Divide an environment, create a false ceiling, raise a partition wall without masonry work by a professional? If you are also a DIY lover, learn what are all the steps to take to cut drywall correctly, a versatile and economical material to renovate the interior of your home.
Are you looking for helpful advice on how to cut drywall to raise a wall or divide a room? In this article we reveal the tricks to do it yourself, easily and without the intervention of any professional.
We indicate the reasons for choosing this material but we will focus in particular on what tools do you need and the steps to be taken to complete this operation.
The goal is to obtain a satisfactory result without having to spend a capital. Let’s get to the heart of our guide and find out how to cut plasterboard.
Read also: Plasterboard: complete guide
What is plasterboard
It’s a material formed by panels made of plaster and coated on both sides with cardboard. Depending on the addition of other substances, some specific properties are given to the “sheet” (anti-mold, anti-acoustic, fireproof, etc).
Commercially they are available numerous types of plasterboard panels depending on the intended use. They are marked with the following letters:
- A: Standard
- E: For external use
- H: Water repellent (more or less water resistant)
- F: Fireproof
Cutting drywall: tools
Once you have chosen the type, it is essential to have the suitable tools to cut the plasterboard and create the desired shapes to the profiles. Before raising a partition wall in the house it is necessary to make a special one metal structure, a frame that rests on a track on the ground. That’s why the drywall cutting procedure is one of the most delicate if you want to get good results. Let’s find out in detail some tools that you might need:
- Ruler or square: essential accessories for drawing guidelines and making circular holes.
- Line plotter: a set of tools useful for drawing lines on the walls, floor or ceiling.
- Plasterboard hacksaw: one of the most used tools for cutting slabs.
- Cutter (cutter): in steel, often combined with a metal ruler, it is the most common choice for making a straight cut.
To these we must add others that could help you not only in the cutting operation but in giving the correct shape to both guides and profiles. Among these we point out the plasterboard cutter, great for cutting rails and posts, and one plasterboard clamp, convenient for easily deforming the material and assembling the structures without resorting, for example, to screws.
You may be interested in: Plasterboard ceiling
Tools for cutting plasterboard: ruler and cutter
The simplest and cheapest way to do this is to use a utility knife and a ruler. Before you start cutting the actual drywall, take all the measurements with a tape measure and a pencil, drawing a line on the same panel.
At this point, using the rigid line, make an incision with the cutter on one side. Don’t make a deep cut, just press lightly. Fold the plate towards the cut and do the same on the other side. It is an operation you need to watch out for do not tear the sheet, otherwise it will no longer be suitable for use as its resistance will diminish.
This way the cut will be precise and straight. Once you get the hang of it, it will be a fairly simple operation that requires only a little caution.
How to do if there are more cuts to make, such as creating one plasterboard bookcase? In this case you can use the “strip cutter”, a very useful tool for engraving cardboard panels using two toothed wheels. The peculiarity of this tool is the possibility of adjusting the distances and thus being able to “indulge” in the creation of plasterboard furniture in the desired shape.
To eliminate the marks left by the cut or to make the edges smooth, you can use a simple one electric sander equipped with a special disc for cutting plasterboard.
Cutting drywall: step by step guide
Let’s find out in this our brief step by step guide the individual steps to be completed to cut the plasterboard. Here they are reported in detail:
-
Take the measurements of the sheet to be cut accurately by tracing appropriate reference marks.
-
Align the points previously highlighted with the help of a line.
-
Use a utility knife to score the first layer of cardboard without the need for a deep cut.
-
Slightly bend the sheet in the corner-shaped selection line, which is necessary to break up the rest of the drywall.
-
Score the other side along the fold to obtain the plasterboard sheet in the desired format.
Plasterboard advantages
There are many advantages of choosing plasterboard for work at home, starting with the not excessive costs that make it a rather cheap material. Among the main reasons for this choice is also the ease of use, as once you have purchased the right type of panel for your purpose, all you need is simple tools to cut it.
A choice that reveals itself quick to assemble, an operation that is not at all complicated even for those who are not too experienced. We report one of its typical properties, great versatility, being a material that adapts optimally to solve different space requirements, also offering the possibility to make changes whenever you feel the need.
General advice
Some general advice should be followed before proceeding with cutting drywall. It is important to carefully check the measurements and at the time of the engraving avoid tearing the cardboard on the outside of the plasterboard, essential to ensure maximum resistance. Of course, the use of tools such as cutters and saws requires the utmost attention so as not to hurt yourself. To work always protected, adopt specifics safety devices, such as gloves, masks and goggles.
How to cut drywall: photos and pictures
Here is our image gallery to provide you with inspiration for your next plasterboard housework.
Divide an environment, create a false ceiling, raise a partition wall without masonry work by a professional? If you are also a DIY lover, learn what are all the steps to take to cut drywall correctly, a versatile and economical material to renovate the interior of your home.
Are you looking for helpful advice on how to cut drywall to raise a wall or divide a room? In this article we reveal the tricks to do it yourself, easily and without the intervention of any professional.
We indicate the reasons for choosing this material but we will focus in particular on what tools do you need and the steps to be taken to complete this operation.
The goal is to obtain a satisfactory result without having to spend a capital. Let’s get to the heart of our guide and find out how to cut plasterboard.
Read also: Plasterboard: complete guide
What is plasterboard
It’s a material formed by panels made of plaster and coated on both sides with cardboard. Depending on the addition of other substances, some specific properties are given to the “sheet” (anti-mold, anti-acoustic, fireproof, etc).
Commercially they are available numerous types of plasterboard panels depending on the intended use. They are marked with the following letters:
- A: Standard
- E: For external use
- H: Water repellent (more or less water resistant)
- F: Fireproof
Cutting drywall: tools
Once you have chosen the type, it is essential to have the suitable tools to cut the plasterboard and create the desired shapes to the profiles. Before raising a partition wall in the house it is necessary to make a special one metal structure, a frame that rests on a track on the ground. That’s why the drywall cutting procedure is one of the most delicate if you want to get good results. Let’s find out in detail some tools that you might need:
- Ruler or square: essential accessories for drawing guidelines and making circular holes.
- Line plotter: a set of tools useful for drawing lines on the walls, floor or ceiling.
- Plasterboard hacksaw: one of the most used tools for cutting slabs.
- Cutter (cutter): in steel, often combined with a metal ruler, it is the most common choice for making a straight cut.
To these we must add others that could help you not only in the cutting operation but in giving the correct shape to both guides and profiles. Among these we point out the plasterboard cutter, great for cutting rails and posts, and one plasterboard clamp, convenient for easily deforming the material and assembling the structures without resorting, for example, to screws.
You may be interested in: Plasterboard ceiling
Tools for cutting plasterboard: ruler and cutter
The simplest and cheapest way to do this is to use a utility knife and a ruler. Before you start cutting the actual drywall, take all the measurements with a tape measure and a pencil, drawing a line on the same panel.
At this point, using the rigid line, make an incision with the cutter on one side. Don’t make a deep cut, just press lightly. Fold the plate towards the cut and do the same on the other side. It is an operation you need to watch out for do not tear the sheet, otherwise it will no longer be suitable for use as its resistance will diminish.
This way the cut will be precise and straight. Once you get the hang of it, it will be a fairly simple operation that requires only a little caution.
How to do if there are more cuts to make, such as creating one plasterboard bookcase? In this case you can use the “strip cutter”, a very useful tool for engraving cardboard panels using two toothed wheels. The peculiarity of this tool is the possibility of adjusting the distances and thus being able to “indulge” in the creation of plasterboard furniture in the desired shape.
To eliminate the marks left by the cut or to make the edges smooth, you can use a simple one electric sander equipped with a special disc for cutting plasterboard.
Cutting drywall: step by step guide
Let’s find out in this our brief step by step guide the individual steps to be completed to cut the plasterboard. Here they are reported in detail:
-
Take the measurements of the sheet to be cut accurately by tracing appropriate reference marks.
-
Align the points previously highlighted with the help of a line.
-
Use a utility knife to score the first layer of cardboard without the need for a deep cut.
-
Slightly bend the sheet in the corner-shaped selection line, which is necessary to break up the rest of the drywall.
-
Score the other side along the fold to obtain the plasterboard sheet in the desired format.
Plasterboard advantages
There are many advantages of choosing plasterboard for work at home, starting with the not excessive costs that make it a rather cheap material. Among the main reasons for this choice is also the ease of use, as once you have purchased the right type of panel for your purpose, all you need is simple tools to cut it.
A choice that reveals itself quick to assemble, an operation that is not at all complicated even for those who are not too experienced. We report one of its typical properties, great versatility, being a material that adapts optimally to solve different space requirements, also offering the possibility to make changes whenever you feel the need.
General advice
Some general advice should be followed before proceeding with cutting drywall. It is important to carefully check the measurements and at the time of the engraving avoid tearing the cardboard on the outside of the plasterboard, essential to ensure maximum resistance. Of course, the use of tools such as cutters and saws requires the utmost attention so as not to hurt yourself. To work always protected, adopt specifics safety devices, such as gloves, masks and goggles.
How to cut drywall: photos and pictures
Here is our image gallery to provide you with inspiration for your next plasterboard housework.
