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Home Improvement

2003-10-01 11:23:00

Tips for hanging drywall

: I have to cut about 20 sheets of drywall to fill in areas I have cut out throughout my home remodeling project. Do you have any tricks?

ANSWER: I can share some tips for cutting drywall with you, but I must say that accurate measurements rule! However, accurate does not mean making each piece fit tightly.  You can ruin a piece by trying to squeeze it into a tight fit.  About a quarter inch short on each measurement usually works well.  Usually if a piece does not easily fall into place, you can smooth the edges with the back of your knife blade or a rasp.  Cutting drywall is not too difficult if you know how to measure and use some patience.   Use full sheets of drywall whenever possible, trying to eliminate any butt joints that do not have tapered edges.  Tapered edges make finishing much easier and improve the quality of your job.  Cut the length of the sheet so that the end falls in the center of a joist or stud (bottom and top).   To cut a sheet for length, first set it upright with the finish side out. Measure out the length with a tape measure. Then using a drywall T-square on that mark as a guide, score the front side with a utility knife.  Make sure the T-square does not move while you're cutting!   Snap the drywall back. It should break apart right at the cut. That doesn't cut the paper on back, though, so to finish the cut run the knife blade down the back side to cut the waste free.   Making cuts along the length of a sheet is a little trickier. One way is to snap a chalk line along the sheet and then score the line by hand. Be aware, though, that sometimes the chalk will bleed through the paint. If you have an 8' straight edge that would work, too.   Another way to make this kind of cut is with a tape measure. Hold the tape measure in your left hand with your thumb and fore finger at the dimension you want. Hold the blade of your utility knife under the end of the tape, holding it against the hook. Now run your left hand across the top of the board, and score the drywall with the knife. This is not a super-accurate method, but it's good enough for hanging drywall.   When you need to cut inside corners, you can't snap both ways so cut one side with a drywall saw. Then score the other side with a utility knife and snap it back like you would any other cut.   Another way to cut inside corners is to first install the piece, then cut it with a drywall saw along the framing.   Cutting holes in drywall for lights, switches and outlets requires careful measuring and marking.   For round light fixtures, like recessed lights, measure from the edge of where the drywall sheet will go to the center of the circle. Do this from both the sides and top. Then transfer these measurements to the sheet of drywall. Use this mark for the center of your circle hole cutter. Also, measure the radius of the round fixture to set the arm length of the cutter. Score the circle several times, then tap it out with a hammer.  You can also use a compass to draw the circle and a keyhole saw to make the cut.   For switch and outlet boxes, measure from the side edge of where the sheet will go to the right and left side of the box. Then measure from the top edge to the top and bottom of the box. Transfer these to the sheet of drywall and cut it with a keyhole saw.   A relatively new device that works well with drywall is a Spiral saw.  This device works like a mini router with a spiral cutting blade that looks like a drill bit only it is made to cut with its edges.  RotoZip is one brand, but several other tool companies make a similar tool.   The Spiral saw makes cutting around electrical boxes a breeze.  You can partially hang the piece (not too many nails or screws yet.)  Locate the box by measuring from two sides.  Then carefully find the edge of the box and relocate the bit to the outside.  Then cut around the box using the box as your guide.  The drywall will then slip past the box and is ready for the rest of the nails or screws. Don't do this to boxes with live electrical wires inside!  You can also install a piece right over a window or doorway and then user the Spiral saw to remove the part that is blocking the opening, using the studs and headers for a guide.   All this might seem confusing and difficult at first but a little bit of careful practice will have you installing drywall like a pro.