How to Mark for Electrical Boxes When Hanging Drywall | This Old House

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares some tricks-of-the-trade for accurately marking drywall cutouts. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

Shopping List for Mark for Electrical Boxes When Hanging Drywall:
- Mark-and-cut transfer sheet, used to transfer electrical-box locations to back of drywall

Tools for for Mark for Electrical Boxes When Hanging Drywall:
- level
- drywall jab saw
- rubber mallet

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How to Mark for Electrical Boxes When Hanging Drywall | This Old House

[johnteplir]

Thank you guys. This “measurement” system plain works. I’m hanging paneling, and as you know there is no room for error. Thank you.

[jacked-]

Ive used lip stick. apply the lip stick to the edges of the electrical box, press the dry wall like Tom does it leaves the same what happened to my lip stick?

[lxxsvnxxl]

Where do you find those marking sheets

[wolfgangbergler]

And then you find out that drywall is not supposed to touch the floor when installed.

[emsteph]

Wow...I used the first method and it worked!! First time hanging wall paneling and I don't have fancy tools. This was simple and am somehow amazed I didn't screw it up. Thanks for posting.

[russellsylvia]

When i did my drywall project, i got my self these magnetic Electrical Box Cutout Tool. You stick on in the box the other one locates it once you place the drywall.

[rawalz]

Learning new ideas everyday. Love This Old House!

[pablofreirerodriguez]

Simple and easy but very very powerful..!!! Greetings from Ecuador in South America..

[vladislavginovker]

Really loved second approach!!! I am wondering where I can buy thi marking g sheets?

[sohood]

Where do I get this transfer paper from? Great info by the way.

[farmermarshall]

Just what I was looking to find! My project just got easier!

[HomeImProveMentHow]

*Thanks for sharing great idea. You can aLL SO Use a peace of Drywall & Chalk the ectrical outlet edges & Do the same thing, To mark you're Drywall to cut electrical outlet opening*
Bye for now, I look forward to hear from you.👍

[eyeswideshut]

Deffo getting some of that stick stuff or making some on site, tape and any paint or powder like substance or anything that has color should work just as great. You start getting up high and the level or story pole is a bit cumbersome but first Youtube video I've seen and I've seen a LOT with the easiest tip when you don't want to measure, I don't.

[Jaest]

What is the the red tape called? And where to buy?

[andreastaples]

Where would I find the red marking paper and it's actual name?

[JesusMartinez-rybw]

transferring lines like he did in the video works wonders

[Spamlure]

Why is the drywall resting on the floor? I was told not to do that. Perhaps he should have shimmed it up a 1/4 inch.

[billymitchell]

I've never seen sheetrock sit on the floor because it absorbs moisture. That's why you use a kicker, to get the SR off the floor. I like the way you did not show the damage to the good side of the sheetrock after you stabbed it with the jab-saw. Maybe and just maybe your over-sized receptacle plate will cover it up. Personally I would throw the sheet out and start over in order to NOT use an over-sized plate. Thanks for not disabling comments like so many do.

[xxwesxx]

where do you buy that red transfer paper

[MrJacoa]

Just mark the center, Install the drywall without screwing close to the boxes, put a hammer claw through the center line and follow the edge of the box with the saw.