How to Cut a Sheetrock Ceiling to Expose the Attic

Place a ladder under the ceiling where you want to install the attic access. Climb up the ladder and place a stud finder on the ceiling. Slide the stud finder from side to side until you locate a ceiling joist and mark it with a pencil. Locate at least one more joist in the same manner.

Read the instructions on your hatch cover to determine the proper width and length for the opening. Use a tape measure and straightedge to draw a square on the ceiling that is the same size as the measurements. Make sure the square falls between the marked ceiling joists.

Hammer a nail halfway into the center of the square, then pull out the nail with your fingers or pliers. Insert the center post of a circle cutting tool into the nail hole. Hold the center post in place and move the cutting wheel around the post two or three times using firm pressure.

Tap the circular cutout gently with a hammer until it pushes up into the ceiling. Push it aside and look into the hole using a flashlight to ensure no wires or pipes are directly above you.

Insert the tip of a drywall saw into the center hole and begin cutting outward toward the perimeter of the square marking. Cut all the way around the outline of the square until the entire square falls out of the ceiling.

Reach into the hole and remove the circular cutout, if it did not already fall out.