If you’re comfortable with intermediate DIY tasks, tiling your bathroom or kitchen is certainly something you can do yourself. In this expert guide, with easy-to-follow video, we show you how to cut tiles.
When tiling your bathroom or kitchen, at some point, you will need to cut your tiles. This will usually be required when tiling around trickier areas, like windows or door frames.
There are several methods you can use and the option you choose will usually depend on several factors, including:
- The amount of tiling you’ll need to do
- Tile material
- Budget
As part of our series of articles on simple quick fixes for your home, you’ll find all of these methods, along with the tools you’ll need, detailed below. You can skip to the relevant section by clicking on the link below.
- Video
- Safety first
- How to cut tiles using a tile scribe
- How to cut tiles using a flatbed tile cutter
- Cutting tiles using a wet cutter
- Other handy tiling tools
- More DIY tiling advice
How to cut tiles video
Check out this handy video which will show you how to cut tiles using various methods.
Safety first
Cutting tiles can be hazardous, as you will be using a blade or sharp object of some sort. Always remember to wear strong gloves and safety glasses, and take all necessary safety precautions.
How to cut tiles using a tile scribe
The most basic tool for cutting tiles is a tile scribe. It contains a tungsten carbide tip and is very simple to use. Here’s how to cut tiles using a tile scribe.
- Use a steel rule to score the tile along your cut line.
- Place your tile scribe underneath your tile and apply pressure to form a clean break. Some tile scribes will have a built-in action for snapping tiles.
How to cut tiles using a flatbed cutter
A flatbed tile cutter will both score and snap tiles, as well as providing a sturdy base to support the tile during cutting. Here’s how to cut tiles using a flatbed cutter.
- Measure and mark the cut line and insert the tile into the tile cutter.
- Line up the cut line with the cutting wheel and apply pressure. If the cutting wheel is sharp, one pass should be enough to score the tile.
- Once done, use the built-in snapper to break along the score line.
Cutting tiles using a wet cutter
If you have a lot of tiles to cut, an electric diamond wheel cutter is a helpful tool. And as porcelain floor tiles are thicker than wall tiles, a wet cutter may be your best option.
They tend to be more expensive but require very little effort to use. They are also very useful for L shaped cuts. Most wet cutters will also come with a cutting guide, meaning consistent cuts are easy to achieve.
Other handy tiling tools
A cheaper alternative to the wet cutter is a tile saw. This will also allow for L shaped cuts. The other option is to buy ceramic tile blades for jigsaws and multi-tools.
Other handy tools to have when cutting are tile nippers and a tile file. Nippers will help remove any excess pieces of tile after cutting and a file will leave a smooth edge ready for tiling.
You’ll find a comprehensive range of tiling tools at VictoriaPlum.com.
More DIY and tiling advice
At Victoria Plum, you’ll find loads of expert advice on tiling, plus easy-to-follow guides which show you how to tackle those easy fixes in your bathroom.
Simply head to our bathroom advice section or click on any of the links below:
