How To Cut Drywall: A Quick Guide

Drywall has modernized the way we construct buildings. Drywall is user-friendly, cost-effective, and has many DIY benefits in the home. But despite being present in our everyday surroundings, few people know what it is, how useful this material is, or how to cut drywall.

To avoid any unnecessary headaches, we have gathered everything you need to know about drywall and how to cut it. We’re confident that after reading the information below, you will be ready to tackle your DIY project, home improvement, or building upgrade with ease!

 

Drywall is a panel constructed of gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) that is held in place between thick sheets of facer and backer paper. Its durable nature, low cost, and easy installation make it an ideal alternative to hand-applied wall plaster. Other names associated with drywall include:

█ Plasterboard

█ Wallboard

█ Sheetrock

█ Gyprock

█ Gypsum board

█ Gypsum panel

 

You will commonly find drywall in the construction of interior walls and ceilings in houses, businesses, schools, and government buildings. Drywall is also used to top off masonry walls, wrap columns to conceal steel beams and even increase the fire resistance of a building’s interior.

The properties of drywall help slow down the speed of fire and keep it contained, which enhances the safety of any building or establishment. Drywall is resilient and only requires simple repairs if damaged. This strength makes it ideal for framing and creating additional design features, such as eaves, archways, and other architectural features.

Now that you have a clear idea of what drywall is, we will dive into how to cut drywall and the value of knowing the right way to do it.

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If you’re ever in the position of wanting to remodel your home, add fixtures to rooms, or build new walls, you’ll likely need to cut drywall. Having the skill to cut drywall effectively will save you a lot of time and help prevent any unnecessary waste, which always helps your budget. There are a lot of horror stories about drywall projects gone wrong, but have no fear, by the end of this article you’ll know everything about how to cut drywall.

The irony is that cutting drywall is probably one of the easiest, cleanest, and quietest tasks of any remodeling project if you follow some simple steps. It’s essential to know the right method of cutting drywall because even the smallest error can ruin an entire panel, leading to wasted time and money. Below are a few simple tips you should familiarise yourself with before we get into the steps in how to cut drywall.

Almost all cuts made on any drywall project will comprise three steps: scoring the front paper, snapping and folding open the sheet, and then cutting through the paper on the back. There may be variations in that order depending on the drywall project. For example, electrical box openings may require a small keyhole saw for short cuts, or drywall paneling around a door may need a large coarse-tooth saw.

Once you understand the material you’re working with, you’ll be able to handle it more effectively. Drywall is a simple sandwich of mined gypsum rock which is encased in a wrapper of recycled paper. Both these materials alone are ineffective, but together, they create a remarkably durable and highly fire-resistant wall sheathing.

Scoring the drywall before cutting is important because it causes the gypsum to break when you snap and fold it. Use a utility knife, and only enough pressure to barely cut the paper. If you start by cutting deeply into the gypsum core, the only results you’ll get will be a dull knife and a sore wrist. If you notice the paper beginning to tear, then you either need to ease up on the pressure or swap out your dull blades.

Now that we’ve covered some essential tips, you’re now ready to learn how to cut drywall.

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Drywall will come in panels that range in thickness from ¼’ to ¾’, with ½’ being the most popular. The standard dimensions for these panels are 4′ x 8′ and 4′ x 12′. Longer sheets are heavier and harder to deal with, but they reduce the number of joints during the installation process, which makes finishing a little easier.

If you have to lift any heavy sheets, we recommend renting a drywall lift, such as a PanelLift. Using a drywall lift is especially useful if you’re hanging drywall on a large or high ceiling. If you’re using drywall for an entire room, always start with the ceiling first and then the walls, with the long sides placed at right angles to the framing and the ends centered on studs.

Safety Tips and Tools Even though the materials may seem light, drywall can be surprisingly heavy. If drywall isn’t handled correctly, it can cause harm. Drywall can also seriously injure children if it falls on them. Remember always to use caution and have the correct tools standing by which include: █ Measuring tape █ Utility knife █ Straight edge █ Drywall saw █ Drywall keyhole saw █ Drywall rasp or sanding block  Now you’re fully prepared to follow our simple steps below on how to cut drywall.

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As briefly mentioned above, you can cut drywall by either scoring or sawing depending on where you’re hanging or placing the panels. Scoring is best for cutting sheets to length and width, and sawing is best for cutting holes or opening for electrical sockets, doors, and windows.

Step 1: Score the Front of the Panel Using a ruler, straight edge or a chalk line as a guide, lightly cut through the paper and into the gypsum on the front face side of the drywall. We recommend using a sharp utility knife.

Step 2: Snap Drywall Sheet To cleanly snap the drywall, support the back of the panel while slowly applying pressure to the front where you made the score. Once enough pressure has been applied the rest of the gypsum will snap cleanly along the joint. Do not apply pressure to snap the paper at the back; that’s what the next step is for.

Step 3: Cut Through the Paper Once the front paper and the gypsum have been cut and snapped cleanly, there is only the back paper left to cut. Using a utility knife, gently cut along the back of the drywall sheet to complete the cut.

Step 4: Smooth the Edges We recommend using a sanding block or a drywall rasp to smooth the cut edges. Smoothing the edges will help with a cleaner installation.

These are the steps for cutting drywall, but what if you need to saw it?

It is best to use a smaller keyhole saw if you’re attempting to cut holes in the drywall panel for electrical boxes or other small openings.

Begin the cuts from the side when possible to prevent destroying the paper on the front face of the panel. When marking for cuts, always measure twice and cut once to avoid any costly and time-wasting mistakes.

Drywall is almost always cut around doors and windows before their casings are attached, so a dead-on perfect fit isn’t required. Professionals will often use a special high-speed cutting tool to fit drywall panels in openings quickly. For DIY projects, it can easily be done by measuring and cutting the sheet before installation.

Always begin by measuring horizontally from the corner of the room to the edge of the door’s jamb, or side post, then transfer that measurement to the panel of drywall. Mark this width measurement with an ‘X’ to prevent cutting the wrong piece. Then, take the vertical measurement from the ceiling to the floor, or vice versa, and transfer that measurement too.

Mark measurements on the face of the drywall and make the first cut on the shortest of the two measurements. Then, with the next measurement, score the line and snap off the cut piece.

Unlike windows and doors, the cutouts needed for electrical boxes must be a tight fit. The easiest way to measure and mark these cutouts is to use an extra electrical box as a reference and draw the outline on the sheet. Alternatively, you can outline the edge of the box with lipstick and press the sheet to the box, so the outline transfers to the drywall.

After you have outlined, cut an opening in the drywall for the electrical box with a coarse tooth drywall keyhole saw. Drywall keyhole saws are readily available on Amazon or at your local hardware store. You will achieve the cleanest cut, by plunging the point of the saw into the sheet and holding it at an angle, so the cutout is slightly smaller on the front and larger on the back. It is important to keep the gap around the electrical box 1/8” or less.

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Drywall contributes to the stability, shape, and fire resistance of the walls and ceilings we see every day inside our houses, businesses, schools, and government buildings. It offers a cost-effective, easy to install alternative to hand-applied plaster and you do not have to be a carpenter or builder to understand how to cut drywall.    By following our guide, we hope that your DIY project or construction plan will be a breeze, and you will reach the desired look for your space.  

If you have any further questions about how to cut drywall or install it, reach out to your local builder, drop into your local hardware store or home depot, or ask the specialists online at Tools to Test.

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