Ceramic tiles are one of the most common materials used for wall cladding and ceiling. Having decided to lay it yourself, you will probably face the question – how to cut tiles and which tool is better to use? Therefore, we will tell you more about this process.
How to cut ceramic tiles?
Before you start cutting the tile, it is important to prepare the material and the corresponding tool that is selected depending on the volume of work performed. With small volumes for wall tiles, you can use ordinary roller glass cutter. In the same case, when you need to treat more than 5-10 tiles, manual tile cutter is suitable. You can rent it or buy it in a store. At the same time, be sure to make sure that it has a reliable and rigid base, and the working part is as fixed.
Also, a metal ruler often comes to this tool. It is needed in order to create the necessary emphasis. In cases where it is important to process large volumes of tiles, it is better to use an electric tile cutter. They can cut the tiles of any thickness (wall and floor). In addition, it is also used in those works that cannot be performed with manual tile cutter. For example, when cutting narrow strips having a width of about 6 mm.
However, when working with an electric tile, it is necessary to comply with the recommended safety rules that are registered in the instructions for the tool. Be sure to put on headphones and goggles. The fact is that during operation a lot of noise comes from the device, and the fragments and crumbs formed during cutting can injure your eyes. As an alternative to this tool, you can use a grinder. A big plus is that many owners already have it. Just need to buy a special disk with diamond coating.
How to cut the tiles?
After you have decided on the tool that you will use, you can start work. Only often the question arises – how to cut tiles correctly? To do this, we describe a brief instruction.
How to cut the tile with glass cutter? Previously, tiles are soaked in water for about 45-60 minutes. Then it is placed on an even and stable surface. A pencil or marker mark the cut line. In this case, the distance from the line to the edge should be at least 8 mm. They make an incision. Combine the cut line with the edge of the table and boldly break the tile. The same procedure is carried out with the following tiles.
How to cut tiles with a hand tile? The technology is very similar. The tile is placed on a flat base and fixed using a ruler. The cut line is noted. The handle of the device is lifted so that the wheel begins to move in the direction of itself and at the same time it should touch the surface of the tile. So, you draw throughout the line, and at the end you press on the hilt stronger. The tile will break through, thanks to the corners available on the tool.
How to cut tiles with an electric? Technically, this tool is a circular saw, which is attached on the basis. Plus, a pallet of water is attached to it. Water is necessary in order to cool the cutting surface and reduce the total amount of dust. The cut is performed quite simply. The tiles are placed on the base and begin to move towards the circular saw. First pressed very smoothly and slowly, and then increase the speed. If the cut line passes in the center, then it is advisable to hold the tile in two hands.
Some features when cutting tiles.
In addition to a typical cut over a straight line, there are several more methods for processing tiles. For example, it is often required to make a small hole, while maintaining the integrity of the entire material. For this, a simple and long -known technology is used. From the surface of the tiles, the glaze is eliminated at the place where the hole is expected. You can use a typical hammer and chisel. That is, the glaze is simply scraped. After that, take an electric drill and drill a hole. However, after using this tool, small cracks may remain on the surface. Therefore, this method is well suited only for wall tiles.
In the event that you do not intend to install tiles on the wall, you can use a hand drill. There are also cases when, after the cut of the tile, the edges do not look aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, they must be treated with sandpaper or special grinding stone. Usually, experts have several types of this stone at once (for hard and soft tiles). However, the edges are necessary only if the tile is installed in a prominent place. If the uneven edge closes another tile, then you can not align it (for example, in the inner corner).