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- 1). Measure the area where the sheetrock will go. Measure from the center of one joist to the farthest joist up to a maximum of 4, 8 or 12 feet, depending on how you install the sheetrock and the size of the sheets used. Sheetrock comes in 4-by-8-foot or 4-by-12-foot sheets. If the joist is 2 inches wide, measure 1 inch in from the center of the joist, to 1 inch in to the center of the ending joist at the maximum distance. Sheetrock is cut on the longest side to make the best use of the material. Even if the ceiling is slanted in relationship to the walls, the area to be filled with sheetrock is still a flat surface. Installing sheetrock allows for a 1/4-inch tolerance for error on either side.
- 2). Use a carpenter's pencil to transfer the long measurement to the length of the sheetrock laid flat on the floor for working. If installing a piece of sheetrock that will be 3 feet wide by 6 feet long, measure 6 feet down the length of the sheetrock with the measuring tape and make a mark.
- 3). Cut the sheetrock's length first, cutting across the entire 4-foot width at the 6-foot mark as per the example. Working on the front side, firmly hold the carpenter's square in place, resting its top along the edge of the sheetrock and keep the utility knife steady in your hand as you run along the edge of the square on the mark made, cutting through the face paper on the sheetrock. This step is called "scoring." Score across the full width of the sheetrock.
- 4). Remove the carpenter's square and carefully fold or "snap" the sheetrock along the scored edge. Take the smallest piece of the sheetrock and fold over the largest piece of sheetrock and then "snap" it like a cracker.
- 5). Use the utility knife to cut through the backside of the paper, keeping the scored piece attached to the main sheet of sheetrock after snapping. Run the utility knife along the edge of the sheetrock so the blade slides along the sheetrock's flat surface as it cuts through the remaining paper. Set aside the 2-by-4-foot wide piece of sheetrock for later use.
- 6). Repeat this action for the width of the sheetrock. Create measurements for the 3-foot width along the 6-foot length at 2-, 4- and 6-foot intervals, and then use the carpenter's square to make a straight line between these measurements. Score the utility knife along the edge of the square following the marked line on the face of the sheetrock. This will require moving the carpenter's square for the last 2 feet. Ensure that you hold it in place securely to finish the cut in a straight line. Snap and cut as in the previous steps. Set the unused portion aside for later use.
- 7). Smooth out any rough cut edges using the rasp by running it lightly across the scored edge once or twice. Remember to keep the scored sheetrock edge as flat as possible; don't gouge the rasp into the sheet's edge.
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