another tool into it. 
We looked at how to cut drywall and cut a hole in the desired rectangular shape, but there is an even more difficult task - non-standard or oval figures inside the sheet. Here it is already necessary to work with thin blades on a hacksaw, which will be convenient to turn when cutting internally. In such cases, it is better to abandon the hacksaw and use a jigsaw, since the quality of the edges of the cut hole inside will be much higher.
We cut drywall with a jigsaw - an option for the lazy
If you do not know how to cut drywall at home and are afraid to experiment, then it is better to entrust the processing of the material to an electric tool. A jigsaw is the best tool for cutting drywall, since it allows you to make a canvas of any shape and can make holes inside a drywall sheet. Curved lines will be as accurate as possible, and the edge will be much easier to process with a drywall planer.
Consider a step-by-step instruction on how to properly cut drywall using a jigsaw:
1. We draw a line along which it will be necessary to cut the material. It is better to use a black marker so that it is clearly visible. 
2. We install a drywall sheet on several bricks or stools so that so that there are no objects under the cutting line(the saw may catch them.) The sheet should lie in a balanced position, not tense at the cutting points - the quality of the cut will improve significantly. 
3. Install the jigsaw at the beginning of the line, turn on the laser sight (if there is one on the tool) and lead exactly along the desired trajectory. Or we bring drywall to a tripod with a jigsaw. 
4. The edges are demolished at 45 degrees, for plastering the surface. It can even be done with sandpaper, if the processing area is not too large. 
5. If you do not have a planer or angles are poorly obtained, then a drywall cutter will become an actual tool. It can be put on a screwdriver or drill, the cone can be installed between the sheets and held along the joint. Cutting knives will remove the edges of each sheet at the same angle - very convenient for large volumes of work, where you need to quickly and efficiently process many sheets. 
Perhaps you wanted to ask how to cut L-shaped drywall under a door or window opening? There is no universal tool here, you must use both a hacksaw and a jigsaw, since with only a jigsaw or a hacksaw you cannot get an internal angle of 90 degrees.
The jigsaw will be the perfect tool for you if you don't have anything to cut a drywall profile, as it will work for metal as well. You need to buy several files "for all occasions" and you can cut not only drywall, but also metal, wood, stone and other materials. Now let's watch a video of cutting drywall with a painting knife without noise and dust:
Happy repairs and pleasant DIY work!
Industrial production started in 1917 in Great Britain. However, a US resident came up with a new building material. August Sackett was granted a patent back in 1894. The American fastened 10 paper sheets with powdered gypsum.
The result is a plate 5 millimeters wide. In a modern one, the width is at least 1.5 millimeters larger, and then provided that the core is reinforced with fiberglass.
Standard sheets rise by 10-13 millimeters. The question arises of how to cut such a thickness, because in work it is often necessary to adjust it to the frame. Let's describe several ways to divide the plates.
We cut drywall with an electric jigsaw
A jigsaw is a tool with a reciprocating saw motion. Simply put, we are talking about a miniature version of an electric saw. When working with drywall, it allows you to:
Make curly cuts
Holes inside the sheet
Extremely precise edges without jags and contour drops
We cut drywall with a jigsaw
Jigsaw cut drywall along a predetermined contour. Since gypsum dust will be knocked out from under the blade, we make the basting with a black marker. It can also be seen under whitish sediments.
The sheets are marked out from the back. However, drywall is only the basis of structures, covered after tiles, wallpaper, plaster. Therefore, the markup side is not important. Let's get started:
- Place the gypsum sheet on stools or bricks, leaving the space under the cutting line free. Also, stress should not fall on the cutting line. Its tearing forces will impair the quality of the cut. On the basis of the same drywall is supported due to the flexibility of the material. Without support, the sheet can break under pressure in unexpected places.
- We install the jigsaw at the start of the cutting line, or we bring the drywall to the tool holder, because it can be not only autonomous, but also stationary. Also, a number of jigsaws have a laser sight. It helps to "walk" exactly along the markings. In the case of working in the twilight, the backlight will help out. It is also not found on all jigsaws.
- It remains to turn on the jigsaw and smoothly guide along the markings.
- In the end, we will process the edges with sandpaper or a plane, a file.
Understand, how to cut drywall with a jigsaw costs only if you have a tool. The most simple models cost from 1100 rubles. If the expenses are unjustified or there is no already purchased jigsaw at hand, curly cuts are made ...
We cut drywall with a hacksaw
A hacksaw is also a kind of saw, but this time a hand saw. The tool costs, usually, several hundred rubles. The blade of a hacksaw is different. You need an even one with small teeth. This is a hacksaw for metal.
We cut drywall with a hacksaw
When working with drywall, it gives the smoothest cut. The thinness of the saw blade allows it to bend easily inside the sheet, following exactly the curved markings. Let's start the process:
- Having marked out the drywall and making holes in the corners with a drill or knife for the entrance of the hacksaw blade.
- By inserting a hacksaw into the slot and sawing to the opposite point.
- Having processed the edges of the cut with improvised means.
Which side to cut drywall hacksaw does not matter, but in what place is important. When cutting a sheet from the edge, the tool gives a smooth, neat line, although it takes a considerable amount of time. The through holes on the drywall sheet of the hacksaw are uneven. It is better to use a jigsaw here.
We cut drywall with a mounting knife
Replaceable blades in the assembly knife. There are blades for cutting various materials, the protrusion of the metal part outside the handle is adjustable. There are the same stationery models, but for working with drywall, they are low-power.
You can even cut drywall with a clerical knife.
An assembly knife costs from several hundred rubles. The tool is good when it is decided how to cut drywall at home in a straight line. Curly lines with an assembly knife are obtained anyhow. Let's get started:
- We draw the drywall according to the previously made marks.
- We attach a steel profile for drywall or a metal ruler to one side of the marking. They will not let the knife go to the side during cutting.
- We put the blade to the edge of the marking and drive along it with a pressure of about 3 kilograms.
The knife should not go through the sheet. Cut drywall correctly- this is to lead a blade with a depression of about half a centimeter. The rest will break along the line when we bend the panel with our hands.
In this case, the cut should be at the top. To fold the drywall, you will need to support it. You can just put the sheet on the floor, or you can put it on chairs or the edge of a table.
The nuances of cutting drywall depending on its type
Drywall sheets are specialized, for example, waterproof. The paper on these is impregnated with polymers. They close the pores in the cardboard, making it resistant to moisture and reliable protection for the inside of the compressed gypsum powder.
However, even waterproof drywall has no edge protection. Accordingly, the workplace should not be wet. Once in the gypsum, water will cause it to swell, and the geometry of the building sheet will change.
Arched drywall
Arched plasterboard stands separately. It is as thin as possible, only 6.5 millimeters thick. It would seem that such a sheet is easier to cut than a centimeter. However, fiberglass is laid inside the arched panel.
It reinforces drywall and gives the flexibility necessary to deform the sheet intended for curved doorways, ceilings.
Because of the fiberglass inside, the arched material is more difficult to cut than simple drywall. Better to use a power tool. The assembly knife or hand file is hard to "go".
General rules for cutting drywall
The gypsum microparticles inside the cardboard cover are light and volatile. Breaking out from under the paper during cutting, the mineral suspension rushes into the air, getting into the eyes, and settling in the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is advisable to put on a protective mask.
It is recommended to lay a plastic wrap on the floor under the blade to be cut, lightly sprinkling with water from a spray bottle. Moisture will help the gypsum particles flying from above to swell, become heavy and sink onto the polyethylene. At the end of the work, it remains to be rolled up and thrown away. Particularly thrifty people wash the film in the bathroom, dry it and reuse it.
If the gypsum dust settles directly on the floor, it will be problematic to clean the powder. Divorces will remain. If there is a porous coating on the floor, such as matte porcelain stoneware, particles of gypsum will be hammered into it.
A solution of warm water with sunflower oil at the rate of half a glass of product per 10 liters becomes salutary. After the floors are wiped with vinegar solution.
The method is not suitable for glossy surfaces. There it is better to do with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is added to warm water until it turns light pink.
We cut the profile for drywall
Since work has begun with the hero of the article, the question is also relevant, how to cut a profile for drywall... It is used to create a frame for paper-mineral sheets.
Attach them to the profile with self-tapping screws. Accordingly, drywall covers the profile base. You can skip the emphasis on the accuracy of cutting steel rods. The sheets will hide their unsightlyness.
You can cut the profile with metal scissors
To cut a profile for drywall, 3 tools are used:
Metal scissors. They are good for cutting sheet steel. Working with U-shaped profiles for gypsum sheets is inconvenient, but profitable. A manual version of a tool resembling wire cutters costs from 200 rubles. Also, the inconvenience of working with scissors smooths out their independence from the mains and noiselessness.
Electric jigsaw. Cuts neatly and quickly. It is convenient to work with the tool only when the profile is rigidly fixed. It is made of thin steel. If this will "walk" under the jigsaw blade, the cut will turn out to be uneven.
Miniature grinder. When working with a grinder, the profile is laid on a bend. In other words, the part to be cut should hang above the air and bend under its own weight downward as it is cut. The rest of the profile rests on a chair, table.
Ease of use is dwarfed by the noise generated by the power tool. However, you can wear headphones. Of the mandatory protective equipment, glasses are worth mentioning.
We cut the profile with a small grinder
Chips can fly off the steel being processed. It can get in your eyes, damaging them. Such pieces of metal are called dross, and are removed in emergency rooms.
The danger of cutting a profile with an electric tool is not only detrimental to human health, but also to the decoration of the apartment. Hot shavings fly off the steel.
The question of cutting drywall arises in every person who first encountered this material. Cut such a material (ordinary, moisture-resistant, fire-retardant) with your own hands is quite problematic, since very often, especially without proper skill, it turns out to damage it. This situation often occurs when holes are formed in the sheet. Therefore, our article will be devoted to the answer to the question "how to cut drywall correctly".
Today such material is cut into separate fragments in several ways. These include:
- a way when you need to cut a sheet in a straight line;
Cut in a straight line
- cutting drywall in an oblique line.
We cut in an indirect way
Both methods are easily done by hand, subject to simple rules, which we will consider below for each option separately.
Straight cutting
Very often it is necessary to cut the slab in a straight line in order to complete the frame sheathing in certain places. To do this, you will definitely need a drywall knife. According to many experts, it is better to use it instead of analog substitutes.
Cutting drywall with such a knife involves the following preparatory procedures:
- we put the plate (moisture-resistant, ordinary or fire-resistant sheet) on a stable and even surface;
Note! Here, it is better to use a stack of other slabs as a similar surface.
- we put the necessary markings on the plate in order to cut out the pieces we need. Marking is especially needed if you need to cut a certain size hole for a lamp or socket;
Making markup
- we apply the markup with a simple pencil. It is undesirable to use a marker or pen;
- on the reverse side of the slab, we make marks from the bottom and top, and then we connect using a long and even rail. You can use a marking thread.
Now that the markup is done, you can cut out the desired pieces as follows:
- the knife must be well sharpened. In this case, its length should be adjusted - it should not exceed the thickness of the cut sheet;
- lightly draw with a knife several times along the applied markings. It is possible not to remove the rail for greater evenness;
- turn the slab over to the other side and knock on the cut. It will be enough to knock with your fist several times;
Note! If you cut a moisture-resistant type of material, then you need to knock on the cut a little harder, since the core is stronger here.
- we fold the sheet along the line at the place of the cut. Now the piece to be cut is kept only on the paper;
- cut the remaining layer of paper and get an even piece of the plate.
In this way, you can cut a whole sheet and get perfectly even pieces.
Cutting sheets along an oblique line
When cladding walls and ceilings, you always have to cut certain pieces not in a straight line. For example, you need to make a hole for an outlet, switch or lamp. In such a situation, the knife cannot be used as an independent tool. To cut a hole of any diameter, you need to take a hacksaw with small teeth.
Hacksaw
Where a knife fails, a drywall hacksaw can do it. With its help, you can easily cut a hole of any diameter and size.
You need to cut holes with a hacksaw in the following way:
- put the slab on a flat surface:
- we apply markings in the right place;
- we take a hacksaw in our hands and cut short segments with it at the folds, at the beginning and end of the cut;
Making a hole with a hacksaw
- we take a knife and cut through the gypsum board using the technology that is used when cutting in a straight line.
It is much more difficult to cut sheets along a curved vector. You can also use a knife here, but the cut will be uneven and will need to be corrected with a planer.
In this situation better just use an electric jigsaw. You can also use a file for metal, as it has fine and frequent teeth.
Note! When using an electric jigsaw, there will be a lot of dust. Therefore, you must cover your eyes with protective goggles and wear a respirator.
Following the above recommendations and rules, you can easily and quickly cut drywall sheets into the necessary pieces with your own hands.
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We hide the pipes in the toilet behind drywall
Everyone who works or plans to start working with GK is faced with the question of how to cut drywall. There are several ways to accomplish this simple and at the same time difficult operation.
The most popular is cutting plasterboard in a straight line. For this, the gypsum board is laid on a flat surface in a horizontal position. After that, using a pencil and a rule, a straight line is marked along which an incision is made. Then the sheet is turned over and cracked along the cut line on the other side. To understand how to properly cut drywall, consider all situations and cutting methods in more detail.
First, let's decide what tool we need for this operation. How to cut drywall:
- Regular or special drywall cutter with variable blades
- Roulette
- Ruler, rule or cord for marking
- Electric jigsaw with a fine nail file (for cutting a sheet along an uneven line)
After cutting the drywall sheet, you will need to process its edges, so for this we will use:
- Chamfering planer
- Rough planer
How to cut drywall in a straight line
Cutting a drywall sheet in a straight line is not that difficult. To do this, lay the gypsum board on a flat horizontal surface (on the floor or on a table), take the necessary measurements using a simple pencil. It should be noted that it is not recommended to use a marker or pen for marking, as traces remain from them, which are then practically impossible to putty.
After measurements, we leave marks at the bottom and top of the sheet. We apply a rule or level to these marks and draw a line.
Now we start cutting itself. To do this, we need a sharp knife with an adjustable blade length. In this case, the blade should protrude from the knife handle to a length not exceeding the thickness of the drywall. We make an incision along the left line. In order for the line to turn out to be more even, it is necessary to walk another 2-3 times along the cut with a knife, so we will deepen it.
If the sheet was lying on the table, then it is necessary to move it so that the cut part protrudes beyond the edges. Now you need to grab the edges of the sheet and, with a sharp movement, gently break along the incision line, after which we make another incision with a knife from the back side.
If the cutting of the gypsum plasterboard was carried out on the floor, then after the cut it must be placed on the edge, and by light tapping on the whole side, make a break and then cut the cardboard with a knife.
On a note! Do not use a circular saw to cut drywall. Using this tool can be compared to hammering nails in with a stone. This saw creates a huge amount of dust that can be detrimental to the mechanical parts of the tool and your lungs.
How to properly cut drywall in the shape of the letter G
Typically, a plasterboard sheet is cut in the shape of the letter L to cover the doorway. The operation is not difficult, but to complete it we need a hacksaw, with which we saw through a short part. The long part is cut according to the scheme described above with a knife.
How to cut drywall in an uneven line
A more complex process of cutting drywall along a curved line, for example, when we need to cut an oval or a circle. For this work we need an additional tool - jigsaw with a fine nail file. You can try to cut the sheet with a knife, but there are very few guarantees that the cut will turn out to be smooth and neat.
When cutting drywall with a jigsaw, a lot of dust is generated, so you need to take care of personal protective equipment (goggles, respirator).
How to properly cut drywall mounted on a wall
If it is necessary to sheathe a window slope or a wall corner with plasterboard sheets and at the same time make it so that its edge ideally coincides with the edges of the wall, then the gypsum board is cut "in place", that is, the sheet already installed on the wall is cut. As a rule, for this, a piece of drywall is attached a little larger than necessary and then unnecessary parts are cut off.
To perform this operation correctly, the plasterboard sheet must be securely fixed to the frame. An incision is made on the side of the sheet that is adjacent to the surface to be sheathed. We draw several times along the outlined line, slightly pressing on the unnecessary piece. After that, we cut the sheet from the reverse side. In order to cut a sheet in the shape of the letter L on a sheet already attached to the frame, we saw through a horizontal line with a hacksaw, after which we cut a vertical line with a knife.
How to cut a hole in drywall for an outlet or light bulb
Such holes are cut in the drywall sheet, usually after it has been installed. . How to cut drywall in this case?
For this operation we need a drywall crown (circular saw) or a drywall hacksaw. In hardware stores, you can purchase a set of crowns for HA of different diameters. These devices are installed on a screwdriver or drill.
Cutting the hole with a hacksaw is more difficult, and the edges of the hole will not be as straight.
Finishing the edges of drywall after cutting
After cutting, the edges of the drywall sheet are usually not very even and smooth. To make them more accurate and at the same time prepare the joints of the installed sheets for puttying, it is necessary to chamfer with a special plane. This can be done with a regular knife. Typically, a 2/3 of the plate thickness is chamfered at a 45 degree angle.
Cutting drywall correctly is not a difficult task, and we recommend an excellent video clip to secure the material.
How to cut drywall video:
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