How to Cut Tiles: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

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How to Cut Tiles: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Cut Tiles: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
Anonim

If you are planning on doing some flooring work yourself, you need to cut some tiles to fit the perimeter and corners of the room, just to name a couple of situations. You can purchase a specific cutter at the building supplies store if you plan to do small jobs and use ceramic tiles. But if you want to use natural stone, thick tiles or have to pave large areas, then you should hire a water saw. In addition, this tool allows you to obtain clean and straight cuts, much better than those of the manual cutter. Remember that you will also need to get special pliers and a water saw for the special notches and cuts.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: With a Manual Cutter

Cut Tile Step 1
Cut Tile Step 1

Step 1. Purchase a manual cutter that is wider than the maximum tile size

If you have to do a diagonal laying or you have to proceed with diagonal cuts, measure the tiles from corner to corner and buy a cutter that is larger than this value. It should also have a graduated rotating guide (like a protractor) that allows you to make cuts at precise angles.

Cut Tile Step 2
Cut Tile Step 2

Step 2. Practice using a cutter with scraps or inexpensive tiles

Cut Tile Step 3
Cut Tile Step 3

Step 3. Use a pencil to draw thick marks on both sides of the shiny face of the tile, they will be the starting and ending point of the incision

Cut Tile Step 4
Cut Tile Step 4

Step 4. Slide the cutter lever so the blade is close to you

Cut Tile Step 5
Cut Tile Step 5

Step 5. Insert the tile into the cutter with the shiny side facing up

Make sure the thick marks you drew are under the guide and that the tile is stuck. If you need to cut multiple tiles in exactly the same way, adjust the protractor so it is against the edge of the tile and lock it.

Cut Tile Step 6
Cut Tile Step 6

Step 6. Move the lever so that the carbide or tungsten rotating blade is on one of the pencil marks you drew on the edge of the tile

Push down and move the lever along the length of the tile with constant pressure. The movement should be smooth and you don't have to go through the incision several times.

Cut Tile Step 7
Cut Tile Step 7

Step 7. Push the lever down to apply pressure to both sides of the incision

This is now the weakest point of the tile and it will crack sharply.

Cut Tile Step 8
Cut Tile Step 8

Step 8. To smooth the edge of the cut, scrub it with a whetstone

If the edge will be hidden by a molding or skirting board, you can skip this step.

Method 2 of 2: With a Water Saw

Cut Tile Step 9
Cut Tile Step 9

Step 1. Fill the tank with water

Cut Tile Step 10
Cut Tile Step 10

Step 2. Adjust the cutting guide according to the measurements or marks you made on the shiny face of the tile

Cut Tile Step 11
Cut Tile Step 11

Step 3. Place the tile with the shiny side facing up

Make sure it fits snugly on the guide.

Cut Tile Step 12
Cut Tile Step 12

Step 4. Turn on the saw and let the blade do its job

The cut should be very clean and precise, and you don't have to force the tile to go under the blade.

Advice

You can use the manual cutter to carve the lines of an "L" notch but you will need to use pliers or wire cutters to break the tile along the incisions, in the hope that it will not break and that the cut will be done precisely. Tile cutters look like ordinary carbide-edged pliers. You waste less tiles if you use a water saw

Warnings

  • A manual cutter cannot shape strips of tile thinner than 1.2 cm.
  • Porcelain and thick ceramic cannot be cut cleanly with a hand cutter. Know that you will have a lot of waste, alternatively use a water saw. Natural stones can only be cut with a water saw.

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