How to cut drywall?

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 if it was 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.

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, it is necessary to resort to cutting it during construction work.

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.

A brief 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.

Drywall cutting is done by 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.

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 the 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.

This tool will only allow us to cut out small shapes such as a circle, square, rectangle, rhombus and others. For best results, it is recommended to use a fine-blade hacksaw.

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.

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 gypsum board. 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 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 when cutting, a large amount of fine debris and dust remains.

It is recommended to cut a large sheet in stages.

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 carrying out 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 marked markings. If you get uneven edges, they can be removed with sandpaper or a hacksaw.

There are a number of nuances when cutting 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 attachments 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 for small sheets of 20-30 centimeters in size and a small arc size.

A more complex and second method (for dry drywall) is to make transverse cuts in the drywall. They are made on the outside of the arc. The depth of the cut should normally not exceed four to five millimeters of the panel thickness.

We will also talk about the folding of the sheet for the door arch. The method has the unspoken name "wet". First of all, the required dimensions of the arch are measured and applied to the sheet. Next, the sheet is cut off, and blind punctures are made on it using a needle roller. In the absence of a needle roller, a conventional awl can be used. Using a roller, sponge, rag or any other cloth, the punctured side is moistened with water so that the other side remains dry. After 15-20 minutes, a sheet of drywall is placed on the template with the wet side. Next, carefully shape our panel into an arc. The edges are fixed with self-tapping screws or clamps. We leave for a day. Then the sheet can be used for installation.

When using any of the presented methods (if the cut is made on two chairs), the drywall sheet should in no case be bent.

Otherwise, the integrity will be compromised, and drywall may crack. Such a sheet will be unsuitable for cutting. Which will lead to additional financial costs.

The lightest is standard drywall cutting. Following our instructions, it will not be difficult to cope with it.

Shape cutting will require more skill from you.

Having studied these methods of cutting drywall, you can easily independently complete this construction process alone, without resorting to the help of professionals, which will save money, as well as gain useful experience in carrying out construction work.

How to cut drywall quickly and smoothly, see the next video.