How and how to cut drywall at home with the least loss. Drywall: how to cut and how it is better to do it How and how to cut drywall ways

Each of us has done renovations 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 do repairs with their own hands, wondered if it was possible to make a drywall cut on their own at home, and how difficult it was.

Most often, the owners resort to the help of strangers (specialists), while spending a lot of money. This article will help you manage this process yourself, do not waste time looking for specialists, and help you get exactly the result you want.

Peculiarities

Drywall is a relatively young material used in construction work. He gained wide popularity due to his harmlessness, versatility, good sound insulation. GKL itself, as the name implies, consists of two sheets of thick cardboard and plaster placed between them. The standard width of one sheet is one hundred and twenty centimeters. Since drywall is large, during construction work, you have 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), peeling planer (for processing edges after cutting), saw (may be circular or ring), or a drill with a crown. The section of drywall, although it does not present any difficulties, but its incorrect cut leads to a large overrun of the material, and, accordingly, to an extra waste of money.

The incision of the GKLV is not a time-consuming job, any beginner, with due desire, is able to make the incision himself, without resorting to the help of professionals.

A brief process for cutting drywall is as follows. First, drywall cutting is carried out, after a 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 vapor in the air. Fire-resistant drywall is used where there are fireplaces and near places with open flames.

Initially, drywall was used only for leveling surfaces.

There are three standard sheet types:

3000x1200 millimeters;
2500x1200 millimeters;
2000x1200 millimeters.

Depending on the type of drywall, their thickness also differs, which affects the complexity of cutting.

Ceiling plasterboard 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 cutting must be done gradually.
Before placing the sheet on the work surface, make sure it is dry. A wet sheet will be unusable.
Cutting is recommended to be carried out from the side that will be located against the wall. This will subsequently hide possible shortcomings formed during cutting.
It is necessary to protect the eyes and respiratory organs with personal protective equipment.

When cutting drywall, the use of a circular saw is not allowed due to its ability to create a large amount of harmful dust.

What is the best way to cut?

Drywall cutting is performed by various types of tools, some of them are:

mounting 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.

Mounting knife

In this method, we need a drill and, in fact, a mounting knife.

To cut drywall with a mounting knife, it is necessary to measure the required size of drywall in length or width. We will also need a metal ruler. We apply it to the cut line. After that, the cut of this material is made. The process itself is quite simple, it will not take a lot of time. The sloppy edge left after the 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 bar 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 carefully turned over to the other side and continues to be cut on the other side. This method allows, if necessary, to cut thin strips of drywall with minimal damage.

Hacksaw

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

We draw the figures we need of the appropriate size, after which we use a drill to make a hole corresponding to the size of the blade of our hacksaw. Then we cut out the shapes we need. Just like the previous method, you can use a planer or file to achieve neat edges if your pieces are too small. It is recommended to use a hacksaw for metal, but in its absence it is possible to use a hacksaw for wood.

This process can be described in more detail as follows. A sheet of drywall 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) to the sheet. Marks are applied on both sides of the sheet, starting from the edge of the sheet. Then they are interconnected, 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. The sheet is cut with a knife (preferably several times to achieve the best effect), the sheet is turned over to the other side. Next, we knock several times along the cut line, and cut the rest of the drywall with the same knife.

Electric jigsaw

Cutting with an electric jigsaw is the fastest of all, but at the same time quite expensive. Its price varies from 1500 to 10 000 rubles. The price depends on the quality of this product. But the costs are absolutely worth it. Our ability to use it is greatly expanded. It becomes possible to cut lines and shapes of various shapes, including curved ones. The amount of waste is also significantly reduced. When working with a jigsaw, safety precautions must be observed. 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 the drywall sheet. Next, we place it on two stools (or any other supports) placed on both sides of the sheet. Then, using an electric 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, drill a hole inside the circle. The edges after cutting drywall need minimal processing, which also saves our time and effort, which is a significant plus.

When cutting, it is not recommended to linger in one place for a long time, and also to press on the sheet, using great force, in order to avoid breakage of the jigsaw and sheet. It is necessary to carefully process the edges of the GKL before hanging, for example, a spotlight or a socket.

Process details

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 without excess debris;
use personal protective equipment for the eyes and respiratory organs, as cutting leaves a large amount of small debris and dust.

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 the 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 there are moments when it is necessary to make a cut on an already installed drywall sheet 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 secure, after which the small holes we need are carefully cut out with a jigsaw, a drill with a nozzle, or an electric drill. Large holes are recommended to be cut with a knife according to the markings. When getting uneven edges, they can be removed with sandpaper or a hacksaw.

When cutting circles, there are a number of nuances. 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 easiest way that saves time and effort - using a drill with a special cylindrical nozzle. This type of nozzle is usually used when cutting into the door of the lock mechanism with a latch.

There is also a so-called two-sided cut, which is carried out when various obstacles appear on the way of the sheet, be it a door, an opening, a beam, or any other. 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 requires concentration, accuracy and care. One side of the sheet must be cut with a hacksaw, and the other side should be carefully cut with a knife. After completing the work, making a break and processing the edge with a planer.

When cutting drywall, it folds. 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.

Those who have more than one repair behind them unanimously claim that there is nothing easier than cutting drywall. However, even such a simple task can confuse a novice builder. The article will talk about how to work with the material correctly and try to anticipate all the questions of those who fell into the hands of drywall for the first time.

Specialized publications for builders recommend using tools that cost a lot of money and are primarily useful to professional craftsmen working on order. We will talk about improvised means that any man can find at home.

Roulette, ruler, simple pencil

Please note that it is recommended to make marks on a drywall sheet with a simple pencil. The traces left by a marker or a ballpoint pen will not subsequently be hidden even by the most thorough putty.

construction knife

It can also be replaced by a regular clerical paper knife. True, a construction knife with a replaceable double-sided blade is more convenient to cut through denser materials. This tool is definitely easy to work with. He will instantly cut the paper layer of the GKL and even deal with the base in no time. However, you will need to tinker to cut off an even, neat sheet. Therefore, first we draw the necessary lines with a simple pencil, make cuts, and only then, when the perimeter of the part is ready, we cut the drywall. The edge of the cut off part of the GKL will have small notches - they will disappear without a trace if you “walk” over them with sandpaper.

Hacksaw

We need a tool for metal work. It differs from a hacksaw for wood by a thinner blade, which cuts the sheet neatly and, most importantly, almost without dust, without deforming its edge. If you chose a hacksaw, keep in mind that you can’t work on weight, otherwise you will ruin the material. Lay the GKL sheet on a stable support, then cut measuredly and slowly along the pre-drawn line so as not to stray.

Electric jigsaw

You will not have any difficulties if you purchase high-quality tool files, preferably for metal work. They are distinguished by a smaller tooth, which will leave a few chips at the end of the drywall sheet. These tools make it easy to cut rounded elements.

Chamfering Planer and Peeling Planer

These tools will be needed at the final stage of working with GKL, when it will be necessary to give a neat look to its edges.
Good to know - a circular saw does not work with drywall. The tool produces a huge amount of dust, which greatly clogs not only the work area, but also your respiratory system.

Cutting drywall at home

In a straight line

With this type of cutting, a standard drywall sheet is given the desired size. Lay the source on a stable horizontal surface. After the desired size of the future part is marked on both sides of the plasterboard, take a drywall cutting knife and cut the surface layer of the sheet with a metal ruler. For convenience, adjust the knife blade so that it protrudes from the handle to a length that does not greatly exceed the thickness of the GKL.

Do not abandon the ruler and cut the material according to the mark drawn with a pencil - this way the incision is unlikely to turn out to be even. Run the knife along the work line several times to deepen the cut, then the drywall will break exactly where it needs to.
Now place the sheet with an edge on a support and lightly tap on the GKL from the side opposite from the cut. Slightly "lean" on the sheet - as a rule, after several blows, the gypsum core breaks at the cut mark. It remains only to cut the cardboard that connects the two halves of one sheet.

Letter G

This form is usually given to the material if it is necessary to sheathe a doorway with drywall. We measure and outline the contours of the future part. Then a short part is sawn with a hacksaw, and the long part is cut with a knife according to the above proposed scheme.

Work with plasterboard fixed on the wall

Although cutting loose drywall is the easiest, sometimes it is necessary to cut and cut off the excess after the sheet has been on the frame. This design option is justified by the fact that when sheathing a GKL slope of a window or a corner of a wall, the edge of the gypsum board, for aesthetic reasons, must be superimposed extremely precisely on the edges of the surface on which it is fixed. Therefore, a plasterboard sheet of a slightly larger size than necessary is fixed on the wall, and only then the extra centimeters are removed.

Make sure the frame is firmly holding the GKL. The question of which side to cut drywall in this situation should not arise, because the answer suggests itself - you cut the side of the sheet that is directly adjacent to the sheathed surface. Draw the tool several times along the intended line, as if slightly “squeezing out” the unnecessary part. Trim the sheet from the back. Recall: to give the sheet on the frame the shape of the letter L, cut the line horizontally with a hacksaw, and saw off the vertical line with a knife.

Non-standard cutting and curly cutting of drywall

Often you have to cut the gypsum board not in a straight line, but as required by the built-in lighting fixtures, sockets or your own imagination in striving for a multi-level curved ceiling. Working with non-straight drywall parts requires some skill.

Option 1. To create a perfectly round hole in a drywall sheet, you can use an electric drill equipped with a special cylindrical crown nozzle. There are nozzles of different diameters and applications, they are also called circular saws. Choose one that is designed to work with wood, plywood and drywall.

Option 2. If you don't have a circular saw, no problem. Work with a jigsaw: draw a circle of the desired diameter on a drywall sheet, drill a hole inside it. Then insert the tool blade and, following the marking outline, cut out a round hole. Please note - when working with a gypsum board with an electric jigsaw, use a narrow file with small teeth and take your time when cutting the sheet. The result of unhurried work will be a smooth edge of the part. Drive the jigsaw slowly, but the tool must work at maximum speed.
Option 3.If you do not have any of the tools listed above, a hole in the drywall sheet can be made in extreme cases with a special gypsum board knife and a hammer. For this:

put markup on the worksheet;
pressing well, cut the marked lines with a knife. In this situation, a sufficiently cut depth in the sheet is very important;
place the plasterboard on the surface with a recess so that this recess is just under the future hole;
hit with a hammer in the center of the intended hole so that the core of the sheet breaks. Try not to overdo it so that a crack does not go all over the sheet;
now break off unnecessary pieces of plasterboard by cutting cardboard from the back of the sheet with a knife.

Option 4. Curly cutting of drywall is easiest to do with an electric jigsaw, but if you don’t have one, you can get by with a decent and convenient replacement for it - a hacksaw for plasterboard. You can also do it without a hacksaw:

measure and mark future cuts on the sheet;
break the cut contour into relatively straight segments and cut them with a special knife, cutting cardboard and scratching the plaster;
break off the formed sections using the same method described by the previous drywall cutting option.

It is worth noting that this technology is effective when cutting out large figures. To create elements with a small radius, still use a hacksaw.

How to process a GKL part after cutting

The edge of the drywall sheet, on which the working tool has just “walked”, does not look quite aesthetically pleasing. To make it even and smooth, prepared for puttying, arm yourself with a planer and chamfer. For this purpose, you can also use a regular knife. The chamfer is removed by two thirds of the GKL thickness, with an angle of 45 degrees.

How to cut a profile for drywall

For this purpose, you can use:

metal scissors;
electric jigsaw with a saw for metal;
hacksaw for metal;
cutting desktop or manual machine;
grinder (only as a last resort - there will be a lot of sparks).

Cut drywall if possible only on a flat, stable surface, otherwise the material will bend and work with it will be more difficult.
Make sure drywall sheets are dry - moisture can damage the material.
It is better to cut large sheets of drywall in several approaches.
When working with a profile for gypsum boards, you don’t have to worry if the cuts don’t turn out neat and even - after installation, the profile will “hide” under a sheet of drywall.
The frame for the GKL can be formed even from small parts of a metal profile, the most important thing is that these pieces must be fixed on the wall “in good faith”.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in working with GKL. To consolidate the material covered, in particular the question of how to cut drywall, we offer a video:

Plasterboard constructions are increasingly appearing 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 is drywall cut and what additional tools are needed for this, 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 the sheet or cut off part of it. Even if the main purpose tool is out of order in the process. But in addition to cutting objects, an auxiliary tool is also needed.

What you need to cut drywall:

Construction knife. It is very similar to a clerical knife (both externally and in terms of 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 GKL sheet can also be cut with a clerical knife, if this is required once.
Hacksaw for drywall. This is an object with a narrow blade and serrated edges up to 18 cm long, outwardly similar to a kitchen knife-saw, since its blade is soldered into the handle. The blade is made of high-strength steel, so with a knife you can make both straight and curly cuts without much effort. It is lightweight, compact and very easy to use. This knife is universal, because in addition to the plasterboard, it can easily cope with small wooden blanks. The shape of the teeth of the drywall knife may be different, depending on the company. But this does not significantly affect the process of cutting the material. At home, GKL can be cut with a simple hacksaw, but this is quite difficult and should be done with extreme caution.
Electric jigsaw. This tool is mostly used for cutting wood, MDF, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB, etc., however, if you install blades on metal (which has smaller teeth), then everything will work out. The blade with fine teeth does not tear the cardboard layer of the sheet and there will be fewer chips. An electric jigsaw can make both straight and curly cuts.
Plane. This tool is not used to cut a sheet or cut out a specific element of any structure being erected, but already at the final stage. With a chamfering planer or a simple peeling one, the places of cuts of a drywall sheet are processed. This is necessary for further processing of joints.
Roulette, pencil, ruler. In order to cut the sheet correctly and evenly, accurate measurement and marking is necessary. Especially when it comes to figured products for decoration. For a straight line, instead of a ruler and a pencil, you can use a chop thread, but you will have to work hard with curly markings. 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 on 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 cutter or electric drill with special nozzles is used to make holes in drywall. For example, for sockets, switches, etc. Let's consider this type of tool in more detail.

How to use a drywall cutter

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

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

Cutters have certain varieties. For making radius and rounded surfaces, a U-shaped tool is used, and for sharp corners, a V-shaped cutter.

Wall drywall: how to cut correctly

Any kind of drywall has a certain structure. As a rule, this is a gypsum core or filler, glued 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, it is enough to walk along the sheet with a gypsum board knife and make a break.

Making a straight cut

Before cutting through a sheet of drywall, you need to make an accurate markup, draw a line. Next, attach 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 jerks, confidently, so that chips and notches in the material do not form.

To prevent the cut from turning out crooked, the ruler must be kept even and in one position.

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

Curly cutting

If the elements of the future design involve smooth lines and bends, cutting the material is done with an electric 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 the exact markup has been made, a jigsaw is drawn along the drawn line, you need to do this away from yourself, and not towards yourself, so that the power tool does not cause injury.

How drywall is cut: making holes

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

How to cut drywall correctly:

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

It is important not to press the drill sharply so that the crown does not get stuck in the material.

Handy tool: how to cut drywall at home

For smooth cutting of the material, you can even use scissors or a simple blade, a clerical or kitchen knife, using them on the principle of a drywall knife. Curly cutting can be done with a conventional hacksaw for metal. The principle of its application is similar to the use of a jigsaw, but there are differences. You can start sawing the sheet with a whole hacksaw, but the handle will not go into the depth of the sheet, so you will have to remove it and continue cutting only with the blade.

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

Mark the place of the slot on the front and back sides of the plate;
Outline the shape of the hole by circling the outline on both sides of the sheet;
Use a knife to cut through a layer of cardboard on both sides;
Tap the plaster lightly with a mallet.

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

Tool overview: how drywall is cut (video)

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

Happy repair!

Many line the walls and ceiling of the house with drywall. Fast, convenient, perfect fit. But the sheets are large and do not always fit exactly the size. Or you have to make a hole for an outlet, a lamp, attach a small piece.

Professionals for cutting have special power tools, but they are always obscenely expensive. What should ordinary people do? How to cut drywall at home? Actually, it's not as scary as you think. If desired, everything is quite doable in a few minutes. And the tools will need the most popular.

Training

The preparations are going very fast. First, tools are selected so as not to run around in search. You will need:

Roulette, building meter or ruler.
A simple pencil, nail, self-tapping screw. Any object that leaves a visible mark.
Knife. Stationery or construction (it is more reliable).
Hacksaw. Preferably narrow, but with a hard blade. You can take designed for trimming knots.
A hammer. The most common.
Special planer. Easily replaced with a file or medium grit sandpaper.
Drill. If there is a special nozzle for it, it will be great.

Then a sheet of drywall is laid on a flat surface. For example, on the floor. Specialists can cut drywall on weight, we do not recommend this technique for beginners. Risk of material damage.

If there was no space on the floor (this happens during repairs), then the sheet is placed on two stools. Strictly the same height. And they start.

Description of the cutting process

Measure the required distance with a tape measure. Draw a mark with a simple pencil. They double-check everything again, because there will be no way to fix the work.

Then they take a clerical knife and cut the cardboard along the marking line. If there is any doubt about the hardness of the hand, then you can cut along the guide. It is very convenient for this to use the rest of the profile for fastening to the wall or a long building level. Sometimes one effort is not enough, after all, drywall is a fairly durable material. Then cut several times.

Do not seek to immediately cut drywall with a knife. It's impossible. There is a hammer for this job. All that is needed is that several times lightly hit the place of the cut on the reverse side of the sheet. The gypsum base will safely crack exactly along the cut line.

It remains only to turn the sheet over and cut the second layer of cardboard with a knife. All is ready.

For a better joint of the pieces, the cut must be cleaned. Sometimes there are quite large notches. Aesthetically, they do not interfere, because all the same, the place of the seam will be puttied. But the accuracy of the connection can be affected.

Chamfering is the name of this procedure. It is easy to do with sandpaper or a large file. But we recommend purchasing a special planer for such purposes. Moreover, it costs very democratically.

Cleaning of cuts is carried out with smooth movements, without strong pressure. No need to try to achieve perfect smoothness. It is enough to remove large tatters.

Someone will ask: why was a hacksaw needed? For cutting through holes. After all, you can’t just knock them out with a hammer. Practice shows that a drywall sheet breaks anywhere, but not along the markup. For through holes, the execution technique is somewhat different.

A hole of such a size is drilled in the sheet along the marking line so that the hacksaw blade enters. Then, with the same hacksaw, cut out three sides of a square or rectangle. The fourth side can not be cut. It is enough to cut through the cardboard with a knife on one side, and then knock out an unnecessary piece with a hammer. The cardboard on the other side is also cut with a knife.

In the same way, corner squares and rectangles are cut out in drywall. One side is cut with a hacksaw, the other with a knife and a hammer.

Advice. There will be very few notches at the cut site if you hold the knife or hacksaw perpendicular to the drywall sheet. The lower the blade tilts, the larger the tatters will be later.

If you have a drill with a special nozzle at hand, then small round holes are drilled very simply. The cutter is pressed against the sheet strictly perpendicular, then the drill is turned on and slowly pressed from above. The result is a little dusty, but perfectly smooth.

Round holes or lines of complex configuration (waves, drawings) cannot be made with a drill. Here you have to act with a hacksaw according to the principle of cutting out the inner piece. Drill a line, insert the canvas. Then they saw according to the outlined.

Naturally, it is inconvenient to perform such work on the floor. You can lay drywall on the table so that the cut protrudes beyond the edge of the countertop.

Some craftsmen cut a round hole in the cardboard with a knife, and then knock it out in the usual way. Beginners are not advised to try to repeat this procedure. Without proper skills in drywall, you get an ugly gap with torn edges instead of a perfect circle.

Advice. Don't try to cut a fishnet or complex pattern with thin lines in the drywall. The material just won't hold up. The sheet is strong only with a large pattern of broad lines.

Some manage to cut drywall at home with a grinder. We do not recommend doing this. There will be a lot of noise and plaster dust. With a simple knife and hammer, it turns out much cleaner and more accurate. Yes, and you do not need somewhere to get personal protective equipment and the ability to work with power tools.
Excellent patterns for marking circles are glasses, plates and pot lids. Just choose the right size and draw a circle line. This is for the case when there is no compass at hand.
An electric jigsaw greatly simplifies most drywall work. Its blade is thin and hard, with small teeth. With such a tool, you can cut even a square, even a dragonfly, any shape and configuration on drywall. If you don’t have such a miracle of technology on your farm, then you can rent it. Many construction companies rent power tools.
First, all cuts are made and only then the drywall sheet is fixed to a permanent place. If the cut is made on an already fixed sheet, then in case of a possible error, the structure will have to be removed and a new sheet fastened.
It does not matter which side to cut drywall - front or wrong side. It breaks equally well on both sides.
If you have to cut a large sheet alone, then it can be inconvenient to lift it with one hand and knock with a hammer with the other. Then a bar is placed on the floor and the drywall is simply broken on it exactly along the cut line.
Some sources recommend using your own knee instead of a hammer. If you have a couple of new ones in stock, then you can knock out unnecessary pieces with them. True, mankind invented the hammer a very long time ago. Try to still use it, and leave your knees for other purposes. For example, for the fifth point of a beloved woman, let him sit on them.

How to cut drywall at home? Very simple. Precise metering and a firm hand are the main components of notorious success. And everything will work out for you.

Video: how to cut drywall with a knife

When performing repairs, it is often necessary to level and give building materials a certain shape with your own hands. So, how to cut drywall at home is very simple, for this it is not necessary to seek help from professionals or use special tools.

improvised means

A sheet of drywall under the arch can be easily cut with a simple clerical knife. Of course, this is quite painstaking work, since it is much more difficult to work with a thin blade than, say, a massive hacksaw, but everything can be done accurately and quickly enough. Step-by-step instruction:

But it is much easier to cut sheets into a semicircle or any other shape with a special construction knife. It is almost an exact copy of the stationery, with the exception of a thickened blade and a more comfortable handle. The seam after it is even and neat, and the roughness is much less. The principle of operation is the same - first mark out the desired shape, then make a trial incision, and then cut out a certain shape.

Photo - cutting with a construction knife

It often happens that the drywall sheet needs to be cut after installation on the wall. For example, cut a recess for a lamp, switch, socket or niche. For this, professional craftsmen use only knives and hacksaws. They provide excellent results, while not damaging the material of the walls. How to cut cardboard on a wall:

Depending on the type of hole, you will most likely need to work with a special tool. Builders recommend taking hacksaws for metal for small work. They have thin ends that will easily make even the smallest hole in the plaster partition;
Before making a hole, you need to make sure that the profile will not be affected during work. Otherwise, the entire carrier system will be damaged. To do this, you need to use the installation plan of the sheets, on which the places of the racks and guides are marked;
Mark the location of the future hole on the wall and carefully cut it with a knife to form a small notch. It will be needed so that a sharp hacksaw does not jump off to the side during processing;
Carefully insert the hacksaw into the cardboard and guide along the given contour. Strictly ensure that her nose does not go to the side. If it turns out uneven, then you will have to increase the diameter of the hole.

You can act in the same way if you need to cut the wall in a wave or create decorative patterns on the surface of the material. After the hacksaw, you need to wipe the seams with sandpaper and primer. The primer will eliminate nicks and small irregularities. Further, the seam is puttied and may be subject to further processing.

Photo - drywall hacksaw

Video: how to cut drywall

Working with special tools

Any video indicates that if you need to properly cut moisture-resistant drywall, then it is better to use power tools. The simplest and most affordable option is an electric jigsaw. It allows you to cut the sheet curved, with clear edges or under the pattern of patterns. The main thing is to observe safety precautions when working, and before using the device, check the location of the wiring under the coating (if the cardboard is already on the wall). Step-by-step instructions on how to work with a jigsaw:

In order not to break the jigsaw and cardboard sheet, do not press on the surface to be treated. Also, you can’t linger in one place for a long time, unlike a hacksaw, here it can make an incision too deep and ruin the pattern.

Photo - circular saw

If you need to cut several sheets of drywall under the ceiling or walls, then a circular saw is used. It allows you to process from two to five materials at a time. The disadvantage is the high cost of equipment (unless, of course, such a device was purchased earlier) and the dustiness of the work.

It is necessary to install drywall on the table, you can cut it only on a special surface so as not to damage the material and the working tool;
Put on protective equipment: mask, suit and gloves. When cutting, sawdust and gypsum particles will fly, which, if it comes into contact with the skin or eyes, can be harmful;
Now you need to draw cardboard. Make an oval, round or any other shaped hole with a knife (depth no more than 4 mm);
On the designated place, additionally draw a marker (only from the inside);
Turn on the saw and carefully start cutting the cardboard onto the tool along the marked lines. You need to be careful not to put pressure on the sheets so as not to break them. This is the fastest option of all presented, it can be used to cut any large hole in drywall - under the hatch, chandelier, radiator under the window.