Things You'll Need
Tape measure
T-square
Electric drill
Hole saw
Drywall nails or drywall screws
Drywall hammer or electric drywall screw gun
If any pipes extend out farther than the thickness of the drywall you are hanging, you have to cut a hole for the pipe in the drywall sheet. This is one of the challenging aspects of drywall installation and must be done correctly. If it isn't, you will either waste drywall or create additional tasks for yourself after installation to cover openings that are too large. You often encounter the need to install drywall around pipes when working around drain and water pipes, gas lines and other pipes.
Step 1
Measure the distance from each side of the pipe, on the left and right, to the edges of the adjacent panels around it, using a tape measure. Write down these measurements.
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Step 2
Measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the pipe, using a tape measure. Write down this measurement. Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the pipe, using a tape measure. Write down this measurement.
Step 3
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to verify your measurements. Remember the adage of measuring twice and cutting once.
Step 4
Transfer the measurements to the front of the drywall sheet, using a pencil. Position a T-square on the drywall sheet and draw straight lines through the four marks to create a square outline of the pipe.
Step 5
Draw two diagonal lines through the box, from corner to corner, creating an "X" with the pencil.
Step 6
Drill a pilot hole directly through the center of the square to the other side of the drywall sheet. Drill where the lines that make the "X" intersect, using an electric drill.
Step 7
Remove the drill bit and install a hole saw into the drill. Make certain the hole saw is correctly sized to match the pipe size without going outside the square's outline.
Step 8
Hold the electric drill with the hole saw's center bit aligned with the pilot hole on the front of the drywall sheet. Run the drill slowly and make sure the hole saw's teeth cut into the sheet evenly. Drill through the sheet, increasing speed as the hole saw cuts, and cut through the drywall.
Step 9
Place the drywall sheet in position with the hole fitting over the pipe. Install drywall nails or screws through the sheet and into the studs, using either a drywall hammer or an electric drywall screw gun.
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