Those owners who have completed more than one repair under their belt claim that there is nothing easier than carefully cutting drywall. But even such a seemingly simple task can lead a novice builder into a dead end. And below you will learn how to properly cut drywall so as not to damage it.

Drywall Cutting Tools

Specialized publications recommend the use of expensive tools, which are primarily useful to professional machinists working to order. We will consider available means that every man will definitely have at home.

Ruler, tape measure, pencil

Please note that marks on drywall are best done using a simple pencil. Traces that will be left ballpoint pen or a marker, as a result even careful putty will not be able to hide it.

Construction knife

If you can replace it with a simple paper knife. Although, construction knife With a replaceable two-level blade, it is much more convenient to cut dense materials. This tool is easy to work with. It will quickly cut the paper layer of drywall and easily cope with the main one. But you will have to tinker to cut a perfectly straight sheet. Therefore, first you need to draw lines with an ordinary pencil, make cuts, and then, when the perimeter of the part is ready, start cutting the drywall. The edge of the cut part will have minor jagged edges - they will easily disappear if you “walk” over them with sandpaper.

Hacksaw

We will need a tool for working with metal. It differs from a wood hacksaw in that it has a thinner blade that will carefully and practically dust-free cut the sheet without damaging the edges. If you choose a hacksaw, then keep in mind that you cannot use it in weight, otherwise the material will deteriorate. Place the sheet of drywall on a stable base, then saw slowly along the pre-drawn line so as not to get lost.

Electric jigsaw

If you buy high-quality files for the tool, you will definitely not have any problems; it is advisable to use a metal file for the work. They are characterized by a smaller chisel, as a result of which many chips will remain at the end of the sheet. Thanks to this tool, you can easily cut rounded elements from drywall.

Bevel plane and roughing plane

Such tools will be required at the final stage of working with drywall, when it is necessary to give a neat appearance its edges.

Attention! Circular saw Do not cut drywall. The tool produces a huge amount of dust, clogging workroom, as well as your respiratory organs.

How to properly cut drywall at home

1. Letter G.

Usually this form of material is given if it is necessary to sheathe a doorway. We measure and outline the contours of the parts. Next, the short part is sawed through with a hacksaw, and the long part is cut with a knife.

1. In a straight line.

Using this type of cutting, it is important to give a regular sheet of drywall the required size. Place the source on a horizontal surface. Once the desired size of the part is marked on both sides of the gypsum board, use a drywall cutting knife and use a metal ruler to cut the sheet layer. For convenience, adjust the knife blade so that it protrudes from the handle to a length that does not exceed too much the thickness of the plasterboard.

You should not cut the material according to the drawn mark without a ruler - this way you are unlikely to get an even cut. Run the knife along the cutting line several times to deepen the cut. In this case, the drywall will be broken in the right place.

Next, place the sheet edge-on on the support and tap it a little with opposite side from the cut. You shouldn’t put too much pressure on the sheet - usually the core breaks after just a few blows. All that remains is to tear apart the cardboard connecting the two halves of the sheet.

Working with drywall fixed to the wall

Despite the fact that it is easiest to cut loose drywall, sometimes there is a need to cut and cut off the excess, while the sheet ended up on the frame. This design option is justified by the fact that when covering a corner of a wall or a window slope with plasterboard, its edge must exactly overlap the edges of the surface where it is fixed (for aesthetic reasons). Therefore, it is necessary to fix several plasterboards on the wall bigger size and only then remove the extra centimeters.

Check that the frame securely holds the gypsum board. In such a situation, you will not have any difficulty with which side to cut the drywall, because the answer suggests itself - cut the side that is adjacent to the surface to be sheathed. Strictly follow the intended line with the tool several times, while slightly “squeezing out” the unnecessary part. Then cut the sheet from the back side.

Attention! To give the drywall on the frame an L shape, cut a line horizontally using a hacksaw, and then use a knife to saw a vertical line.

Figured cutting of drywall and non-standard cutting

Often you have to cut drywall not in a straight line, but as required by the built-in sockets lighting or your own imagination (for example, curved ceiling). Working with indirect parts requires some skill.

• To create a round hole in the plasterboard, you need to use an electric drill equipped with a special attachment. There are different types of attachments and different diameters, which are also called circular saws. Give preference to one that is designed to work with plywood, wood and drywall.

• If you don't have a circular saw, don't despair. You can completely use a jigsaw: draw a circle on the drywall required size, inside which make a hole. Next, insert the tool blade and, following the marking outline, make a round hole. But keep in mind that you need to use a narrow file with small teeth and take your time when cutting the sheet. The result of unhurried work is a smooth edge of the part. Operate the jigsaw slowly, but it should also work at maximum speed.

• If you do not have any of the above tools, as a last resort, a hole in a sheet of drywall can be made using a hammer and a special knife for plasterboard. For this:

1. mark the worksheet;
2. pressing well, cut the marked lines (in such a situation, the main thing is to cut sufficient depth in the sheet of drywall);
3. place the plasterboard sheet on the surface with the recess so that it is located under the future hole;
4. hit the intended hole with a hammer so that the core of the sheet breaks, but do not overdo it, otherwise a crack may occur;
5. Next, break off unnecessary pieces of drywall by cutting off the cardboard from the back of the sheet.

• Easiest to do figure cutting drywall using a jigsaw. However, if you don’t have one, then you can get by with a convenient and worthy replacement, namely a hacksaw for gypsum boards. You can also cope without it.

1. take measurements and put future dimensions on the sheet;
2. the cut contour must be divided into straight segments, then cut through them with a knife, cutting the cardboard and scratching the plaster;
3. break off the resulting sections in the same way that we talked about in the previous version of cutting drywall.

This technology is especially effective when cutting out large shapes. To prepare elements with a small radius, it is better to use a hacksaw.

Processing plasterboard sheets after cutting

The edge of the plasterboard, along which the working tool “walked”, does not look aesthetically pleasing. To make it smooth and even, ready for the filling process, use a plane and chamfer. For this purpose, you can use a regular knife. The chamfer is removed to 2/3 of the gypsum board thickness, maintaining an angle of 45°.

• hacksaw for metal;
• metal scissors;
• jigsaw with metal saw;
• manual or table-top cutting machine;
• Bulgarian

Some useful tips

• Drywall should only be cut on a stable and level surface, otherwise the material will bend and will be much more difficult to work with.
• Make sure that the drywall is dry (it is afraid of moisture and can be damaged).
• Cut large sheets in several steps.
• The frame for gypsum boards can be created from small parts metal profile, the main thing is that these pieces are securely fastened to the wall.
• When working with a profile, you don’t have to worry about the fact that the cuts are not quite even and neat - the profile will still “hide” under the drywall.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in working with drywall. To secure the material, we recommend watching a video on how to cut drywall with your own hands:

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 are 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 used moisture resistant drywall. It is different from ordinary material presence in its composition antiseptic additives. 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 - flexible material. To avoid breaking it during work, 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 a hole for lighting fixtures. 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. It must run at 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

Plasterboard sheets are attached to 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.

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How to cut drywall: a review of the 3 most popular tools

Don't know how to cut plasterboard sheets? Based on my experience, I can offer three options for this: suitable tool. Detailed description each of them will help you make your final choice.

Option No. 1: mounting knife

Drywall, in essence, is gypsum board, wrapped in cardboard. It is enough to cut the paper shell so that the plaster can be broken off with your own hands. A mounting knife can easily cope with this task.

If you don’t have the tool described in your workshop, then you don’t have to run to the store to get it. For small volumes, it is quite acceptable to use any sharp blade, for example, a well-sharpened kitchen knife.

Advantages and disadvantages

Positive sides:

• Low price. On family budget purchasing a mounting knife will have virtually no impact;
• Simple operating instructions. It is enough to walk along the line drawn in advance with a blade, cutting the cardboard and making a groove in the plaster, after which the sheet simply breaks;

• Multifunctionality. Sharp knife always useful on the farm.

Negative side:

• Limited opportunities. The fact is that with the help of the tool in question, a plasterboard sheet can only be divided into strips. More complex shapes cannot be cut out.

Option number 2: special hacksaw

A plasterboard hacksaw makes it possible to create openings of various shapes in a plasterboard sheet.

Than already hacksaw blade, the more accurate and accurate the cut will be.

Advantages and disadvantages

The drywall saw has an obvious advantage:

• Allows for shape cutting.

But the disadvantages are also immediately apparent:

• Narrow scope of use of the tool. A blade designed for cutting gypsum is not very convenient to work with other materials;
• Low speed. If you need to divide the gypsum board into two parts, it would be better to use a knife, as using a hacksaw will be slow and tedious.

Option number 3: electric jigsaw

What is the best way to cut gypsum fiber board or gypsum board? Of course, with a jigsaw. This can be seen from the description of its advantages:

Pros and cons

In terms of performance, a power tool always outperforms a conventional one. This case is no exception, and electric jigsaw boasts the following advantages:

• Versatility. With its help you can cut out a shape of any complexity. In addition, by installing the appropriate nail file, you can use the device to work with any other building material;

• High speed. The electric motor quickly copes with the task and allows you to save your own energy.

The only drawback:

• Relatively high cost. But we should not forget that such a tool will always be useful on the farm.

Offers from manufacturers

Here illustrative examples Some jigsaws that will help you cope with cutting drywall of any complexity:

• Model BOSCH PST 700 E:

Prices are valid for spring 2017.

• Model Makita 4329:

Gypsum plasterboard panels (GKL) often appear in renovation projects for finishing premises. These panels can be used to aesthetically decorate walls, eliminating surface imperfections. The material has a smooth and even texture, which creates optimal conditions for application finishing. The weak point of sheets of this type is fragility, which complicates processing processes. Therefore, the question of how to cut drywall with minimal risks to its usable area is also relevant. There are many options, each of them deserves attention in its own way.

Wallpaper knife

This simplest tool, which is inexpensive and in in capable hands able to provide an acceptable result. The wallpaper knife has a thin, long and sharp blade, which in some settings is also suitable for drywall. But in the work it is worth considering some nuances. Compared to paper, relatively hard sheets can simply break it if the cutting part is pulled sharply to the side. In addition, slight bends with the slightest pressure cause inconvenience.

You should also keep in mind that the ends cut with a wallpaper knife are rarely even. Therefore, additional adjustments to the edges may be required using a plane or fine abrasive. In general, a wallpaper knife is a purely household tool for cutting drywall, which is worthwhile in extreme cases. For example, when processing small volumes of material, and when there are no other options, such a knife will help complete the task.

Special knife for gypsum boards

It's more suitable option, which will allow you to cope with a large batch of gypsum boards. Fundamental difference The difference between this knife and its previous analogue lies in the rigid fit of the unbending blade, which is also replaceable. Painting knives are similar to this design. In terms of cutting plasterboard sheets They are advantageous with a blade width of about 20 mm, the presence of a screw stopper and an ergonomic handle with rubberized inserts.

But even in this case, restrictions on the use of the tool in relation to reinforced panels should be taken into account. If the structure is pierced with fiberglass or metal threads, then a construction knife for cutting drywall with a more durable base and a large steel blade is more suitable. The only drawback of this solution will be the labor cost. Handling any knife requires not only care, but also force, since you will have to constantly hold rather large panels in accordance with the optimal cutting direction.

Scissors

This is also a representative of a hand tool with a simple design that can also be used in processing gypsum boards. As for scissors, they are more convenient than a knife and can handle cutting a large number of sheets. But the quality will leave much to be desired - at a minimum, abrasive finishing of the edges will be required. By the way, scissors may also be suitable for cutting profiles for plasterboard, which is made of metal. The main thing is that the size of the tool matches the thickness of the sheet.

Experienced craftsmen in this sense recommend having on hand models of scissors with long and short jaws. When choosing, you should also take into account the shape of the handles, their coating and possible assistive devices. Hand tools, imposing high physical activity on the hand, must optimally correspond to the performer’s data in terms of size, that is, fit comfortably in the hand.

Fine tooth hacksaw

Externally, such models of hacksaws are more reminiscent of knives than saw blades. The tool is formed by two parts - the handle and the saw blade. The blade here is small and has fine teeth, which makes cutting easy with minimal damage to the useful area of ​​the sheet. In addition, such a hacksaw will allow you to make not only straight, but also round cuts. The question regarding what is used to cut drywall to form a figured cut is often asked by owners multi-level ceilings non-standard shape.

Having made a small cut in the prepared hole in the gypsum board ceiling, you can continue working along the curved line with a hacksaw. Such operations are often determined by the need to create niches for electrical devices, lamps and decorative elements. However, especially for creating round holes with high accuracy and regardless of the diameter, it is advisable to use a power tool.

Ballerinas and cutters

By equipping an electric drill or multifunctional screwdriver with a round cutter the right size, you can easily make a hole in the drywall panel. For such tasks, sets with cutters of different diameters are suitable. A result of similar quality can be obtained with the help of a ballerina. Manufacturers of consumables for power tools produce special modifications of attachments for this material.

But how do you cut drywall when you need to get a hole with a diameter exceeding 10 cm? This value is considered the limit for household equipment. Theoretically, a hacksaw can cope with this task, but in practice, of course, it will not be possible to make a high-quality circle in this way. Only a jigsaw will help you get closer to acceptable quality if it is operated by an experienced craftsman.

Guillotine

Strictly speaking, a guillotine does not refer to a tool designed for processing drywall. Its design is focused on servicing profiles on which a ready-made sheet of material will be attached. Therefore, in comprehensive preparation for work events, it would be useful to include this tool. It is a small metal platform that fixes and guides the equipment, as well as a handle. By physical pressure the latter is used to cut the installed metal blank.

It is important to consider that the guillotine for cutting drywall profiles also has its limitations. For example, the average width of the profile available for processing is 40-120 mm. Maximum height- about 70 mm. Some designs can also cope with drywall, but in this case you should prepare for the formation of large, rather than cosmetic, chips and cracks.

How to cut drywall?

The cutting technique has great importance from the point of view of obtaining the expected result. But before that, you should do the proper preparation. Regardless of the configuration of the cut, its parameters and the tool used, it is important to make accurate markings on the surface of the sheet. Next, the tool itself is prepared. It is important to check it for integrity, reliability of fixation of the cutting parts and, most importantly, evaluate the quality of sharpening.

Now we can move on to the question of how to cut drywall. Sharp manipulations and attempts to complete cutting in one fell swoop are completely excluded. The tool should be guided smoothly and strictly along the intended line. The most difficult operations to perform include curved cuts. For such tasks, it is advisable to use appropriate jigsaws equipped with a curved cutting function.

Conclusion

When choosing a suitable tool, it is worth distinguishing between several criteria. For example, the quality of processing, ease of cutting and financial efficiency are completely contradictory parameters. How is drywall cut to obtain High Quality without the need to rework the edges? The optimal solution would be a machine or an electric jigsaw.

But if the task is to process two or three sheets, then purchasing a special power tool for this will be impractical. On the other hand, a wallpaper knife is inexpensive and will allow you to cut the same pair of sheets, but the quality will be low, and in the case of large volumes it will not save you. Somewhat optimal solution may become a fine-toothed hacksaw. It has average ergonomics and cutting quality, but at the same time it is not so expensive compared to a jigsaw and is not much inferior to it in terms of the speed of the process.

Industrial production of drywall started in 1917 in Great Britain. However, a new building material was invented by a resident of the United States. 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. Modern plasterboard has a width of at least 1.5 millimeters more, and then only if the core is reinforced with fiberglass.

Standard sheets rise by 10-13 millimeters. The question arises of how to cut such thickness, because in work drywall often has to be adjusted to fit 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 variety 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 “to follow the markings exactly. 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...

How to cut drywall simply and easily

Click on the word MORE Official...

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 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 thick. 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 the sheet intended for curved doorways and 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 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 the 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 becomes life-saving. 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. Manual option a tool that resembles wire cutters costs between 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 she 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.

We bend and cut drywall with improvised tools at home

Drywall is widely used for the manufacture of structures such as ceilings, partitions, and various shelves. But, since gypsum board sheets have standard sizes, they have to be cut.

It’s not difficult to mark a sheet, but how to cut it correctly so as not to spoil it, since the core of the sheet is, after all, gypsum, which is highly fragile? What if you need to make an arch or some other curved structure? Is it possible to bend drywall? And, if so, how?

No need to worry. All these questions have long been answered. It is possible to successfully cut and bend drywall. Our task is to figure out how and how to do this correctly.

How to cut drywall

Unlike professional builders and repairmen who use a wide variety of tools have to use improvised means at home. But the person taking on the repair usually already has everything necessary for the job. Moreover, no special devices are needed.

The following tools can be used to cut plasterboard:

• A ruler, tape measure, and pencil are necessary for accurate measurements and markings of the sheet. To mark small holes you may need a compass, and for large arcs you will need a piece of rope with a pencil attached to one end (an improvised compass that can be used to mark an arc of any radius).

• A construction knife (or a stationery knife, if it is durable). This universal tool, and the only replaceable part in it is the blade. Stock up on replacement blades in advance so that you don’t have to go to the store in the middle of work.
• Jigsaw - usually used for cutting wood and wood boards, but it is also suitable for drywall, you just have to install a metal blade (it has smaller teeth and cuts gypsum board better). With a jigsaw you can make not only straight cuts, but also curly ones.
• Planer - it is not used for cutting sheets, but for post-processing their edges. It is necessary to chamfer the cuts - this will allow the joints of the sheets to be properly sealed after installation of the structure.
• Hacksaw for drywall - you can do without it, but with it some operations can be completed faster. This hacksaw resembles a saw knife with a rather narrow blade and jagged edges. The knife blade is made of high-strength steel and is soldered into the handle and allows you to make any cuts (straight and curved) without special effort. The knife is very convenient. If you buy such a tool, you can subsequently use it for cutting small pieces of wood.
• An electric drill or cutter with various attachments will make it easy to cut round holes of various diameters in the slab.

We cut plasterboard in a straight line

Let us immediately note that in order to reduce material waste, you need to take very accurate measurements of the room and use as many whole slabs as possible during installation.

Drywall should only be cut in cases where there are no other options.

Therefore, you need to create a plan in advance for laying out the sheets on the surface, and outline the places where the sheets will be needed non-standard sizes and forms.

Professionals easily cut gypsum boards both on the floor and leaning them against the wall. But if you have not had to do this before, then it is better to place the sheet on the floor face up - this is where the cut will be made.

The front side can be easily distinguished from the back:

• The sheet markings are usually located on the back side;
• the front side and side edges of the sheets usually have the same color;
• The chemical composition of the front side is different; the facing cardboard contains more cellulose, which reduces the consumption of finishing materials.

The slab is cut as follows:

• Press the ruler firmly against the marked line and run the knife along it several times.
• The knife must be held confidently, avoiding jerks, cutting through the layer of paper and slightly grabbing the plaster. Make sure that the ruler does not move.
• After this, the slab is broken along the cut, bending it in the opposite direction to the cut.
• Then, using a construction knife, you need to cut through the cardboard layer on the other side. If the slab is broken correctly, then there will be no problems at this stage.
• Attach the prepared sheet to the installation site in order to check the accuracy of the cut. If the size is a little large, then the excess can be removed using a rasp (but this will create a large number of gypsum dust).
• Process the cuts with a plane, chamfering them.

How to cut round and rectangular holes

Very often you need to make holes in the sheet for pipes, sockets or switches.

To do this, you need to mark their locations on the sheet using a tape measure.

Rectangular holes:

• Accurately measure the distance of the edges of the hole from both sides of the sheet, as well as from the top and bottom. Draw the outline of the cutout.
• Next, using a drill with a thick drill bit, you need to make 4 holes on the sides of the marked rectangle - the jigsaw file should go through them. They should be located inside the rectangle as close as possible to the cutting lines.
• Insert the saw into each of the holes one by one and cut through the opening. You need to work extremely carefully, strictly along the drawn lines.
• Once you have the hole, check how well the switch or outlet box fits into it.
• If necessary, finish the edges with a rasp.

Round holes:

• For this purpose, you can use a small drill or hacksaw attachment.
• Mark the center of the future hole on the sheet.
• Attach the required size bit to the drill chuck.
• The crown drill must be placed in the center of the hole and drilled, pressing gently on the drill (if you press hard, the nozzle may get stuck in the plaster). It is better to use the average speed of the tool for this.

If you don’t have a drill and nozzles, you can make a round hole with a knife, but it’s not so convenient.

Using a knife we ​​make a hole like this:

• Draw the outlines of the future hole on both sides of the sheet (and do not make a mistake).
• Then use a knife to cut through the cardboard layer on both sides.
• After this, you need to lightly tap the plaster with a hammer, knocking it out.
• Check how well the box or pipe fits into the resulting hole.

Any curved shapes with smooth lines are cut out according to the markings using a jigsaw. If you don’t have one, you can use a hacksaw for metal, but this is very inconvenient.

How to bend drywall

In order to mount arched structures above doorways or niches, you need to somehow bend the drywall so that it does not break.

For these purposes, plasterboard manufacturers produce special gypsum board sheets (arched), which are 6.5 mm thick and are easily deformed.

This material is somewhat more expensive than usual. For its installation, special arched profiles are used, equipped with cutouts on the side walls. Thanks to these cutouts, the profile can be easily bent as required, and then a flexible sheet can be secured in it.

Since the thickness of the flexible sheet is small, to strengthen the structure you need to use two layers of plasterboard: the rough layer is made of regular sheet, and the front one is arched.

But if you were unable to buy gypsum board, then there are ways to bend a regular wall plasterboard. For different situations used different technologies impact on the leaf.

If you need to get only a slight bend, then you can do it like this:

• The prepared plasterboard blank is moistened with water on one side using a roller or brush.
• It is left for 10-15 minutes so that the water is absorbed into the gypsum layer.
• After this, the sheet is screwed in the intended place. Do this carefully so as not to damage the water-weakened material.
• After the water evaporates, the material regains its original strength and at the same time holds its given shape well.

If the bending radius of the sheet is small enough, then you can bend it like this:

• I process the sheet on one side with a needle roller.
• Then, using a sponge, soak it in water for an hour. Make sure the paper is back side the sheet is not wet, otherwise it may tear when bent.
• Then they carefully bend it using a template and fix the ends of the sheet with clamps.
• The structure is left in this form until completely dry.

If a roller with needles is not at hand, then you can use another option (dry bending):

• Instead, a knife is used to make cuts on the sheet, placing them in a direction perpendicular to the bend line.
• The distance between cuts should be 10-50 mm. The more frequent the cuts, the smaller the bend radius.
• The side on which the cuts are made should always be inside the bend.

Thus, having previously studied all the methods of cutting and bending gypsum boards, choose the most suitable one for yourself and act exactly according to the technology.