How to Cut Porcelain Tiles Under 45 Degrees

Modern design projects require masters of various skills, including tile processing. To work with a tile, very often it is necessary to make it washed down at 45 degrees. Thanks to this technique, various protrusions and niches, angles between the wall and the floor can be lined with such material. Also, cropping at an angle is needed when you want to create an unusual masonry. Let us consider in more detail how this is done correctly, and also with the help of which tools all the work is done.

When is tile cutting needed?

This method of processing tiles has to be resorted to in various cases when it is necessary to create a beautiful right angle. For example, when it is planned to lay the tile on the wall and on the floor, when it is necessary to clad the existing ventilation duct or recess for pipes on the ceiling. In modern apartments you can find various design features, which means that the variations in the use of tiles are greatly expanded.

Using this method of sharpening, the inter-tile seam looks neater, and the edges of the tiles at the junction are more hermetically sealed with grout, which reliably protects them from moisture or accidental impacts.

Cutting tiles at an angle of 45 degrees is done if you want to put the finish in an unusual way, for example, diagonally. To do this, you can use both square and rectangular tiles. The latter will allow you to create unusual ornaments (and even the effect of “parquet herringbone”).

Angle grinder for washing

The usual angle grinder is in the arsenal not only of professional finishers, but also of amateurs. It must be equipped with a diamond disc. Place the tile face down under the rib. The tool must be regulated speed, then to achieve the desired angle will be easier. In this case, to begin with, you need to set the minimum indicator so as not to melt the edges. When the desired angle is sharpened, walk on it again with a diamond disc to grind it. You can use a file or sandpaper to grind.

There are also special nozzles for grinding. They are easy to replace. The Velcro base is mounted on a thread by an angle grinder. They are not as durable as diamond turtles, but they are also cheaper. For those who are not engaged in repair on an industrial scale, this may be quite enough.

Many people prefer to use a mask or respirator when working with an angle grinder. This tool produces too much dust, which is not recommended for breathing.

How to use an angle grinder?

Let’s consider in more detail how to use an angle grinder while working with tiles:

• The tile should stand vertically in a vise. Place a diamond blade, and then select an operating mode of 1000-2000 rpm.
• Remove the corner with the part of the notched disc.
• The tool should be at an angle of 45 degrees (relative to the frontal plane of the tile).
• Remove excess with smooth touches so that every time the surface leaves a thin layer, not reaching the edge of the outside of the corner.
• The edge (about 2 mm thick) should remain untouched. You can mark this distance with a pencil.

At the second stage, a support plate is installed on the angle grinder. A sandpaper circle is placed in the center of the support plate. Now you can bring the edge, and then create the sharpest angle.

Electric tile cutter

As the name implies, a tile cutter is a more specialized tool, which means that sawing tiles with it can be done more efficiently. Of course, not everyone will buy it for one-time use. If we are talking about a high-quality model with additional functions, then this tool will cost quite expensive. In addition, you can achieve really good results on it with experience, so you will have to spend some time acquiring the necessary skills.

How to Cut Porcelain Tiles Under 45 Degrees

If we are talking about professional finishers, then they should have an electric tile cutter in their arsenal. Tile cutting with it takes less time, and such a machine leaves less dust.

The tile cutter works in two modes:

• For direct washing;
• For washed down at the right angle.

With it, you can cut strips thinner than 5 mm, even with hard tiles. To avoid melting, water enters the cut. She also immediately removes dust and debris.

Using a tile cutter

To learn how to work correctly with this tool, you need to follow a certain procedure:

• Masking tape is glued to the tile in place of the saw.
• Mark the desired trim width on the tile with a pencil and ruler.
• Place it on the tool platform.
• Press the tile and gently slide it toward the disc. First you need to cut off the excess, and then engage in grinding the corner.
• It is necessary to prevent touching the glaze, otherwise the edges will look uneven. If, however, the surface decorative layer of the tile was touched, then with sufficient skills it can be sanded with emery.

How to achieve a perfectly right angle at the junction?

If you want to create an even joint, you have to work as carefully as possible:

• First, the first tile is attached using the building level. Its edge should slightly extend beyond the plane of the corner of the base.
• After that, the second side of the corner is aligned. Each tile adhesive has its own hardening time, so much is given to you to trim the resulting angle.
• Subsequent tiles are glued in the same way. The main thing is that the vertical wall was originally maintained, otherwise it would be almost impossible to hide the defect from unsuccessful joints.

Keep in mind that at the joints after the cuts, the tile becomes more fragile. For this reason, this installation is usually not used on surfaces experiencing high impact loads. It is especially rarely used when facing steps. So, when decorating street stairs, builders most often use metal corners, and sometimes they overlap tiles so that the upper module protrudes slightly above the side.

Another way to create a slanting edge:

If you want to make cropping a piece of ceramic with your own hands in a simpler way, then there is another option. To do this, draw a line with a glass cutter on the decorative side of the tile. After that, turn it with the wrong side facing you, and then make a V-shaped angle grinder over the entire width of the tile. Now you can break off the excess, as well as make fine-tuning using sandpaper.

It is recommended to use sandpaper No. 40 or No. 60 for a rougher body kit, or No. 80 for finishing the edges.

Expert Advice

To work with porcelain stoneware, it is preferable to use a professional electric tile cutter, as it is adapted to work with harder material. Yes, and this material itself is more expensive, so I want to minimize its loss during processing.

When washing down, the angle can be made not 45 degrees, but sharper. This will make it easier to glue the tiles at right angles.

When working with bevels at corners, quality grouting is very important., since you can even hook a tile with a gash with a belt from clothes. This can lead to chipping of its fragment. If a chip does occur, but at the moment you are not going to replace this tile, grouts will help to hide the defect. They are available in different colors, so choosing the right option for the color of ceramics is not difficult. There is also another option: use any available grout and tint it on top with paint of the desired shade.

When small flaws can be seen at the seams after laying the tiles, for example, from unsuccessful polishing of the glaze, then you can use masking compounds that hide imperfections. Such corrective tools are convenient to use. In the cap, as a rule, there is a small brush. The main thing is to carefully study the instructions. Note that we are talking about very minor flaws, and not about chipped pieces of ceramics. Corrective means will become an indispensable assistant if you need to “discolor” a small crack on the tile, and on any ceramic product.

Using technology washed down tiles at 45 degrees allows you to make a solid repair. This option looks more expensive and generally more profitable than plastic corners at the joints.

With enough experience working with finishing materials, you can do it yourself. If you do not have the necessary qualifications, and finances allow you to hire experienced workers, then it is better to trust the professionals. Then you will have no doubt about the quality of the work.

How to make a washed down tile at an angle of 45 degrees, see below.

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