Cutting drywall at an ange requires a special technique.
Wall repairs and minor construction projects don't often crop up during normal household maintenance; nevertheless, knowing work with drywall, also known as gypsum board or sheetrock, is a worthwhile skill for any do-it-yourself homeowner to acquire. Drywall work can be divided into four broad categories: cutting and trimming, hanging, finishing and carrying out minor repairs. Trimming is one of the easier categories to master. All you need is a utility knife and steel straightedge for straight or angled cuts and a drywall saw for irregular cuts.
Instructions
1. Insulate and cover the underside of the roof with drywall to create a sloping ceiling if you are converting an attic under a 60-degree sloping roof into a usable room.
2. Place a spirit level against the left-hand corner between the lowest part of the sloping ceiling and the wall. Center the bubble, and mark a horizontal line across the wall between studs, using a carpenter's pencil. Divide the horizontal line into 4-foot sections, using a steel measuring tape and a pencil.
3. Place the left edge of the spirit level vertically against the first left-hand dividing point, center the bubble and scribe a line from the dividing point up the wall to the sloping ceiling. Repeat with the rest of the dividing points across the wall.
4. Draw an accurate sketch of the wall on a legal pad. Measure the height of each dividing line and transfer the dimensions to the sketch. Install all panels vertically across walls that butt up against a sloping ceiling.
5. Place a drywall panel on a pair of trestles. Refer to your sketch, and measure and mark the height of the first right-hand dividing line on both sides of the panel. Join these points by drawing a line across the drywall with a straightedge and pencil to represent the bottom cut line on the first left-hand sloping panel.
6. Measure and mark the height from the line across the board to the left edge of the sloping ceiling. Mark this point on the left edge of the panel. Join the left point with the upper right corner of the panel to represent the angled cut line.
7. Place the straightedge across the panel, and line it up accurately with the horizontal cut line. Use the side of the straightedge as a guide, and make a shallow cut smoothly across the panel through the paper, using a sharp utility knife.
8. Lift the panel off the trestles. Place the edge of the board on the floor with the cut line facing your body. Hold the panel with your hands about 2 feet apart on either side of the cut line. Brace your hands and bump your right knee firmly against the drywall close to the cut line to snap the panel cleanly in half.
9. Fold the panel to about 45 degrees with the uncut side of the paper facing your body. Slip the blade of the utility knife into the top edge of the uncut paper seam. Hold the utility knife at a downward-sloping angle and slice smoothly through the paper to separate the two halves.
10. Place the piece of drywall with the sloping cut line on a work table. Place the straightedge on the angled cut line. Hold the utility knife against the straightedge and cut smoothly through the angled line with the tip of the utility knife.
11. Position the angled cut line on the edge of the work table with the waste section overhanging the side. Support the inside of the cut line with a sturdy plank. Press down on the plank, and bump the protruding corner of the drywall firmly downward with the heel of your hand to sever the panel.
12. Invert the panel and fold the cut edge upward. Slice through the paper seam smoothly with the utility knife to complete the angled cut. Repeat this procedure and cut the required number of angled boards to cover the rest of the wall.
Related posts
Drywall -- also known as "sheetrock" -- is a basic building material used in the construction of walls and ceilings. Because it's sold in large sheets, new builders may find it rather di...
Casing covers the gap between drywall and a window jamb.Drywall is a compressed sheet of a powdery substance known as gypsum, sandwiched between layers of paper to stiffen it. It can be easily cut...
Trim & Edge Sheetrock for a CeilingSheetrock is a common term for gypsum drywall, which comes in large panels. Often, builders need to trim and edge Sheetrock to install it. While it is possib...
Installing drywall on a gable ceiling requires a drywall lift.Drywall panels are composed of pressed gypsum particles and covered with paper to provide a smooth surface for walls and ceilings. Sol...
When attaching drywall to the ceiling, it's tempting to slap a coat of drywall compound on the joints, let it dry, then sand and paint. But to get a really smooth finish, take the time to put on a...
