This article is about cutting hole in drywall. Cutting a hole in drywall is an easy techniques needed when installing new electrical outlets, switches or other fixtures. In addition, you have to cut a round or a rectangular hole around a damaged area in drywall, to ease the repairing procedures. Even though cutting a hole in sheetrock is a straight forward process, you have to use the right tools and techniques to get the job done as a professional. Therefore, we recommend you to work with great care and to follow our step by step tutorial, before starting your project.
In order to cut holes in drywall, you need the following:
Materials
- Drywall board
- Electrical fixture
Tools
- T-square, carpentry pencil and tape measure, utility knife
- Drill machinery
- Hole saw drill bit
- Drywall saw
Tips
- Take accurate measurements before cutting the square holes
- Make sure you don’t damage electrical wires or pipes when cutting the square hole
- Wear a respiratory mask when cutting the holes in drywall
Time
- 5 minutes, one cut
Cutting holes in drywall
Step 1: Measure the location of the fixture and trace its contour on the drywall sheet. Therefore use a tape measure to determine the distance from the left edge where you will install the panel, to the left and right side of the fixture. In addition, measure the distance from the bottom edge of where you will hand the drywall sheet, to the bottom and top of the fixture.
Having these dimensions in mind, use a T-square and a pencil to draw the location of the hole on a drywall sheet. Using accurate measurements plays an essential role for your project.
Step 2: Use a drill machinery and a large drill bit to make 4 holes around the rectangle. As you can see in the image, the holes should be drilled in the interior of the rectangle, as close as possible to the cut lines.
Step 3: Use a jigsaw or a drywall saw to cut the patch in drywall, positioning the blade in the starting holes. Work with great care and make sure you cut along the guidance lines.
Step 4: After you have cut the hole in drywall, you have to check if it fits into position. In addition, install the fixture to see if you have cut the hole properly.
Cutting round holes in drywall
Step 1: Cutting round holes in drywall can be done in several ways. On one hand, you can use an adjustable hole saw drill bit attached to a drill machinery. This is one of the quickest and most accurate ways of drilling round holes in drywall. We recommend using this method for small and medium sized round holes, as you will get the job done properly.
First you need to measure the distance from the edges where you will hang the drywall board to the center of the hole. Next, use a T-square and mark the center of the hole on the drywall sheet.
Step 2: Connect the hole saw drill bit to a drill machinery with torque control. Next, place the tip of the frill exactly over the center of the hole and press the start button. In order to get an accurate hole, we recommend you to use an average speed and to make the cut progressively.
Step 3: If you have followed our tips, you should be able to obtain a nice and accurate hole. After you have finished the procedure, you have to check if the fixture fits in the hole and then hang the sheetrock to the wooden studs.
If you have to cut a hole to an existing drywall, you should use other technique. Therefore, you should first use the fixture and draw its contour, by using a pencil.
Next, use a drywall saw to cut the hole in drywall. In order to get an accurate round hole, you should first punch the drywall and then use back-and-forth motion to cut the drywall.
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