When a project involves tiling, installers often discover that not every tile is a perfect fit for the surface area they need to cover.
Fortunately, ceramic tiles can be cut to any size desired, either using a manual tile cutter, a wet saw or an angle grinder. In this blog, we’ll look at how to cut tiles while minimising damage in detail. Read on to see which tile cutting method and tools best suit your needs.
Manual tile cutters are available to buy at affordable prices. Measure where you need to cut the tile and mark it lightly using graphite or a pencil, so it can be washed off easily. Now use the cutter to score the tile where you want it to break and snap the tile. It can be worth practicing on an extra or already damaged tile until you feel confident. Finally, using a tile file or sandpaper, smooth the edge. Mechanical tile cutters are also available to purchase or hire. Measuring and marking is still necessary with this method, but instead of scoring and snapping, you push down on a lever to create the cut.
Wet saws and angle grinders let you make straight cuts or multiple small straight cuts that make a curved cut.
A power tool featuring a rotating diamond blade, a wet saw uses water to cool its blade and minimise dust when cutting tough materials like tile. The cooling lubrication allows for exact cuts. Another handheld tool, the angle grinder has various speeds and spinning discs that can cut through tiles.
Regardless of the tool you choose, you’ll still need to mark the tile with your cut line. When using a wet saw, make sure the blade is clean and that the reservoir has sufficient water. If you’re using an angle grinder, secure the tile you’re cutting to a surface with a clamp.
To cut with the wet saw, align the saw blade with your measured mark and switch on the power tool. Steadily and slowly feed your tile along the saw blade and cut through it. When cutting with the angle grinder, wear PPE and guide the grinder carefully along your cut line then smooth the edge.
Do you need perfectly cut tiles for a project?
Whether you need tiles for restaurants or tiles for offices, at Digital Ceramics we deliver custom tiles to order. This means we can create tiles of any dimensions you desire. Measure your space for floor tiles to assess the size of tile you need and how many to order, and if you have further questions, contact our knowledgeable team for assistance.
Talk to us today and find out how we can transform a project of any scale into an exciting visual experience.
