How can you cut tiles at home

Advanced option

There are options not only how to cut tiles at home as simply as possible, but also how to do it in a more advanced way. To achieve maximum quality, accuracy, accuracy and productivity, specialized machines with diamond tools and an electric drive are used. As a result, you can be sure. The more revolutions the tool has, the better the cut will be, the smoother it will be. Optionally, a water supply to the cutting point is applied, which also adds quality to the final cutting.

The described machines have many advantages, but there is one drawback, but an essential one. such machines are expensive. Buying them home is stupid. You can rent a machine, such services are widely available on the market, but even the rental cost is too high to offset the costs of bathroom / kitchen renovation. If you have access to such machines at work / with friends, you should definitely choose this option, otherwise it is difficult for them to cut tiles without chips. In other cases, it will be unprofitable.

Angle Grinder

Tile cutters are not the only tool to help you with ceramics. an angle grinder is a good option. It is also considered the simplest option. The advantage of an angle grinder is the ability to cut curly shapes, there is no other affordable and simple way how to cut a tile in a semicircle.

An angle grinder with a diamond wheel is always used. Other circles may not be strong enough for this material.

Other simple tools do not provide an easy way to cut curved shapes, so having an angle grinder in your toolbox is important.

The tool also has disadvantages:

• The roughness of the cut is high. It is necessary to process the cut strongly so that it comes out even enough for neat styling.
• The margin of error is great. It is important to lay a small spread when working with an angle grinder. you do not have to wait for a perfectly even result.
• Dustiness. If the apartment is not sufficiently ventilated, too much dust will accumulate in it with the described method of work. With methods that are not based on a cut, but on a fracture, the problem disappears. If it is not possible to create a draft to “pull” dust out of the air, you should not choose this option.

There is no difficulty in how to cut ceramic tiles with an angle grinder. Work happens as with any other material.

Simple option

When the tool is not at hand, the work needs to be done as soon as possible, accuracy is not very important, you can resort to the “old-fashioned” method, the most primitive and simple. So how do you cut tiles without a tile cutter and the like? Need a hammer with a sharp end. With the help of this hammer and a ruler (or other even object), notches are made along the mowing line, intended for further splitting. When there are enough notches, the notches will be relatively deep (albeit less deep than when using a glass cutter), the material is brought to the edge of the surface and with the help of pressure the unnecessary part is chipped off. Can be helped with the blunt side of the hammer, tapping slightly.

You should not use this method except in extreme cases, when there is no other way out and another tool at hand.

You should also not resort to it if the number of tiles you have is very limited. the risk of damage is too high to risk the stock you have. Alternatively, the notches can be made with any other durable sharp object. an awl, screwdriver, or similar is a good option. Large nails are often used. it is not a pity to damage them in case of unsuccessful actions.

Glass cutter

Working with fine ceramics is similar to working with glass, so you can use a regular glass cutter used to cut glass. A simple, easy option than you can cut ceramic tiles.

This method can be used to cut ceramics up to 5 millimeters thick, no more.

The tiles that are cut with a glass cutter are laid out on the walls; for the floor, the specified thickness is not enough. The technology is roughly similar to the technology for cutting glass. The material is laid on a smooth, durable surface. Marks are made along the edges at a distance of the cut, a ruler is pressed, and the deepest cut is made along it with a glass cutter. The material moves to the edge of the surface and breaks along the notch. The cut does not come out even enough, it is advisable to process the cut with a file. A special file is used, designed for ceramic products. Normal use is undesirable.

Tile cutter

There are special tile cutters that are no longer designed for glass, but specifically for working with ceramics in all its manifestations. This is one of the most common options for cutting ceramic tiles at home. They come in several form factors.

Forceps

These are straight-line cutters that allow you to cut small quantities of tiles. Manually controlled, no automation. The main advantage is the minimal cost, you can have such a tile cutter in your collection, even if you don’t have to cut tiles regularly. The pliers have a special sharpened roller, the diameter is up to 15 millimeters, which allows you to work with thick material, making deep grooves for breaking. As a result, the line of the fracture comes out more uneven, its entire uneven part turns out to be insignificant and is completely hidden behind the grouting. The minus of the forceps is the impossibility of cutting a thick strip. Another disadvantage is the impossibility of working with thicker materials.

Manual

A popular option for how to trim ceramic tiles at home. A manual tile cutter allows you to simplify the work with tiles, minimize the physical effort, and increase the quality to a noticeable level. The manual cutter has reinforced guides that allow you to align the cut line to the desired level and not leave it during the work. There is a special limiter with a ruler that allows you to align the cut pieces, make one size. this is important when designing the coating and placing elements.

How to trim tiles: home trim options

The tile is a practical and durable finish, but the installation is not as straightforward as some other materials. It is laid out one by one. and the size of some of its fragments may not fit the shape of the walls or floors of the room. In such cases, cropping may be required. We will figure out how to cut tiles at home, because it is assumed that you want to do it quickly, efficiently and as simply as possible. There are several good approaches to solving the described problem.

Advice

When using different tools, tips for trimming can vary greatly, but a few general guidelines, as at home it makes sense to trim tiles.

There is:

• The cut should not be made less than 6 millimeters from the edge of the tile.
• Don’t make more than one cut. Otherwise, the scrap may come out uneven. Try to do everything neatly the first time.
• For convenience, a cut line is applied on the glossy side. It is most convenient to apply it with a soft pencil. Markers and similar things will be inconvenient to constantly rinse / wash.
• It is recommended to soak the tiles before cutting them again. This can affect the ease of cutting in the case of thin tiles, as well as further increase adhesion to the wall.

What tools are used

So, how to cut porcelain stoneware tiles at home? Hand tools are ineffective in this case. You should generally forget about the glass cutter. But there is a way out. First of all, it is worth mentioning such a tool, which is available in the arsenal of almost every real owner and craftsman. this is an angle grinder. With its help, you can successfully perform both a straight cut and a curly cut.

Do not use a glass cutter to cut porcelain stoneware tiles.

Another tool is a tile cutter. It is of two types: manual and electric. Since we are talking about porcelain stoneware, it is better to use the electric option. Of course, it will take up more space than an angle grinder or its manual alternative, but the efficiency is impressive.

You can use a device similar to an electric cutter, since you already have nothing suitable. Replace the circular saw blade with a diamond blade and you will get a good tool for working with porcelain stoneware.

For fine work and curly cutting, a jigsaw with a diamond thread is used, it is convenient for them to work, while such a tool will be useful in other areas, not only for laying tiles.

If you intend to cut a large amount of porcelain stoneware, you can ask for help from special firms that provide this kind of service. They have all the necessary equipment for any kind of work. For figured cutting, the method of waterjet cutting is used, but this service is quite decent.

Angle Grinder

The angle grinder is the number one tool that can easily cut porcelain stoneware tiles. To do this, use a diamond-coated nozzle for dry cutting.

The all-round helper for porcelain stoneware tiles. the angle grinder

In order not to mow the cut line and not damage the tile, you must first outline the contours with chalk, pencil or marker. Then fix the porcelain stoneware to a stable surface. The disc is installed in the direction of travel angle grinder.

Get to work after checking that the attachment is securely attached. Step back a little from the line mowing line and start working. Move smoothly, slowing down at the edge. The disadvantage of using an angle grinder is a high percentage of the likelihood of chipping, that is, marriage. This is especially true for glazed tiles. Therefore, it is better to consider the option using a tile cutter.

Tile cutter

The tile cutter used for adjusting the shapes and sizes of heavy-duty materials is used in the electrical version. It looks like a machine with a diamond disc. In this case, it is recommended to use the wet cutting attachment. On the machine, you can conveniently fix the tile, thus preventing its displacement in the process.

The powerful professional electric cutter will quickly handle large volumes of tiles

How to cut porcelain stoneware tiles with a tile cutter:

• Fill the drip tray with water. This will ensure cleanliness during operation. In the future, you need to change it often enough so that the accumulated particles do not get on the disk and damage it.
• Place the tiles on the cutting surface of your tile cutter.
• Hold the porcelain stoneware with your hands, preferably on both sides, if possible.
• Press lightly and guide material towards the blade.

From time to time it is necessary to clean off plaque from the disc so as not to reduce the efficiency of the tool.

Material features

Porcelain stoneware gained its popularity due to its unique properties, however, these advantages complicate the process of cutting tiles at home.

The following features of porcelain stoneware should be highlighted:

• strength;
• wear resistance;
• frost resistance;
• fire resistance;
• aesthetics;
• durability;
• environmental friendliness;
• hygiene;
• antistatic.

Due to the almost complete absence of pores in the structure of the material, porcelain stoneware is super strong, it does not scratch, does not wear out, does not crumble, but that is why it is very difficult to cut it yourself. How to be in such a situation?

Porcelain stoneware is a very durable material

We cut porcelain stoneware tiles at home

When working with porcelain stoneware at home, the question often arises. how to cut porcelain stoneware tiles? This material is somewhat very similar to ordinary tiles, but for the most part it has a number of striking differences. In this regard, most of the tools that are successfully used for cutting tiles are not at all suitable in this case.

Due to the high strength of the material, not all tools are suitable for cutting porcelain tiles.

A circular saw

What else can you cut porcelain stoneware tiles with at home? If you are the owner of a summer house or a private house, you probably have your own workshop. One of the most essential tools in this case is a circular saw. It is a toothed disc machine. Since the work is related to the processing of porcelain stoneware, you need to change the attachment to a diamond blade for dry cutting.

After the preparation is completed, the line of the cut is outlined, you can start working. Press the tile against the table and gently push it forward with both hands, taking care of your fingers. This option is suitable for a large amount of work with a straight cut.

Jigsaw

For complex shape cutting, the best option is to use an electric jigsaw and a diamond saw blade. With its help, you can carry out the finest work even on such a durable material as porcelain stoneware.

A good jigsaw and a special file will allow you to cut high-quality porcelain stoneware

Draw the outline of the cutout. To see where you are going, you can slightly moisten porcelain stoneware with water. Blow off dust as you work so you can see the line and not block the cutter path.

Work especially carefully on the edges, as these are the places where the risk of chipping is greatest.

When choosing a tool, consider the shape of the tile, the type of coating, and the amount of work to be done. Several elements can be trimmed using the tools at hand. But for a large number of tiles, it is better to use a special device. a tile cutter.

How to choose the right one?

The best way to start trimming ceramics at home is by choosing the right tool. In each case, a different set of fixtures will be required, since the tiles differ in size, texture and performance. For example, for glazed tiles that are porous and soft, it is better to use a glass or tile cutter. It will be easy to cut the material with it. To cope with a harder surface, like ceramics, he will no longer be able to.

For porcelain stoneware, a more thorough hike will be required in the form of specialized electrical devices. The more durable the raw material, the more thorough the approach should be. Thus, it is possible to cut the tiles on the front side. Glass cutting tools, as well as other devices that work on a similar principle, will not help here. But the electric devices will be just right! The main thing is to pay special attention to the edges of the products, since working with the relief structure is considered difficult due to the formation of chips or pattern violations, even with a slight deviation.

Types of tools

Currently, modern technology offers many devices designed for pruning. They are subdivided into specialized and amateur ones, however, this division is rather arbitrary. Each of the selected tools has a high functionality, suitable for better cutting porcelain stoneware at home. Some are small in size, while others are very cumbersome. Most often, the choice falls on:

• glass cutter and pliers;
• jigsaw;
• Angle Grinder;
• tile cutter;
• diamond wire;
• sharp forceps.

These options are suitable for tiles with a soft surface. It is worth knowing that a large amount of work performed with such tools will still become too exhausting. Although adjusting with them will be a great finishing touch.

Cutting ceramic tiles at home

Today, tile takes a solid first place among convenient and practical materials. It is used for finishing the floor, walls, facades of the building. It is used in the kitchen or bathroom, as well as in the hallway. You can do the installation of ceramics with your own hands, however, this process is not complete without cutting the material, for example, quite often it is required to cut the tiles when laying diagonally.

In addition, the question arises, how to cut ceramic tiles at home? For cladding work, the modern market offers a wide variety of options. The final decision, as a rule, depends on many direct and circumstances. Indeed, in order to correctly cut a tile, special skills are not required, but it is necessary to have information about certain subtleties in working with cutting tools.

Manual aggregates

It goes without saying that hand-held cutting tools at home have a number of advantages. Their main advantage is their affordable price. The purchase of hand tools will not create problems for the family budget. In addition, they take up very little space, which allows them to be stored at home. In addition, it is very convenient to use the same tile cutter. However, in terms of functionality and practical application, they are significantly inferior to electrical devices.

Electrical appliances work an order of magnitude more efficiently. They carry out all the tasks assigned to them, even the most difficult ones. But there is no point in acquiring them if one-time or very rare use is meant. Therefore, hand-held devices are suitable in this situation, as it is impossible, by the way!

Ways to use a glass cutter:

• Mark the line of the cut.
• Lay the tiles on a surface to prevent slipping.
• Draw a line with a glass cutter using a ruler, without pressing too hard. Do it all without hesitation.
• Tap back along the notch.
• Move the products to the edge of the table with the cut section.
• Press down on the edge of the tile. If you did everything correctly, the edge will break off along the mowing line.
• Correct the remaining irregularities with tongs and sandpaper.

• First, put the tiles on the base of the appliance.
• Then you need to evaluate the correctness of the cut line marking the cut with the position of the cutter, since they must match.
• Then you need to firmly press the blade against the ceramic product, and at this moment pull the handle of the tool.
• Pay particular attention to correctly guide the blade to the tile in time.
• The movement carried out should be carried out smoothly, be not very strong, but also not weak.
• All this must be tried to be done in one approach, otherwise the final result will most likely be unsatisfactory.
• Then the resulting cut is broken by hand. If done correctly, the tile will break off along the mowing line of the furrow.

Electrical aggregates

Why are electrical appliances so good? With the help of these tools, you can do all the necessary work in a short time without spending significant efforts. Such devices are mainly used in industrial conditions, since a fairly large amount of work should be performed there or by professionals for whom finishing is the main way to make a living. What it is:

• electric tile cutters;
• Angle Grinder;
• jigsaw;
• electric glass cutter;
• circular saw with a disc attachment;

Electrical units can effortlessly tackle the most difficult surfaces, and in any quantity. The strength of the processed material does not play a special role for them, therefore they are suitable for almost all types of processing. With these tools, it is very convenient to make cutouts to the shape, which helps when laying tiles in a bathroom with different curves. The main disadvantages of devices include their dimensions, as well as cost.

Shaped tile cutting

Sometimes curly holes should be made in the tile for laying near the pipe, plumbing. This can be done in the following ways:

Curly cutouts

• Angle Grinder;
• pliers;
• jigsaw;
• glass cutter.

How to cut a tile with an angle grinder, glass cutter is clear. but how to work with pliers? Draw the cut line on the tile. Then they break off small pieces with pliers. Nippers with a clamp do a good job with this task. The upper carbide clamp cuts the glazed surface and the lower one holds the piece from the bottom.

When using a drill, ordinary drills are used to outline the contour, and then break off the excess pieces with wire cutters. All kinds of attachments will help to effectively make curly cutting of the material: feather, crown, others.

Attention! You should not bite off large pieces. the edge of the cutout will be of poor quality, ugly. Additionally, after working with nippers, use a special sandpaper, a file for cutting irregularities.

Holes in tiles are made with a hole saw, which has a carbide tip for making round holes. It is used to create curly tile cuts. The tool is suitable for hard and soft tiles. Saws slowly, collecting a lot of dust around it. Therefore, the product should be immersed in water.

Each method of cutting tiles without a special tool is good in its own way. You can cut the product using available tools. Of course, the performance will be low, but with small volumes it is an economical solution.

Cutting tiles with an improvised tool:

Tile cutting angle grinder:

Any process of laying ceramic tiles is not complete without cutting it. There will be a lot of it especially if you use some kind of non-standard layout, for example, diagonally. In the last article, we talked about which layout is better to choose in order to get uniform and beautiful cuts everywhere. Now we will talk about how to properly cut tiles at home.

As you know, the tile is made of baked clay, which is covered with glaze on top. It’s hard to break it with your hands, but if it lies on any unevenness, then it easily cracks from a small load. To simplify this process and make the required break line, you need to loosen the top layer of the glaze. that is, cut it, and therefore make efforts to break.

There are 3 main ways to do this:

• Special tool. manual, electric tile cutter or special tongs.
• Angle Grinder.
• Other handy sharp tools.

Let’s talk in more detail about each tile cutting method.

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Advantages and disadvantages of tiles

Despite the great complexity of processing and installation, ceramic tiles have not left the list of the most popular finishing materials for many decades. If earlier with its help only premises with high humidity and an unfavorable atmosphere were repaired, now many varieties are suitable for the exterior decoration of buildings, floors, walls and ceilings in enterprises. This means that such a finish has enough advantages:

• The material does not require any special care. With regular care, it looks neat and fresh.
• Fungus does not start on it.
• Indispensable in damp rooms.
• Due to its refractory properties, it is suitable for finishing stoves and fireplaces.
• Many options for colors, patterns, shapes and sizes.
• Serves for decades, does not fade.

The disadvantage of a tile covering is the temperature of the surface on which the material lies. However, modern technologies make it possible to place water or electric heating systems under its layer. If the surface is ribbed or rough, then in some rooms (for example, in the kitchen), it may be difficult to clean. Removing dirt on an uneven surface is difficult. It can also be difficult to cut tiles at home.

Work technology

Cutting tiles with a glass cutter

An available simple method for cutting tiles is considered to be the use of a manual glass cutter, which functions on the same principle as a mechanical glass cutter, only the operations are performed manually. The most suitable for the job is considered to be a tool with diamond tips and a roller made of tough alloys.

Glass cutter. an affordable method to cut tiles at home

When performing work, adhere to a certain sequence:

• The first step is to mark the notch with a marker or pencil on the front side.
• Lay it on a hard, flat surface.
• A ruler is applied to the markup.
• A manual glass cutter is applied to the farthest point from you.
• Pressing on the ruler (so that it does not move) and on the glass cutter, with a confident movement with uniform pressure, draw the line from the far edge towards you. In this case, the cutter should not be pressed strongly. A crunch is heard when the mowing line is passed, at the end the glass cutter should come off the tile.

Attention! the cut line is made so that a visible mark remains on the enamel. This is done only once, since the tile will break unevenly during the repeated cut.

• The broken line that appears is tapped with the wooden handle of a glass cutter.
• The tile should be positioned so that part of it is overhang.
• On the exposed edge of the tile, which is located on a table or other flat surface, they press, break along the mowing line that they drew. If the line is deep enough, then the break is obtained without chips, neat, even.

You can break the product along the breaking line of the mowing line if you put a carnation, a match under the tile, press it from 2 sides. This method of breaking is popular with a large number of cuts. it saves time on transferring the tile to a flat surface for breaking.

In this way, cuts into strips of more than 5 cm are well obtained, but it is difficult to break off smaller strips with high quality. To do this, at home, use a bar, a clamp: the narrow part is clamped, and the wide part is broken off with a sharp downward movement.

A manual glass cutter is used when several tiles need to be cut. In the case of a large number of cuts, it is advisable to use a special tile cutter tool, which has a large wheel that makes a deep cut.

How to cut a tile with the letter “G”

Since the tile cutter can only cut the tiles straight, many have difficulty with L-shaped cutouts. The easiest option is to divide this tile into 2 rectangular elements, but then you get an extra ugly seam that will catch your eye.

But this can be avoided by trimming the short side with an angle grinder and then cutting the long side with a tile cutter.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make L-shaped cuts on tiles

The second method: by any method available to you, a cut is made on the glaze, and the excess is gradually broken off with pliers. Irregularities are treated with sandpaper. This option will even allow you to get a rounded incision for abutting the risers.

Cutting tiles angle grinder

Sometimes there are cases when you need to cut a narrow strip of tiles 0.5–2 cm, and an ordinary tile cutter does not take it, because his legs are too wide.

In such cases, you need to draw a line of the notch with a pencil and make a washed down angle grinder with a diamond disc. But if you try to cut it off in one go, the narrow strip will break off in parts. Therefore, you need to smoothly and without pressure walk the angle grinder along the markings to get an incision with a depth of about 2 mm. You need to walk along the mowing line with a disc, and not directly along it, then the width of the already narrow strip will not decrease.

Using the same method, you will cut off a narrow strip by running the same seam several times. The second and next time you can drive the angle grinder faster, but try to press it to the opposite side, then there will be no chips.

It is better to do this work on weight, so the vibration will go into the hands. When you already see that the strip will soon fall, it is advisable to put something soft so that it does not break.

Tile cutting angle grinder with a special diamond-coated disc on tiles

Be sure to wear glasses when working with an angle grinder.

Tile cutter tongs

Tile cutting tongs are the cheapest (200-400 rubles), and they are only suitable for small volumes of work with thin ceramic tiles at home.

After notching, press down on the tile with a cracking pliers

• Make markings taking into account all gaps and seams (-5 mm).
• Attach a metal ruler to the mowing line and run the cutter along the line once. The pressure should be moderate to form a visible streak. Lead him from the far end to you.
• Place the tongs with their feet along the mowing line of the crowbar near the edge. The sponges should be on top of the glaze and the straight part on the bottom. the line of the break should run right in the middle between the edges of the upper lip.
• Press gently on the handles to break off the tiles. At the same time, do not raise it high, otherwise after falling it will break.

How to cut tiles without a tile cutter

If you only need to cut a few tiles, it doesn’t have to be spent on a tile cutter. You can use the tools at hand:

• Glass cutter.
• Drill. It should preferably be with a victorious tip, as it will scratch the tile better.
• Nail.
• Construction knife.

Attach a metal ruler to the notch and draw once with a glass cutter or drill. A deep scratch should remain on the enamel. If you use a knife, but will need to carry out several times.

Place the tile with the cut at the corner and press down on its edges with a sharp motion. The cut will not turn out perfectly even, unlike the tile cutter, but you will not have to spend extra money either.

To make cutting ceramic tiles easier, many craftsmen soak them in water for about 1 hour.