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Drywall would really go up quickly if you didn’t have to slow down to make holes for electrical boxes and other such impediments. The hard part is not cutting the opening, but marking accurately where the opening should be. There are various ways to avoid hacking a large hole in drywall to accommodate openings. | Measure the location of the box on the wall, and
then transfer those same dimensions onto the
drywall. |
•Use lipstick. Put a small dab of lipstick on the face of each corner of an outlet box. Put the sheet of drywall in place, then tap or press it against the box that is wearing lipstick. Your corners will be exactly marked for cutting.
•Use a tape measure. Measure the location of the box on the wall, and then transfer those same dimensions onto the drywall. Make sure you take all variables into account – and measure from the correct ends and sides. This is usually an accurate method, but can be more tedious.
•Dent the drywall. Position the drywall sheet in place over an outlet box, then just give the drywall a few hard hits near the box to dent the outlet dimensions into the drywall. Watch that you don’t push the outlet box out of place or dent the drywall on the room side.
•Trace the box outline. This only works if you can reach behind the drywall. Position the drywall against the outlet box, then use a pencil to mark the perimeter.
•Carve from the center. Position the drywall in place, then cut or drill a small hole inside the outlet box area. Now that you can see inside the box, just start cutting and carving outward until the drywall slides over the box.
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