Cut drywall panels to fit on stud walls.
Sheetrock, a brand name of drywall panels manufactured by USG Corporation, is widely available for use in constructing smooth interior walls. After framing the walls, the electrician will run the wiring and the plumber will install the water and drain lines. Then it's time to install the Sheetrock panels, and cutting them may be simpler than you think.
Making Straight Cuts
Cut drywall panels to specific lengths in order to attach them correctly to the wall studs. After measuring for the cut, use a drywall-framing square, which fits along the top edge of the drywall panel and features a long, straight arm that extends over the flat surface of the drywall. Cutting along this arm makes your drywall cuts straight and square.
Another approach: you can use a chalk line to make a straight guide for cutting.
Scoring the Drywall
A utility knife with a sharp blade is all you need to cut the drywall. Using the drywall square as a guide, run the utility knife along the edge, scoring the Sheetrock to a depth of about 1/8 inch. Score only the front, paper-faced side of the drywall.
Breaking and Cutting
Brace the drywall panel on its side, with the back of the panel facing you. Tap sharply on the back of the panel in the same spot as the scored line. The panel will break along the scored line, with the paper backing still intact. Use the utility knife to cut evenly through the back paper, separating the drywall into two pieces.
Trimming
Sometimes, the interior of the drywall panel, which contains compressed gypsum particles, leaves a crumbly edge when it breaks. To smooth the edge before installing the panel, run the sharp edge of the utility knife lightly along the cut side to remove uneven spots.
Cutting Out Holes
After you have the drywall panels in place, cut the holes for the outlet boxes that the electrician installed on the stud wall beneath. You can use a utility knife, but a drywall rotor-type tool is much faster and leaves a cleaner edge. Insert the cutting bit through the drywall and into the outlet box. Move it around the interior edge of the box. It will cut out the rectangular shape with ease.
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