Cutting Ceramic Tiles

There are several ways to cut tiles correctly, depending on what type of cut you are trying to achieve. Straight cuts are best done with a tile cutting jig. This is purpose made device which makes it easy to hold and score a line in a tile. Once the glazed surface has been scored, the tile should snap along the line easily by applying pressure on both sides. You can, of course, cut tiles in the same way without a tile jig. Simply score the tiles with a handheld scoring tool and place the tile on a piece of flex stretched out on a bit of wood (with the score line running along the flex). Pressure on either side will snap the tile cleanly in two.

If you need to cut a very thin strip from the edge of a tile, or if you need to cut out an irregular shape (to accommodate a pipe for example), Pincers are the best tool to use. Pincers (sometimes known as nippers) are used to "nibble" away at the edge of the tile until you reach the desired mark. If you are just taking off a thin strip, score the tile as you normally would for cutting.

Another option is a tile saw. Tile saws are ideal for cutting off the corner of a tile to fit around a light switch or for cutting out a notch for pipe work. The blade of a tile saw resembles a thin strip of wire with a cutting edge all the way around. This means it can cut in any direction.