How Do Professionals Cut Tiles?

Tile cutting is an essential skill for any home improvement project involving tile installation. Properly cutting tiles ensures the finished product has a clean, professional appearance. Learning the right techniques and using the proper tools prevents wasted tiles and frustration. This guide will provide an overview of tile cutting best practices to equip both novice and experienced tilers with the knowledge to efficiently cut tile for floors, walls, kitchens, bathrooms, and more.

Understanding how to accurately measure, mark, and cut tile prevents imperfections in the finished installation. No one wants uneven edges, jagged corners, or obvious cut lines marring the look of their new tiled surface. Patience and precision when cutting helps achieve seamless results. Tile cutting proficiency is also important from a cost perspective – mistakes mean wasted expensive tiles, so developing expertise saves money. Whether embarking on a large flooring project or simply updating a kitchen backsplash, proper planning and execution of tile cuts is critical.

Tools Needed

Professional tilers use a variety of specialized tools to accurately cut tile. The main tools needed are:

• Wet saw – A wet saw continuously sprays water on the blade to minimize dust and prevent overheating while cutting tile. This tool allows for straight cuts and mitered edges. Wet saws come in different sizes for tiles and specialty materials like natural stone. They are an essential tool for most professional tile jobs (https://www.tileclub.com/blogs/news/how-to-cut-tiles-best-tools-techniques).

• Tile cutter – Also called a snap cutter or manual tile cutter. This tool scores the tile surface before snapping the tile along the score line. It’s good for straight cuts and some basic shapes. Tile cutters are portable and don’t require electricity (https://benchmarkabrasives.com/blogs/news/how-to-cut-tile-using-common-tools).

• Tile nippers – These are plier-like tools used to nibble away small pieces of tile to shape edges or make detailed cuts. Tilers often use nippers for finishing touches and tight spaces after making the main cuts with other tools (https://www.tileclub.com/blogs/news/how-to-cut-tiles-best-tools-techniques).

• Grinder – An angle grinder with a diamond blade can cut tile and smooth cut edges. Grinders are useful for making curved or irregular cuts. However, they generate more dust and waste compared to other tile cutting tools.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

Careful and precise measurement is one of the most important aspects of properly cutting tiles. The old adage “measure twice, cut once” is especially applicable when working with tile. Taking the time to carefully measure and mark your tiles prior to making any cuts will ensure accurate cuts and prevent wasted tiles from improper measuring.

When measuring tiles, it’s important to account for the space needed for grout joints between each tile. A standard grout joint is usually 1/8 inch wide. To accurately measure tiles, determine the size of grout joint you plan to use, then add the width of one full tile plus 1/8 inch to determine the size needed to fit one full tile and one grout joint. Using a tile spacer as a consistent gauge for the grout joint width can help take precise measurements.

Mark all measurements on the tiles with a wax pencil or tile marker prior to cutting. When measuring wall tiles, some pros recommend starting from the center point and working outward to ensure symmetrical spacing on the walls. Measure every tile – don’t assume multiple tiles are the same size. With careful planning and measurement at the start, you can help minimize unnecessary cuts, cracks, and gaps.

“How to Measure for Tile Cuts-An Easy Method.” https://www.sothatshowyoudothat.com/how-to-measure-for-tile-cuts-an-easy-method/

Cutting with a Wet Saw

A wet saw, also known as a tile saw, is an essential power tool for making precise, clean cuts in ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles. Most tiles, especially porcelain and ceramic, should be cut with a wet saw to prevent cracking, chipping, or fraying of the tile edges.

Wet saws use a diamond-tipped blade to make smooth cuts while continuously spraying water on the blade and tile to limit friction, overheating, and drying of the blade. The water prevents the tile from overheating and cracking while also minimizing dust.

When using a wet saw:

• Wear safety glasses and a dust mask to protect yourself from debris.
• Adjust the tile guide fence on the saw bed to the desired width of cut.
• Place the tile face up on the bed against the guide fence.
• Hold the tile firmly in place and turn on the saw.
• Slowly feed the tile through the blade at an even pace until the cut is complete.
• Lift the tile and turn off the saw once finished with the cut.

Take care not to force the tile through too quickly, as this can lead to cracked edges. Patience is key. Allow the diamond blade to do the work at its intended feed rate.

Be extremely cautious with your fingers while cutting tiles. Never place fingers near the blade. Wait for the blade to come to a complete stop before removing cut tiles or making adjustments.

Using a Tile Cutter

A manual tile cutter, also known as a score and snap cutter, is a great tool for straight cuts on most tile materials. It works by scoring the glaze on the tile before snapping the tile in two along the scored line.

To use a manual tile cutter:

• Place the tile face up in the cutting tray, lining up the mark where you want to cut with the cutting wheel.
• Lower the cutting wheel handle to apply pressure and roll the wheel across the tile to score it.
• Raise the cutting wheel back up.
• Position the tile so the score line aligns with the breaker bar.
• Press down firmly and evenly on the handles to snap the tile along the scored line.

Tips for straight cuts:

• Use a square or right angle guide to ensure you are lining up the cuts properly.
• Score the line multiple times for a deeper groove if needed.
• Keep downward pressure steady and fluid while scoring for a clean line.
• Snap off any ragged edges from the cut with tile nippers.
• For small tiles, use tile pliers to snap instead of the breaker bar.

Tile Nippers

Tile nippers are a hand tool designed for making detailed cuts in tile, especially for tight curves and irregular shapes. They work by using leverage to “nip” off small pieces of tile in a controlled manner. Tile nippers excel at making notches, indentations, holes, and rounded cuts that other tools like wet saws struggle with. They are an essential tool for cutting accent tiles, mosaics, subway tiles, and any tile application requiring custom shapes.

Nippers should be used when you need to cut a tight curve or irregular shape in a tile. The leverage provided by the handles allows for more control than using a straight cutting tool like a glass cutter. Nippers can nip out pieces as small as 1/8 inch, making them ideal for detailed cuts. They are especially useful when cutting around obstacles like electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, and built-in appliances. Nippers are also great for making custom cuts on accent tiles and mosaics to fit together like puzzle pieces.

Proper nipper technique involves holding the tile securely in one hand while snipping small pieces out with a rocking motion using the nipper handles. Make gradual cuts rather than trying to nip off large sections at once. Position the nippers at the edge of the tile and apply even pressure on both handles to get a clean break. Keep hands clear of the cutting wheels while snipping. Make multiple small nips rather than fewer larger cuts for greater control. Always nip away from your fingers and body for safety. Check fit often when shaping tiles, nipping off any high spots for a perfect custom cut.

With practice, tile nippers allow for intricate custom cuts on even the hardest tiles like porcelain. They are a versatile hands-on cutting method for edge pieces, backsplashes, mosaics, and unique tile designs.

Cutting Holes

Cutting circular holes in tile for outlets, fixtures, and pipes requires special techniques. Using a standard circular saw blade often results in rough edges and tile fractures. Professionals rely on hole saws, jigsaws, or rotary tools to cut clean holes.

Hole saws consisting of a drill bit surrounded by a toothed cylinder provide the best results for boring circular openings in tile. Attach the proper diameter hole saw to a power drill and apply steady, even pressure while drilling. Use tape around the desired hole location to prevent slippage. Start drilling slowly and accelerate once the hole saw teeth grind through the glazed tile surface. Lubricating the hole saw with water prevents overheating and cracking (https://www.rubi.com/us/blog/how-to-cut-a-circle-in-tile/).

For larger holes where a hole saw is impractical, tile professionals carefully drill pilot holes and use a jigsaw to cut out the remaining material. Move the jigsaw smoothly and slowly to prevent fractures. A diamond grit or carbide blade designed for tile and stone reduces chipping. Lubricating the cutting line helps achieve a clean edge.

Grinding and Smoothing

After cutting tiles, it’s important to smooth and polish the edges so they don’t look rough or uneven. Using an angle grinder with a diamond polishing pad is an effective way to achieve smooth edges on porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone tiles. According to ehow.com, fit an angle grinder with a polishing pad and run it along the edge of the tile that’s been pre-rounded by cutting (source). Using progressively finer grit diamond polishing pads, from around 50-grit to 3000-grit, helps polish the edges to a smooth finish.

Diamond polishing pads designed for ceramics and tile are essential for this grinding and polishing process. Coarse 50-grit pads first smooth out any major irregularities, while finer grit pads from 800-3000 provide an increasingly polished, glossy edge. Apply light pressure and keep the grinder moving constantly to avoid grinding too much in one spot. Cool the tile with water to avoid overheating. Finish by rubbing a porous stone along the edges to remove any embedded diamonds and give a final polished look.

Cutting Tips

To prevent chips and cracks when cutting tiles, you’ll want to take a few precautions. First, always score the tile surface multiple times with a tile cutter before attempting to snap the tile. Scoring creates a guideline for the tile to cleanly break along. You’ll get better results scoring 4-5 times rather than just once or twice. Use a softer material like porcelain under the scorer rather than glass or stone, which can chip more easily. Pull the tile upward when snapping to prevent cracks from appearing on the tile face. A snap tile cutter works better than simply using nippers for clean breaks.¹

Managing tile dust is crucial when cutting tiles to keep your workspace clean. Use a wet saw whenever possible, as the water prevents dust from flying everywhere. For a dry cutting method like a snap tile cutter, lay down a drop cloth to collect dust and debris. You can also use a shop vac with a HEPA filter right at the cut site to contain the dust. Wear a dust mask and safety glasses to protect yourself as well. Change filters and empty dust collection bags frequently to keep dust from accumulating and blowing around the work area.

When it comes to tricks of the trade, experienced tilers recommend starting cuts from the tile edge rather than the middle to reduce cracking. Keep extra tiles on hand for test cuts to dial in your technique before cutting your final tiles. Cut tile borders and trim pieces slightly larger, allowing you to fine tune the fit right before installing them. Use painter’s tape on glazed surfaces before cutting to prevent chips. And don’t be afraid to make several light passes when cutting or grinding rather than trying to force through the tile in one go.

Conclusion

Cutting tiles properly requires the right tools, technique, and practice. When starting any tile project, it’s important to take the time to learn how to use tile cutting tools safely and effectively. Rushing into cutting can lead to inconsistent results, cracked tiles, injuries, or damage to expensive equipment. Patience and care will lead to clean, accurate cuts.

Invest in quality tile cutting tools like wets saws, nippers, and cutters. Read all safety instructions and wear appropriate protective gear. Measure carefully, score tiles patiently, practice first on scrap tiles, and take your time during the actual cut. Setting tiles aside to dry after wet cuts will prevent cracks or chips. Letting your tools do the hard work instead of forcing cuts prevents injuries and mistakes.

With the right knowledge, preparation, tools, and practice, tile cutting can be satisfying and your results will be professional-grade. The investment of time learning proper technique will pay off for years to come in beautiful, long-lasting tile projects.