How to cut tiles

Get creative with your tiling project with tile cutting. Whether it’s to fit an awkward space or a more complex laying pattern, cutting tiles allows you the freedom to get the look you want and most importantly, a clean and professional finish.

When cutting tiles, you need to ensure you’re using the right tool for the job, this will ensure a clean and tidy cut, not only will it look better but it will make your tiling a much easier job when fixing to a wall or floor.

PLANNING AND PREPARATION

Equipment you’ll need for any tile cutting

• PPE (personal protective equipment) – gloves, goggles, face mask (and ear defenders/plugs if you’re using an electric cutter)
• Tile Markers
• Scribe
• Tile File
• Suitable Tile Cutter

Tiles can be cut using a variety of methods depending on the type of material and the cut required.

HOW TO USE A MANUAL CUTTER

Also known as a score and snap or rail cutter, they are ideal for cutting ceramic tiles and tiles no thicker than 8mm. However heavy-duty manual tile cutters can cut through porcelain tiles and thicker tiles with the right scoring wheel. It’s a simple process of scoring a tile, cutting along the score line using a wheel attached to a rail and then using a breaker to part the tile.

To use a manual cutter, you’ll need a scoring wheel, available in a variety of sizes, see the manufacturer’s guidelines on which wheel to use as not all scoring wheels suit every material. Before cutting, ensure you have the right wheel fitted and remember to measure the tile and check it again before making your cut.

A manual cutter can be used for straight cuts. If you want to achieve right angles, curved edges or cutting thicker tiles such as porcelain and natural stone you will need an electric cutter.

To measure where the tile needs to be cut, place a tile on top of the last full tile and mark with a tile marker where they overlap, this is where you need to cut.

Make sure you leave enough room for the grout joint and movement joint (examples being corners and perimeters).

1. Place the tile in the tile cutter, square it up to the plate and get the wheel and mark on the tile to line up.
2. Press down firmly on the handle of the cutter, and push forward across the tile to score a line. Scoring more than once will most likely break the tile.
3. Hold the handle and apply increasing pressure down on the handle to snap the tile. Avoid pressing too hard as this can cause the tile to break into multiple pieces.
4. If the cut isn’t clean and the edges are slightly rough, use a file or filing stone to smooth the edges

Porcelain tiles require a much higher breaking pressure so not every manual cutter will cut correctly, seek advice from your local store on which cutter would suit your requirements.

HOW TO USE AN ELECTRIC CUTTER

A wet cutter is an electric method used to cut tiles. It uses a diamond blade which picks up water as it spins, this keeps both the blade and tile cool by using cold water as it cuts. This ensures a better cut, less friction through the tile (preventing cracking), less dust and a longer lasting blade. They’re often used to cut hard porcelain, marble, granite and other natural stones.

These types of cutters require a diamond edged blade suitable for the material you intend to cut. Electric wet cutters are normally supplied with a diamond blade suitable only for ceramic tiles, if you are unsure on what blade is required, seek advice from your local store on which cutting disc would be suitable for your chosen tiles.

To ensure you’re using an electric cutter safely it’s important to carry out some pre-cut checks, these are:

• Check the operating voltage is compatible with the electrical supply
• Visually check that there are no defects, particularly the mains plug and power cable
• Ensure that the safety guard is in place and adjusted correctly
• Ensure that the water level is topped up
• Switch on the machine and a fine spray of water will cover the cutting blade

When using the wet cutter don’t force the tile on the blade, press the tile gently against the blade letting the diamond edge do the work. If the disc is struggling to cut the tile its likely that the blade is incompatible with your tile or you’re pressing too hard.

HOW TO USE AN ANGLE GRINDER

Angle grinders spin much faster than wet cutters so you must ensure you have the right blade. Using the wrong blade on an angle grinder can cause friction making the tile to heat up very fast, often causing cracking and chipping.

The blade required depends on the size of angle grinder being used, check the manufacturer’s guidelines on which disc to use for your project. Available blade sizes go from 115mm to 230mm.

If dry cutting is absolutely necessary ensure you wear the appropriate safety equipment, protect yourself and bystanders from dangerous silica dust and work in short, shallow passes to prevent overheating and chipping.

HOW TO USE TILE NIPPERS

Helpful for cuts that cannot be achieved using a machine, tile nippers are hand held tools ideal for glass, mosaics and small areas from ceramic and porcelain tiles (no thicker than 8mm). They’re great for creating rounded edges which can then be neatened up with a file.

When using tile nippers, mark out the area you wish to cut, measure and check it then scribe score your line once, nipping the tile as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.