You should hear a scratching noise, which is the sign that the tile is being scored. Then clamp your tile securely onto a firm surface like a sawhorse. If you have never used any of these tools before, it’s a good idea to practice a little on some spare or scrap tiles before you get started in earnest. Use a straight edge to mark the line with an erasable marker. You can use paper cutouts to quickly draw a mark on the tile you want to cut. Mark a line across the tile at that distance. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Once you’ve scored the tile, move the handle back slightly from the tile’s edge and let the breaking feet lie flat on top of the tile. Use the tile saw to cut the tile and leave behind a smoother edge: Line up the blade on the saw with the outside of the line and cut. Note that the divisions below are just general guidelines: For some tiles, you may need to use a combination of tools and techniques. If you’re using pliers, open them and slide the tile all the way into them, with the scoring wheel sitting directly under the line you’ve scored on top of the tile. Use the tile saw to cut the tile and leave behind a smoother edge: Line up the blade on the saw with the outside of the line and cut. 120-Volt Tile Saw DC 48 in. Jennifer Noonan, Bob Vila, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America, Make Your Own Vanity: 12 Inventive Bathroom Rehabs, 11 Retro Living Rooms Ideas We Almost Forgot About. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Use the vertical edge of the square and a pencil to draw your guideline. The latter tool costs little and can be found in craft stores and home stores, as well as online. Her work focuses on tutorials and self-help articles. Measure the area where the tile will be installed. A tile cutter is used to cut ceramic … It uses a simple “score-and-snap” technique that goes very quickly, enabling you to cut many tiles in a short period of time. You can pick one up on Amazon for under $10. Align the horizontal edge of the square with the bottom edge of the tile. When cutting curves to fit around a toilet, pedestal, … As you get closer to your marked line, take smaller and smaller nips. Cutting tiles is not as hard as you think! And each type of cut entails different methods and tools. ceramic-tile hole saw (from about $10 for individual bits to about $50 for kits). Based in southern Virginia, Kristy Robinson has been writing for various websites since 2008. Pry cut pieces from the surface with a small pry bar placed into the joints. Best Professional: Rubi 10 in. If you try to remove too much at once, you will end up cracking the tile. Next, you have to align the tile, as to make sure the blade lines up with the marks at both ends. Tile cutters also make it too easy to cut too much of the tile if you only need to remove one corner. As you lay out your tile design, determine what kinds of cuts you’ll need, then check below for the situation that best describes your job to find out how to proceed. Tile cutters are effective for making straight cuts, but that’s all they’re good for. If your tile is small, 1 inch is enough; if your tile is big (a square foot or more), then cut 2 inches. Score along deep curves lines and then score several perpendicular lines from the curve to the edge of the tile. Draw lines with a permanent marker where you want to cut the tile. A small- to medium-size ceramic tiling job is a project that’s well within the grasp of most DIYers. 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