Tips for Measuring and Cutting Drywall: Straight Cut Lines
Use the Straight Cut Lines!
Marking straight cut lines with a T-Square tool
The tools and material you will need:
4-foot T-Square tool
Folding ruler or measuring tape
Drywall panels
Pencil
Utility knife
Measuring the cut lines
Take your measuring tape or folding ruler and measure to determine the size of the piece you need. Then you will transfer and mark the dimensions on the drywall panel.
Marking the lines on the drywall panel
Take the 4-foot T-Square tool and place it against the drywall panel so that the long end of the blade is parallel with the cut line that you intend to mark. Next you need to slide the T-Square tool along the edge of the panel until the edge of the blade lines up with the mark you just made. Take your pencil and mark it along the blade, marking the cut line. If the perpendicular cut line is needed, you will just repeat the process. Take a utility knife, and wearing your eye protection, slice the good side of the drywall panel with a cutting depth of 1/8th of an inch.
Snap the cut line
Now working in front of or behind the drywall panel, with a quick motion, snap the drywall panel along the cut line, and carefully fold it back. Making sure not to tear the cut drywall panel; just allow the drywall panel to break along the cut line. The drywall panel should only be held together by the paper backing.
Slice the back and separate the drywall panel
Take the utility knife and slice the back side of the drywall panel to cut through the paper, and then you can separate the two pieces of drywall.
These instructions should help you with your techniques in making precise and dustless cuts in drywall panels.
Sources: Tips for Hanging & Finishing Drywall
Published by Dina Montgomery
I've always loved writing and sharing things with others. View profile
- Turn Bootleg Jeans into Straight Leg JeansTwo different techniques for turning your bootleg pants into straight leg pants in order to keep up with the new fashion trends. Both ideas are easy for any do-it-yourself seamstress!
- Thinking of Becoming a Drywall Professional? Find Out Wages and Working ConditionsDrywall workers usually work a standard workweek of 35 to 40 hours. Construction schedules sometimes require installers and finishers to work longer hours or during evenings or on weekends.
Homebuyer Tip: Price Per Square Foot Not an Accurate Gauge of ValuePrice per square foot is a fool's gauge at estimating a home's value. And here's why.- Sylvia Plath's CutThis is an in-depth poetry analysis of Sylvia Plath's poem, "Cut".
- How to Easily Cut Apart Self-Made Business CardsThis tutorial will help those designing and printing their own business cards to cut them apart with ease, getting the dimensions right every time and thus saving money and avoiding ruined cards.
- How Drywall is Installed - Measuring, Fastening, Finishing, and Sealing
- Drywall Installation Steps Made Easy
- How to Hang Drywall
- How to Cut Wood: Sawing Curves and Irregular Lines
- Home Improvement: How to Hang Drywall on a Wall or Ceiling
- How to Have Your Lumber or Paneling Rough Cut at Home Depot
- Drywall Related Illness
4 Comments
Post a CommentThank for this article and the helpful drywall tips. Not doing any work currently but great resource for if I need to. Thanks for sharing.
This is something I've never ateempted to do. We hired it out. One of the very FEW times I hired out help!
Great work as always, Dina!! I really do learn a lot from you..:)
You are one of the handiest people I know. :-)