How To Cut Drywall Around Windows

How to Cutting Drywall for an Opening

Updated: Sep. 30, 2019

Cut out drywall holes for electrical outlets with a drywall saw.

FH05JAU_DRYWAL_01-2 Family Handyman

This article will show y'all how to cut clean, authentic holes in drywall for electrical boxes and lights. And without making a mess. Follow this communication to cut perfect sized openings—not also large, not too small and without broken corners. But if you do happen to make a mistake, we'll evidence yous how to fix it.

Cutting accurate holes

One of the most frustrating and time-consuming parts of hanging drywall is cutting all those holes for electrical boxes and lights. Cut them too modest and y'all have to accept the piece downwardly and recut it. Cut them too large and you've got a bigger taping task on your hands, or yous wind upwards throwing abroad the canvas and starting over.

Here we'll testify you how to cut electrical box openings in drywall that fit perfectly the first time—without broken corners and particularly without being too big. Oversized holes are a hassle to set up and wait tacky with those big plate covers. If you do make a mistake, bank check out our remedies for getting y'all out of a jam.

Recessed lights

Photo one: Measure the calorie-free location

Measure the calorie-free from two established edges. Read the distances at the almost and far sides of the box. Write them on the framing if yous accept a short memory!

Photograph 2: Marker the cutout in the drywall

Transfer the measurements to the drywall and draw a box. Drive a nail through the middle point for a pilot hole. Rotate the cutter several times to score the paper.

Photograph 3: Knock out the opening

Score the newspaper on the backside, using the pilot pigsty to centre the circle cutter. Then knock out the plug from the front with a picayune rap from your hammer.

Cutting openings for recessed lights can be catchy because you take to measure over your head and then transfer the numbers to a canvas that'due south sitting on the floor. It'south so piece of cake to get dislocated and lay out the openings from the wrong edge and wind up with holes cut in the incorrect place. And so yous've got a 55-lb.piece of trash on your hands.

When you lot're staring at the sheet trying to figure out which end or side to measure out from, pantomime swinging the canvass up into place instead of doing the mental gymnastics. And so mark on the sheet the side and terminate to pull your tape measure out from. You'll never go incorrect.

You tin cut openings for recessed lights by laying them out as we bear witness so drawing a circumvolve with a compass and merely cutting the openings with am electrical drywall saw. But if you accept several recessed light openings to cut out, invest in a circle cutter. It works like a compass and cuts large circles fast and accurately.

Start by measuring the front and dorsum and left and correct sides of the fixture (Photo 1), then transfer those measurements to the drywall and draw a box to outline the hole. Draw lines from opposite corners to find the exact center (Photo 2).

Next tap a small nail through the eye point to mark the other side of the drywall. Prepare the circle cutter to cut about 1/8 in. larger than the fixture, stick the center point in the centre and rotate the cutter while forcing the wheel into the drywall surface. The key is to cut through the paper. It may accept a couple of rotations. Then repeat on the other side of the drywall and knock out the plug.

Circular boxes

Photo 1: Mark the outlet on the drywall

Measure the circular box edges the same way as we showed for recessed lights. And then lay out the position on the drywall. A drywall foursquare speeds the procedure.

Photo 2: Trace a round box on the drywall

Utilise an actress round box every bit a blueprint (or apply a compass) to draw the cutout.

Photo 3: Cut out the opening

Punch the drywall saw through the drywall with the heel of your paw, then saw forth the outside of the line.

Measure and lay out the boxes exactly as yous did for the recessed lights . A drywall square (Photograph i) comes in handy for marking box positions. Get one at a home center. Draw the vertical lines beginning, and then make horizontal lines by setting your pencil at the correct distance on the foursquare and sliding the square along the finished edge.

Instead of using a circle cutter, trace the round pigsty with an extra box (Photo 2). If yous don't accept a box or a compass, sketch the curve freehand. You'll be surprised how accurate you lot can make it. Then cut the pigsty with a drywall saw (Photo 3). It's best to slightly angle the saw so the opening in the back is larger than in the forepart. That manner the box volition slip into the opening easier.

If yous cut along the outside of the lines, the box should fit. Simply don't presume the holes will slip perfectly over the boxes. Hang the canvass with a few screws that are placed well abroad from the opening. Then gently push the opening over the edge of the box until the sheet rests flat against the studs. If you ram home screws near a box without careful fitting, chances are you'll bust out a few edges effectually the box. (Meet "Oops!")

Avert disrepair edges like the plague! To fix them, you accept to cut away all loose paper and broken drywall and fill the gap with setting chemical compound. Then you have to apply record and several coats of regular taping compound. Work carefully to avoid the hassle!

Rectangular or square boxes

Photo one: Cut out three sides of the box

Lay out all four sides of the box and cutting through iii sides with a drywall saw.

Photo 2: Use a knife to score the fourth side

Score the fourth side with a utility knife, then snap the flap open with a little dial from the butt end of the pocketknife.

Photo 3: Cut off the flap

Slice off the flap from the backside with the utility knife.

Photo 4: Widen the opening, if needed

Spike the drywall with a few screws, then press the cutout over the box. For actress clearance, shave the edges as needed with your utility knife.

You lot'd retrieve that cutting in rectangular boxes would exist much easier than cutting in circular ones. Simply they're really a little trickier. If the hole is a bit off, you lot're much more likely to accident out an unabridged side. (Encounter "Oops!")

Accuracy is specially critical if y'all have to cutting several box holes in the same canvas. Likewise continue in mind that the electrical code allows but up to a one/8-in. gap around electrical boxes, so yous can't cut the holes extra large. You take to fill larger gaps with setting compound. And if the gap gets too large, you'll take to tape it besides because the outlet encompass plate won't hibernate it. (I've seen it many times!)

To assure accurateness in measuring, keep the tape measure level for horizontal distances and plumb for vertical distances. Even holding the tape at a slight angle volition cause slight errors in measurements that will cause problems subsequently. Photos 1 – 3 show the pigsty cut technique. When yous're sawing the hole, cut at a slight bending to make the dorsum of the opening larger (Photo ane).

The opening will be easier to slip over the box and y'all'll be less likely to intermission out corners. Also, score and break the fourth side with your utility knife. It's cleaner and easier than sawing, and y'all're less likely to damage the hole edges.

Hang the canvass with just enough screws to agree it in identify, keeping the screws well away from electric boxes. Then gently push the drywall into place around each box. If the opening doesn't slip past the box, employ a utility pocketknife to carve away the sides until the drywall fits (Photograph 4). And then finish screwing off the drywall canvass.

Oops!

If the hole isn't cut perfectly and you run screws through the drywall into the framing near boxes, the edges of the electrical box may break out the surrounding drywall.

Required Tools for this Project

Accept the necessary tools for this DIY projection lined upwards earlier you lot start—you'll save time and frustration.

Circle cutter

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips past having all your materials set up ahead of time. Here's a listing.

Originally Published: September 30, 2019

Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-cut-drywall-for-an-opening/

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