Which side to cut? How do you cut drywall? How to cut drywall correctly

Today, plasterboard is widely used in construction and renovation. You can work with this material yourself. However, you should first find out how to cut drywall so that no difficulties arise during the repair process. Below are the basic ways of working and the tools you will need.

Cutting tools

How do you cut drywall? To cut it, there are special devices that

are quite expensive. They are used in enterprises where work with drywall is carried out on a large scale. For home use, you can use available tools that can be found in every home.

First of all, you need to mark the sheet of drywall so that you can cut it straight. This is done using a tape measure, a simple pencil and a long ruler.

Several tools can be used to cut the material. So, how to cut drywall:

• hacksaw for metal;
• construction knife;
• jigsaw.

In rooms with high humidity moisture-resistant plasterboard is used. It differs from ordinary material by the presence of antiseptic additives in its composition. Some people have a question about how to cut. It is not much different from ordinary material. It can be easily recognized by its green color. When cutting it, you can use the same tools. Let's tell you in more detail how to work with each of them.

The best way to cut drywall

Differs from the one used to saw wood, with a thinner blade

blades. With its help, drywall is cut very easily. The edges of the material remain smooth and have virtually no jagged edges. The sheet of material must be placed on some support and cut along the marked line.

A construction knife with a sharp double-sided blade can easily cut a thick sheet of drywall. To make the edge of the sheet even, you should first draw a marking line and attach a metal ruler to it. An incision is made along it with a knife. If the drywall is thin enough, you can replace the construction knife with a regular stationery knife, which is used for paper.

A jigsaw is convenient for making shaped cuts. When working with drywall, it is recommended to purchase files with fine teeth, which are used for metal.

How to cut drywall correctly

There are several useful tips that will make your work easier:

• Drywall is a flexible material. To avoid breaking it during operation, you need to place the sheet on a stable, flat surface.
• When cutting a large sheet, you should do it gradually.
• There should be no moisture in the workplace, otherwise the material will become wet and unsuitable for use.
• Which side you cut the drywall from is not so important. However, it is best to make the cut on the surface on which it will be attached to the wall.
• When cutting the profile, do not worry about uneven edges. They will subsequently be covered with a sheet of drywall.
• When working with the material, you should understand that it can crumble heavily and create dust. Be sure to protect your eyes and respiratory system.

Cutting along straight lines

First you need to lay the drywall on a flat horizontal surface and

mark on both sides of it the lines along which the cut will be made. After this, a metal ruler is applied to them and pressed with your hand. We take the knife in the other hand and draw it along the line several times to make the cut deeper.

Some people think that they can do it just fine without a ruler. However, you should not neglect it. It is quite difficult to make an even cut without it. Of course it is possible, but you will have to take the time to get a neat edge. With a ruler, everything is done much faster.

When the cuts become deep enough, a sheet of drywall should be placed on its edge and tapped on it from the back side. Typically, several weak blows lead to a break in the drywall sheet along the line. Now all that remains is to cut the cardboard layer with a knife.

Shaped cutting

There are situations when you need not a straight cut, but a curved or round one.

For example, if you are making an arch or hole under lighting. In this case, it is best to use a jigsaw.

They need to work slowly, drawing clearly along the intended lines. The saw should be narrow with small teeth. She must work for high speed. If you cut carefully, the edge will be smooth.

If you don't have a jigsaw, you can use a hacksaw or a construction knife and a hammer. Make deep cuts strictly according to the markings. Place the drywall on a flat, recessed surface so that it sits underneath the hole you are cutting. Now hit this place with a hammer. After the unwanted part falls off, turn the drywall over and cut off the excess paper.

Edge processing

When drywall is cut, its edges should be slightly aligned so that there is no

Jagged and chipped. This can be done using sandpaper. Gently go over all the edges until they are smooth.

The final stage of preparing the material includes its fascia. To do this, you need to cut off a few millimeters of gypsum from each edge (about two-thirds of the sheet thickness). The chamfer is removed with a plane or knife at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

After installing the drywall, all gaps between the sheets of material must be filled with putty. When the seams are dry, you can begin painting the surface or wallpapering it.

How to cut a profile

Drywall sheets are attached to a special profile. It is made of metal
for maximum structural strength. How to cut You can cope with this work using:

• hacksaws for metal;
• jigsaw;
• metal scissors.

It is not recommended to use a grinder at home because it produces a lot of sparks. will be quite enough. They are able to easily cut iron without creating unnecessary debris and shavings.

The profile can be cut into small pieces. Afterwards it will not be visible. The main thing is to screw the profile well to the wall or other surface to ensure the strength of the entire structure.

Working with drywall is quite simple. Due to this, it is in great demand for indoor use. Now that you have learned how to cut drywall, you can independently change your apartment beyond recognition without spending money on professional finishers.

Industrial production started in 1917 in Great Britain. However, a new building material was invented by a US resident. August Sackett was granted a patent back in 1894. The American fastened 10 sheets of paper with powdered plaster.

The result was a slab 5 millimeters wide. The modern one has a width of at least 1.5 millimeters more, and only if the core is reinforced with fiberglass.

Standard sheets rise 10-13 millimeters. The question arises of how to cut such thickness, because in work you often have to adjust it to the frame. We will describe several ways to divide slabs.

Cutting 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 curved cuts

Holes inside the sheet

Maximum precision edges without jagged edges or contour changes

Cutting drywall with a jigsaw

Jigsaw cutting drywall along a predetermined contour. Since plaster dust will be knocked out from under the blade, we make outlines with a black marker. It can also be seen under the whitish sediments.

Mark the sheets on the back side. However, drywall is only the basis of structures, which is then covered with tiles, wallpaper, and plaster. Therefore, the marking side is not important. Let's get started:

• Place the gypsum sheet on stools or bricks, leaving the space below the cutting line free. Also, there should be no tension on the cutting line. Its tearing forces will degrade the quality of the cut. Drywall is supported on a base due to the flexibility of the material. Without support, the sheet may break under pressure in unexpected places.
• We install the jigsaw at the start of the cutting line or bring the drywall to the tool’s stand, because it can be not only autonomous, but also stationary. Also, a number of jigsaws have a laser sight. It helps you “follow” exactly the markings. If you work in semi-darkness, backlighting will help out. Not all jigsaws have it either.
• All that remains is to turn on the jigsaw and smoothly move along the markings.
• Finally we will process the edges sandpaper or with a plane or file.

Understand how to cut drywall with a jigsaw It's only worth it if you have the tools. The simplest models cost from 1,100 rubles. If the expenses are unjustified or you don’t have an already purchased jigsaw at hand, figure cuts are made...

Cutting drywall with a hacksaw

A hacksaw is also a type of saw, but it’s manual. The tool usually costs several hundred rubles. The blade of a hacksaw varies. You need something smooth with fine teeth. This is a hacksaw for metal.

Cutting drywall with a hacksaw

When working with drywall, it gives the most even cut. The thinness of the saw blade allows it to easily bend inside the sheet, passing exactly along the curved markings. Let's start the process:

• Mark the drywall and use a drill or knife to make holes in its corners for the hacksaw blade to enter.
• Inserting a hacksaw into the slot and sawing to the opposite point.
• Processing the edges of the cut with improvised means.

Which side to cut drywall from? with a hacksaw it doesn’t matter, but in what place it’s important. When cutting a sheet from the edge, the tool produces a smooth, neat line, although it requires considerable time. The hacksaw produces uneven through holes on the plasterboard sheet. Here it is better to use a jigsaw.

Cutting drywall with a mounting knife

The mounting knife has replaceable blades. There are blades for cutting different materials, the protrusion of the metal part beyond the handle is adjusted. There are the same stationery models, but they are low-power for working with drywall.

You can even cut drywall with a utility knife.

A mounting knife costs from several hundred rubles. The tool is good when it is solved how to cut drywall at home in a straight line. Curly lines with a mounting knife are obtained anyhow. Let's get started:

• We draw drywall according to pre-made marks.
• We attach a steel profile for drywall or a metal ruler to one side of the marking. They will prevent the knife from moving to the side while cutting.
• We place the blade to the edge of the marking and move along it with a pressure of about 3 kilograms.

The knife should not pass through the sheet. Correctly cutting drywall- this is to guide the blade with a recess of about half a centimeter. The rest will break along the line when we bend the panel with our hands.

The cut should be at the top. To bend the drywall you will need to support it. You can simply place the sheet on the floor, or you can put it on chairs or the edge of the table.

The nuances of cutting drywall depending on its type

Drywall sheets can be 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 compressed gypsum powder inside.

However, the edges of even waterproof plasterboard are not protected. Accordingly, the workplace should not be wet. Once in the gypsum, water will cause it to swell and change the geometry of the building sheet.

Arched drywall

Worth it separately arched plasterboard. It is as thin as possible, only 6.5 millimeters in thickness. It would seem that such a sheet would be easier to cut than a centimeter sheet. However, fiberglass is laid inside the arched panel.

It reinforces drywall and gives the flexibility necessary to deform a sheet intended for curved doorways, ceilings.

Because of the fiberglass inside, the arched material is more difficult to cut simple drywall. It's better to use a power tool. A mounting knife or a hand saw “goes” hard.

General rules for cutting drywall

Microparticles of gypsum 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, settling in respiratory tract. Therefore, it is advisable to wear a protective mask.

It is recommended to lay on the floor under the fabric to be cut plastic film, lightly sprinkling with water from a spray bottle. Moisture will help the gypsum particles flying from above to swell, become heavier and fall 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 gypsum dust settles directly on the floor, washing off the powder will be problematic. There will be divorces. If there is a porous coating on the floor, such as matte porcelain stoneware, gypsum particles will clog into it.

A solution of warm water with sunflower oil at the rate of half a glass of product per 10 liters. Afterwards, the floors are wiped with a vinegar solution.

The method is not suitable for glossy surfaces. There it is better to make do with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is added to warm water until it turns light pink.

Cutting a 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.

They are attached to the profile with self-tapping screws. Accordingly, drywall covers the profile base. There is no need to focus on the accuracy of cutting steel rods. Their ugliness will be hidden by the sheets.

You can cut the profile with metal scissors

To cut a profile for drywall, use 3 tools:

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 the tool, reminiscent of wire cutters, costs from 200 rubles. Also, the inconvenience of working with scissors is smoothed out by their independence from the mains and noiselessness.

Jigsaw. Cuts neatly and quickly. It is convenient to work with the tool only when the profile is firmly fixed. It is made of thin steel. If it “walks” under the jigsaw blade, the cut will turn out uneven.

Miniature grinder. When working with an angle grinder, the profile is placed on a bend. In other words, the part to be cut should hang above the air and bend downward under its own weight as it is cut. The rest of the profile rests on a chair or table.

The ease of handling a power tool is overshadowed by the noise emanating from it. However, you can wear headphones. Of the mandatory protective equipment, it is worth mentioning glasses.

Cutting the profile with a small grinder

Chips may fly off the steel being processed. It can get into your eyes, damaging them. Such pieces of metal are called scale and are removed in emergency rooms.

Danger of profile cutting electric tool consists not only of damage to human health, but also to the decoration of the apartment. Hot shavings fly off the steel.

To work with plasterboard sheets, it is better to select high-quality and practical tools. Plasterboard structures are appearing more and more often in our homes, offices, schools, shops... it can be a simple wall or a decorative element of any type. When assembling any interior element from gypsum plasterboard, cutting of the material is required (even when installing simple partitions and ceilings). How do you cut drywall and what are needed for this? additional tools, how many ways are there? You will find the answer to these and other questions in this article.

A professional installer will always have something to cut a sheet or cut off part of it. Even if the tool for its main purpose fails during operation. But in addition to cutting objects, an auxiliary tool is also needed.

Before you start working with plasterboard sheets, you should prepare everything in advance necessary tools and materials

What you need to cut drywall:

1. Construction knife. It is very similar to a stationery knife (both in appearance and in the mechanism of the device), however, it is more durable. With long-term use, the only part that fails is the blade, which is easy to replace. This tool, regardless of the company and manufacturer, is very versatile, so you don’t have to select blades of a certain brand. The gypsum board sheet can also be cut with a stationery knife if it is required once.
2. Hacksaw for drywall. This is an object with a narrow blade and serrated edges up to 18 cm long; it looks like a kitchen knife-saw, since its blade is soldered into the handle. The blade is made of high-strength steel, so the knife can be used to make straight and shaped cuts without much effort. It is light, compact and very easy to use. This knife is universal, since in addition to plasterboard it can easily cope with small wooden blanks. The shape of the knife teeth for drywall can be different, depending on the company. But this does not significantly affect the process of cutting the material. At home, gypsum board can be cut with a simple hacksaw, but this is quite difficult and should be done with extreme caution.
3. Jigsaw. This tool is mostly used for cutting wood, MDF, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB, etc., however, if you install metal blades (which have finer teeth), then everything will work out. A blade with fine teeth does not tear the cardboard layer of the sheet and there will be fewer chips. A jigsaw can be used to make both straight and curved cuts.
4. Plane. This tool is not used to cut a sheet or cut out a specific element of any structure being built, but only at the final stage. Using a chamfering plane or a simple roughing plane, the cut areas of the drywall sheet are processed. This is necessary when further processing joints
5. Tape measure, pencil, ruler. To cut the sheet correctly and evenly, precise measurements and markings are necessary. Especially when it comes to figured products for decoration. For an even line, instead of a ruler and pencil, you can use a tapping thread, but with curly markings you will have to work hard. If you need to cut an even circle, the pencil is tied to a rope, the other end of which is fixed in the middle of the sheet and this device is used according to the principle of a compass. In the same way, semicircular bends are marked, where the length of the rope depends on the radius of the circle.

A milling cutter or electric drill with special attachments is used to make holes in drywall. For example, for sockets, switches, etc. Let's consider this type of tool in more detail.

To make holes of any geometric shape and grooves, as well as to process the edges of a sheet of drywall, a disk or shaped router is used. A disk router is capable of making only grooves, but the second option is better due to its versatility: in addition to grooves, it is capable of cutting holes of any geometric shape, as well as processing the edge of a sheet.

In order to quickly make a hole in drywall, you can use a special router

Milling is the processing of any material by cutting. Often the cutter is replaced with a conventional electric drill with corresponding attachments of different diameters (depending on the purpose for which the hole is needed).

Mills have certain varieties. To make radius and rounded surfaces, a U-shaped tool is used, and for sharp corners– V-shaped cutter.

Any type of drywall has a certain structure. As a rule, this is a gypsum core or filler, covered on all sides with durable cardboard. Depending on the type of material, cardboard and filler may have a different structure, but this does not affect the cutting methods. For an even cut, just go over the sheet with a gypsum board knife and make a break.

Making an even cut

Before cutting through a sheet of drywall, you need to make precise markings and draw a line. Next, place any flat object (ruler, rule or profile) along the drawn line and draw a knife along the line several times. This must be done without jerking, confidently, so that chips and nicks do not form in the material.

Accurate markings on the sheet will help you cut the drywall correctly and evenly.

To prevent the cut from being crooked, the ruler must be held straight and in the same position.

You can cut drywall either by laying it on the floor or leaning it against the wall. The main condition is that the cut be perfectly even, otherwise it will not be possible to break the sheet correctly. How to make a break correctly? To do this, turn the sheet over and bend it in half along the cut line, and then run a knife along the resulting bend on the cardboard.

Shaped cutting

If the elements of the future design require smooth lines and bends, cutting the material is done with a jigsaw or a hacksaw (which is much more difficult). In order to cut out an element with rounded shapes, the sheet must be laid out on the table. The edge of the sheet should hang over the floor. After accurate markings have been made, a jigsaw is drawn along the drawn line; this must be done away from you, and not towards you, so that the power tool does not cause injury.

How to cut drywall: make holes

What are holes in drywall for? Walls with niches, hatches for communications or installation of distribution boxes, as well as socket boxes, all this involves making various kinds of holes in gypsum board slabs.

Do straight holes can also be done using a drill

How to cut drywall correctly:

1. Holes are rectangular or square. First you need to determine the exact place on the sheet where cutting is planned. Using an electric drill, drill 4 holes with a large diameter drill along the contour of the cut out figure. Next, the opening is cut with a jigsaw through the holes made.
2. Round hole. The most common way is to use special bits for an electric drill. Marking the sheet is quite simple: you only need to mark the center of the future hole, making the appropriate measurements. A bit with the required diameter is attached to the chuck of an electric drill, the bit of the bit is placed on the mark, the average speed is selected and the hole is smoothly cut.

It is important not to press the drill too hard to prevent the bit from getting stuck in the material.

Tools at hand: how to cut drywall at home

To evenly cut the material, you can even use scissors or a simple blade, a stationery or kitchen knife, using them according to the principle of a drywall knife. Shaped cutting can be done with a regular hacksaw for metal. The principle of its use is similar to using a jigsaw, but there are differences. You can start sawing the sheet with a whole hacksaw, but the handle will not go deep into the sheet, so you will have to remove it and continue cutting only with the blade.

You can cut drywall yourself, the main thing is to do it correctly and with the utmost care.

Round holes can also be cut with a regular knife, for this you need:

• Mark the location of the slot on the front and back sides of the slab;
• Outline the shape of the hole by tracing an outline on both sides of the sheet;
• Use a knife to cut through the cardboard layer on both sides;
• Lightly tap the plaster with a mallet.

In order to cut a hole in an installed sheet of drywall, a location is selected and the outline of the figure is outlined and a drywall hacksaw is used.

Tool review: how to cut drywall (video)

It may not always be possible to cut a sheet of drywall perfectly the first time. If you are not confident in your abilities, practice on scrap material so as not to ruin the whole sheet.

Happy renovation!

homeli.ru

Drywall cutting

Beginners in the construction business do not know what and how to cut drywall in the best way. After all, any work, be it the creation of a ceiling structure, a partition, or a complex decorative element, requires knowledge of the rules for cutting gypsum boards and strict adherence to them in practice. Different tools are used for these purposes. It all depends on the chosen cutting method. So, the recommendations below will tell you how to cut drywall at home.

Getting to know the toolbox

The mandatory list of tools for sawing gypsum fiber with your own hands includes three groups of items

1. Devices for applying markings on a sheet of plasterboard - a simple pencil, a tape measure, a long ruler.

2. The actual cutting and sawing devices.

• Knife. You can cut GVLV with a stationery knife, as well as with a specialized construction knife with a double-sided replaceable blade (suitable for denser materials).
• Hacksaw. It is better if it is a tool for working metal rather than wood.
• Jigsaw. Ideal for cutting rounded elements. High-quality metal saws with fine teeth leave the least amount of chipping on the ends of drywall.
• Electric drill. Needed for making holes. For large d gaps, you will need round bits (which are used to cut into the core of door snap locks) and feather drills.

3. Edge processing devices:

• roughing plane;
• plane for chamfering.

This list clearly shows what home craftsmen use to cut drywall. Of course, it is far from complete. Arsenal experienced craftsmen may include professional equipment, for example, a special cutter for gypsum plasterboard. However, for those who are working with the material for the first time, this set is quite sufficient. To better understand how to cut drywall correctly, you need to clearly understand the structure of this material.

The structure and purpose of drywall

Plasterboard sheets are a layer-by-layer combination of two types of materials - gypsum (internal contents) and sheets of thick cardboard glued to it on both sides. It is clear that if the cardboard layers are damaged, sawing the rest is not difficult.

Therefore, in order to be able to quickly cut a sheet of plasterboard, it is not enough to know what is the best way to cut drywall. It is important to know the basic principle of this action: after continuous, even cutting of drywall is carried out, the second step immediately follows - breaking the sheet.

Sawing drywall, like any hard, porous material, is not difficult. It also lends itself well to drilling.

The functions of the material make it possible to distinguish it into varieties: moisture-resistant, fire-resistant, standard, increased strength (for example, gypsum board or gypsum board, made using KNAUF technologies), acoustic plasterboard, etc.

Despite a large assortment GC, panels of any variety lend themselves well to being divided into parts using available material at hand.

Selection of cutting methods

What method of cutting drywall to resort to will become clear after studying the options that exist for these purposes.

Standard cutting

Cutting the sheet in a straight line is the easiest way to cut. It comes down to this:

GVL is placed on a hard and flat surface. Then mark the future cutting line.

Whatever knife you choose, you should cut it strictly, placing a ruler on the side. An uneven cut is guaranteed if you decide to do it without a ruler. Cutting begins from the back side (there is a denser cardboard layer). The front part of the Civil Code is somewhat different, as it is intended for Finishing work. When cutting, they try to push the knife as deep as possible into the gypsum contents.

Upon completion of the process, the GC is turned over and bent in the direction of the solid (without cutting line) side. Plaster that is not touched by a knife will be broken in the required direction. The cardboard on the opposite side is cut along the formed fold line.

It doesn’t really matter which side you start cutting the drywall from. However, it is much easier to do this on a flat, dense surface than when holding the GL suspended.

Before cutting drywall with improvised tools, you should familiarize yourself with two more types of simple cutting that you can do yourself.

Double-sided cutting. Most often, cutting in the shape of any rectangle is performed in this way. Using a hacksaw, one of the sides is sawed, the other is simply trimmed with a blade. After which the material is broken, and the cardboard is cut off on the opposite side (as with simple cutting). The finished trim is brought to perfection using a plane to finish the edge.

Cutting along an uneven line. To cut material along uneven lines, you must first prepare a drawing.

Cut according to a given geometry

Shaped cutting of drywall is used in the situation of creating unique shapes for a specific structural element. This procedure is more complicated, and you cannot do it without basic experience and a sufficient arsenal of tools.

When cutting in shapes, the material is also first marked. If you need to draw a circle, but there is no compass at hand, then they arm themselves with a needle and thread and a tied pencil.

For figured cutting of main body in different situations Apply one of the methods described below.

Option one. Describes the process when a hacksaw is selected as a tool. Manipulating a hacksaw is akin to working with a knife with teeth and a handle. Using a hacksaw, you can cut out fragments with any non-trivial shapes from plasterboard (for example, butterflies or flowers).

Option two. An electric drill with a cylindrical attachment allows you to create even circles of small diameter in drywall. The circle is not marked here, but is limited to marking in the desired area.

Option three. To cut gypsum fiber boards with a jigsaw, clearly mark the contour of the required shape. Priority in choosing a jigsaw is given when the diameter of the circle being made must be greater than the diameter of the electric drill bit, and the rounded lines of the shapes are not limited to a circle.

Option four. The most primitive one is when the choice of tool comes down to a knife and a hammer. Drywall is cut along the intended border. At the same time, they try to press as hard as possible on the blade.

After which the HA is placed on a flat surface that has a recess. Moreover, the separated part of the element must fall into this hole. It is less effective to rest the sheet on the wall. Next, hit with a hammer in the middle of the separated fragment. The part to be removed should break. The layer of cardboard from below is cut off, aligning the ends as necessary. GK experts strongly advise against resorting to this technique for people without experience. Since you have to spend a lot of plasterboard sheets to train your hands and practice pressing force.

The nuances of making circles

Circles in the ceiling structure are made primarily for mounting lamps. The easiest way is to cut a circle of a given diameter in the gypsum fiber with a blade. And carefully knock out the middle part with a hammer. However, it will be easier to implement your plan with a drill with special equipment - a cylindrical attachment. The same one that is used when cutting into a door locking mechanism with latch.

Cutting after installation of gypsum boards

Of course, it is more convenient to cut material that has not yet been fixed. But in practice, there are situations when it is necessary to cut off the excess after installing the sheets to the frame. Such pruning is due to the fact that the sheathed surfaces encounter window slopes or corners along the way.

The sheet is fixed to the wall, leaving a small margin of size. Already on the wall, excess centimeters are removed.

Here it is important to make sure that the HA is securely fixed to the frame. The incision is made on the side that is in contact with the wall. The cutting movements are repeated repeatedly, following the markings. At the same time, they try to “squeeze out” unnecessary parts of the material. The sheet is cut on the other side.

By learning these methods, beginners will understand how to cut drywall if they have a home minimum set tools. If you need to cut the HA into large quantities, these options will not work. The best solution will turn to professionals.

izgipsokartona.com

How to cut a plasterboard sheet and what tools are needed

When working with drywall, many people ask the question: how to cut drywall correctly? This process is not difficult if you properly prepare the tool and apply markings to the material. How to cut drywall at home so that the amount of waste is minimal? What tool should you have on hand? Let's take a closer look.

Marking

In order to correctly apply the markings, you need to measure the plane on which the gypsum board sheets will be attached. Then, using a tape measure or ruler, you should transfer the dimensions onto the slab, outlining a line with a pencil. Double-check your measurements before you start cutting. This will help you avoid making mistakes.

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Tools and material

Before you start cutting drywall at home, you need to prepare your tool. For this you will need:

• drywall;
• roulette;
• line;
• stationery knife.

Important: it is better to cut drywall only with a new, sharp, stationery knife.

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Cutting a sheet of drywall in a straight line

A gypsum board is a sandwich in which a gypsum core is surrounded on both sides by thick cardboard. The material is quite durable, can be moisture-resistant and fire-resistant. Drywall can be cut from any side. It is not difficult to cut the material; use a fairly sharp blade to cut through one layer of cardboard and break it.

It is worth remembering that the knife must be guided confidently and strictly along the line that was drawn earlier. If it was not possible to cut the cardboard the first time, then pass over this place several times until the cardboard is completely cut through. The rail should remain stationary during cutting. It is pressed tightly against the material, otherwise the cut will be uneven. The paper layer is cut through with a slight grip gypsum board. This will help break the material evenly, without chipping.
Once you have cut one layer of cardboard on the board, you can proceed to the next step - breaking the material along the cut. If you did everything correctly, it will not be difficult to hold the sheet with your feet and fold it into the opposite side from the cut.

You can involve a second person if the layer of material is large. In principle, it does not matter how the material is broken, the main thing in this matter is an even and high-quality cut. Once you have folded the drywall along the cut, you need to carefully cut the second layer of cardboard. Cutting drywall is actually easy. If you doubt that this process will be carried out correctly, try cutting the material on a small piece first.

Read also

Do-it-yourself doorway expansion

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How to make a round hole in plasterboard

It is important to learn how to correctly make holes in sheets of material, since installation often involves installing sockets or switches. In addition, sometimes it is necessary to repair damaged areas in drywall. To make holes professionally, you should use a special tool and have some skill. Let's look at how to cut drywall at home, step by step:

Advice! Do not rush and put too much pressure on the tool - this may lead to damage to the material, since the crown may simply be jammed in the drywall.

Round hole without power tools

This is the second method, which will require more effort. Marking is carried out as in the first option, in this case you need to draw a circle of the required diameter with a compass. Once the marking is ready, you need to make a small hole at the edge of the circle. It can be drilled using a brace. Then you need to take a thin hacksaw with sharp teeth, insert it into the hole and start sawing the drywall strictly along the line.

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Cutting a rectangular hole

The first step is to determine on the drywall board where the hole will be located.
To do this, measure from the left edge of the drywall sheet required distance and put a mark. If you plan to make a hole for a strip for several sockets, then the strip is placed against this mark and outlined.

After this, you need to set the geometry - the bar must be strictly level. Draw the sides of the future hole well.

Then you need to drill holes in the corners of the rectangle; it is worth remembering that the drill must be of such a size that the jigsaw blade fits freely into the hole in the material. A saw is inserted into each hole and a cut is made. This must be done very carefully, without strong pressure. The file should follow the line.
Important! When working with drywall, you should wear a mask or respirator to avoid breathing in dust. It is better to make the hole a little smaller. It is always easier to make a large one from a small hole; to do this, just walk along the edges of the hole with a rasp.

Once the work is done, you need to inspect the hole made. Take the bar and try it on, preferably together with the sockets, so you will know exactly how suitable the hole is. If necessary, a hole can be made in an already finished design, you just need to know for sure that there are no communication systems at the installation site. In the video, the master shows how to make a square hole in drywall.

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Drywall is one of the most common materials in construction, which is nevertheless very fragile. With its help they not only sheathe ceilings and walls, but also create a wide variety of decorative elements home interior. However, its inaccurate cutting leads to excessive consumption of material, and the inability to do it leads to unnecessary costs to the help of a specialist. But don’t be upset, because cutting drywall correctly with your own hands is not at all difficult if you follow the given instructions exactly.

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Principle and rules for cutting drywall

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The principle and rules of cutting are based on an understanding of what you are dealing with, so you should first study the structure of the material. But in in this case the name speaks for itself - the two outer layers are formed of cardboard, which serves as the basis for relative strength, and between them is plaster with fillers. Used for various purposes different types drywall: standard, waterproof, fireproof. The first is used in all cases, excluding wall and ceiling cladding (moisture-resistant drywall is used here) and structures located in close proximity to a fireplace or other heat source (in this case, fire-resistant material is used).

Preparation and application of markings

Lay the gypsum board sheet on a flat horizontal surface and make marks using a simple pencil, tape measure or ruler. A marker and a fountain pen are suitable for this procedure, but their traces are visible under the putty.

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Immediately before or during work, select the tool that will be used for cutting. There are many ways to accomplish your plans, depending on the means available to you. In fact, you can cut drywall with any sharp object, but this will require certain skills. Let's consider the main tools that can be used.

How to cut: choosing a tool

If you are going to cut drywall on a regular basis, or at least quite often, it is recommended to purchase a professional tool once and not bother with improvised tools in the future. In any other case, you should have a stationery - construction, reinforced - or assembly knives. The types of stationery are barely distinguishable from each other, but construction is stronger. However, in any case, the cut from this knife is such that afterward it is necessary to eliminate the resulting nicks.

A hacksaw for metal is quite suitable for this operation - its blade is thinner than that of a hacksaw for wood, so it benefits in the accuracy of the subsequent result.

Other useful device- jigsaw. Its advantage is that there is no need to think about how to cut drywall, because you just need to follow the drawn line. To process the edges, additional tools are used, such as a roughing plane, the effect of which can be reproduced with sandpaper.

When we have figured out how to cut drywall, we can move directly to the methods of cutting it, the number of which is also large and varied. Let's look at some of them.

How to cut with a mounting knife

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A saw blade is suitable for cutting drywall into large lengthwise pieces. First, take the necessary measurements using a tape measure and a pencil, attach a metal ruler to the drawn line and start cutting the material with the tip along the edge of this very ruler.

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Be careful and take your time so that the cut comes out smooth and precise and matches the line from the pencil lead.

The core is broken by lightly tapping, then the slab is turned over and the drywall is again cut along the broken area. At the end, the material should be processed with a plane so that the edge becomes even.

How to cut with a hacksaw

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It is worth noting that most often a hacksaw is used to cut rectangular openings. In this case, you need to mark the drywall from the back side. In one of the corners of the drawing, use a drill to make a hole with a diameter large enough so that the hacksaw blade can easily fit into it. You can also make holes on all sides. After the operation is completed, the edge, as in the previous case, is processed with a plane or file, depending on the size of the hole made. Important: it is advisable for the tool blade to be perpendicular to the plane of the drywall sheet. In this case, the edges come out smoother.

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Cutting with a jigsaw

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A jigsaw is a tool that will help save work time and your energy. Using it, you can saw and cut not only straight lines, but also smooth, curved lines and various shapes. If you use it, place a sheet of plasterboard on two stools so that the previously drawn line for the shape of the desired cutout runs in the distance between the surfaces of the stools. Act smoothly and leisurely, cut strictly along the intended line. The jigsaw has another significant advantage: with it, the processing of the resulting edges is reduced to a minimum, because it is held perpendicular to the surface of the sheet, which is the key to this result. This is facilitated by the special sole installed in it. The disadvantages include the fact that you still have to spend money on it, but this tool is worth it. Also, when working with it, a lot of dust rises, you should take care of eye and respiratory protection in advance.

Shaped cutting, as well as square and round cuts

It is worth paying attention to the above figure cutting. The best way to cut is, of course, a jigsaw. But if the figure is, for example, an ordinary circle, then it is acceptable to use ordinary stationery or mounting knives. Initially, it is important to determine the center of the circle, and then use a pencil and compass to draw it. Using the tip of a knife, cut the outline of the intended opening as much as possible. Then place this area over the empty space - a two-stool design will work here again. Lightly hit the cutout with a hammer - the material will break through the center of the hole.

Edge processing

The cut is processed with a roughing plane, since the edges never come out smooth and neat enough - this is already a property of any tool; the experience and skills of the performer play a lesser role here. You can also remove a chamfer using a regular knife, but it will take more time and require professional skills.

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In conclusion, it should be noted that cutting drywall is one of the most common operations in the list of those that can easily be done independently at home, without the help of a specialist. It is enough just to approach any work with intelligence and patience and carefully familiarize yourself with the sequence of completing the task, based on its features. Then the result will be appropriate.

Good luck to you and successful repairs.

Video: how to properly saw (cut) drywall with your own hands at home

With a question about how to cut drywall, is certainly encountered by everyone who starts working with this material for the first time. In fact, cutting plasterboard sheets is a task that is both difficult and easy, because it is not so difficult to damage them. Below we will talk about several ways to correctly cut simple or moisture-resistant plasterboard(sometimes called).

Cutting drywall in a straight line

To cut a sheet in a straight line, you will need . Before starting work, the gypsum board must be laid on a flat, stable surface - usually a stack of the same sheets. After making all the necessary measurements, markings are made on the drywall with a simple pencil. You cannot use a marker or pen for this, since it will be almost impossible to putty the marks from them later. Marks are made both at the top and bottom of the sheet, moving away from its edges required quantity centimeters, after which, applying to them long rule or level, connect to each other. Marking thread will also work for the same job. To make further work easier, lines can also be marked on the back of the drywall.

Now you can start cutting. The knife must be sharp, and its length must be adjusted so that it does not exceed the thickness plasterboard sheet. Then they draw a knife along the intended line several times (to make the line more even, you don’t have to remove the rule) and turn the sheet over to the other side. You need to tap the cut line several times with your fist and then carefully fold the sheet along it - after this, the drywall will stick only to the paper. After this, all that remains is to cut the paper with the same drywall knife.

How to properly cut drywall not in a straight line

Sometimes it becomes necessary to cut drywall not in a straight line, and the letter “G”. After the necessary markings have been made on the sheet, you will need to arm yourself with a small drywall hacksaw (or a regular one with a fine tooth) and cut it along a short line. Then a knife is taken and the desired line is cut using the same technology as in the case of direct cutting.

It is somewhat more difficult to cut sheets of drywall along a curved line. In principle, this can be done with a knife, but the cutout will be sloppy and will require adjustments. Therefore, it is best suited for this purpose electric jigsaw. Since there are no special blades for drywall, you need to cut with metal files, since they have frequent and small teeth. In addition, it is most convenient to use a jigsaw to make any cuts on GVL- sheets in which the gypsum is reinforced with loose cellulose fibers.

When cutting drywall with a jigsaw, a lot of dust is created, so it would be useful to wear a respirator and safety glasses, as well as cover surrounding objects with polyethylene.

How to cut drywall installed on a wall

In situations where it is necessary to “bypass” a corner with plasterboard and window slope, cutting a sheet so that its edges perfectly coincide with the edges of the wall is quite difficult. Therefore, they often do this: first they attach a piece of a larger size than needed to the wall, and only then saw it off. It is important that the sheet is securely fastened to the frame made of profiles. After this, on the side of the sheet that is adjacent to the wall, cut several times along the desired line and press on the protruding piece. Then the sheet is cut from the reverse side. If you need to make an L-shaped cut, then first you need to cut a horizontal line with a hacksaw, and then a vertical line with a knife.

Another situation: you need to cut a hole in an already mounted sheet for an socket or switch. This will require drywall hacksaw. Its end is very narrow, so it is convenient to cut a small hole with it, which will become the starting point. If the hole is rectangular, then you need to start cutting from one of the corners. However, when working with this tool, you should be careful and careful, since its length is enough to accidentally damage the wiring that may be under the drywall.

With any method of cutting drywall, the edges in any case will not be very smooth. If there is a need to make them as neat as possible, the edges need to be treated with sandpaper or a special rasp. As you know, after installing drywall and before it, the seams (and then the entire surface) need to be. To do this, all cut sheets need to be fasciated, that is, several millimeters of gypsum must be cut off from each of the “non-native” edges. This is done at an angle 45° drywall knife or special tool.

In fact, cutting gypsum board or plasterboard is not a difficult job. A video instruction that shows the entire process in detail will help you understand even more precisely how to cut drywall. We are confident that even a novice master will be able to cut sheets correctly and accurately, without the help of professionals.