FAQ: How To Cut Interlocking Ceramic Floor Tiles?

How do you cut ceramic tile by hand?

To cut ceramic tile by hand without a tile cutter:

1. Mark the top of the tile where you want to cut it.
2. Place a square on the tile slightly away from the mark.
3. Use a glass cutter to score the tile on the cut line.
4. Place the tile on solid surface with a wire clothes hanger under the tile aligned with the score mark.

How do you cut ceramic tile floor?

While loose tiles are cut using a tile wet saw, installed tiles need to be cut with hand tools. To make square or box cuts in the tile, or to cut out large sections of tile, use an angle grinder. To make circular cuts to accommodate pipes, use a hole saw.

Do you cut ceramic tile face up or down?

Regardless of the kind of tile you’re cutting, the best method is to cut with the front of the tile facing up. The front is the side that will be exposed once you lay the tile. This method ensures the smoothest finished edge on the tile with the least amount of chipping.

Can you cut ceramic tiles with an angle grinder?

You can also cut tile with a 4-inch angle grinder with a stone blade attached, and while the cuts aren’t as clean as with a tile cutting board or a tile wet saw it is an acceptable method for rough cuts around heater vents, doorways and against walls where they will be covered by baseboard or finish materials.

Can you cut ceramic tile with a jigsaw?

The jigsaw is an ideal tool for cutting a variety of substances, including ceramic tile. Small and light weight, the jigsaw is easily handled regardless of your skill or strength.

What is the best way to cut porcelain tile?

Cutting porcelain tile with a wet saw is the most efficient and most highly recommended option, although Dremels and hand tools can easily be used to cut porcelain to your specifications as well.

Can a hacksaw cut tile?

A manual tile cutter, hacksaw or wet saw are generally best for porcelain tiles used in bathrooms. Whatever tool you use the process is similar: score a shallow cut in the tile and then use the brittle nature of the porcelain to snap the tile apart.

Why wont my tile cutters cut straight?

Try double scoring the end that is not braking correctly. you could just be missing some pressure on the scoring action. Try slowly breaking the tile with smaller push down actions with the breaker on the tile and slowly move up the tile doing the same instead of one swift snapping action.

Why is my ceramic tile chipping when cutting?

If a tile chips, it is generally not a manufacturing fault but is the cause of one of the following accidents against the tile itself: Dropping a heavy or hard object onto the ceramic or porcelain tile. This may cause the surface to crack or chip.

Is it hard to cut ceramic tile?

Common 1/4-inch tile found in most tile stores that’s used for bathroom walls and kitchen back splashes is not nearly as hard as porcelain. These can be nipped by hand or cut easily with a traditional snap tile cutter. It won’t take long for you to see how easy it is to use a traditional snap cutter and tile nippers.

Can you cut tiles without a tile cutter?

There are several methods for cutting tiles by hand without a tile cutter, using a cutting tool such as a glass cutter or a carbide-tipped pencil. Firmly press the edge of the glass cutter or carbide pencil along the line, using a carpenter square as a guide. Do not cut entirely through the tile.

Does Dremel cut tile?

Save time and freely cut any shape or size in wall tiles with your Dremel Rotary-Tool and the Wall Tile Cutting attachment. Easily choose your cutting depth up to 20mm with the cutting guide.

Can you file ceramic tile?

When glazed tile is cut it has a rough, ragged unfinished edge. You can dress that unfinished edge by smoothing it with a ceramic tile file. This type of file has carbide grit cemented to it, the same as is used to tumble stone. A ceramic tile file is a handheld tool that anybody can use.