She has written numerous articles on art, interior design and home improvements, specializing in kitchen and bathroom design. Choose the one for dust. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Installing a tile backsplash yourself is a great way to save money while getting the exact look you want. The tiles should fall away from their mesh backing as you cut them. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Make sure that the level is straight. Tape kraft paper at one edge of your installation area and then unroll it along the wall, taping as you go. Let the mortar dry for 24 hours. If the tiles are more than 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5.1 cm) across, you may be able to cut them with a score-and-snap tile cutter. If your tiles are staggered like bricks or a honeycomb, you will need to cut around the tiles. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Prepare a layout of the area on a piece of paper using a pencil and come up with a design on how you are going to arrange the tiles. Start at one end of the cut line and run the blade along the tile surface to the other end. If your blade can't go around the corners, skip them for now. Place the sheet against the wall and mark them, if needed. Typically, when you are installing wall tiles in a backsplash or dry wall area, you will encounter outlets. If your tiles are already on the wall and you wish to cut a hole in them, complete this step, then, You will need to reinstall the light switch and outlet covers after you have finished. Use a tile nipper for any circular incisions. Masks are graded based on the size of particle they filter. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You will need to cut some tiles larger, and other tiles smaller. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. First, prep your area based on the specifications from Aspect Tile. Divide the area of your backsplash by the area of a single tile or tile sheet to get a rough idea of how many tiles you'll need. Maybe you're renovating your kitchen with a new backsplash. Use a wet tile saw if you are cutting natural stone to prevent chipping or breaking. References. Perhaps you're upgrading your bathroom and shower. This is to allow room for your marker when drawing the line. Today I am going to demonstrate how I install a tile backsplash including the trick I use to cut out spaces for electrical outlets. Do not use grinders on tiles made from slate. A beautiful stencil backsplash that you got right the first time Luckily after this tutorial you will be able to learn from my mistakes!I partnered with Stencil Revolution to create a gorgeous backsplash for our brand new pantry renovation project!They have the best selection of stencils & lot’s of different sizes to fit your space. If you're cutting a brittle tile like ceramic, use your drill on the lowest speed, and frequently dip the drill bit in a little bit of water to keep it from getting too hot. Start on one side (I started on the bottom of the left side) and do a row as far as you can until you run into an appliance or something! Use a tile cutter for porcelain or ceramic tile. While stainless steel is not as common as natural stone and ceramic tile for backsplashes, it is a … Leave a 1⁄8-in (0.32-cm) gap around the backsplash, where it connects to the cabinets, counter, and adjacent wall. I found it … A metal tile backsplash can transform the look of a kitchen. Turn on the saw and gently push the tile into the into the blade until the tile is cut through. People see the professionals work on different types of cutting machines to cut the tile and assume that tile cutting is a hard task.But I assure you that whenever it comes to cutting fewer tiles for home use, you … Because its rare for tiles to fit an installation without any cuts, and because backsplashes frequently have electrical outlets to tile around, before you begin tiling, make sure to cut all your tiles to size on a tile wet saw. https://www.lowes.com/projects/kitchen-and-dining/how-to-install-a-tile-backsplash/project, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-tile-backsplash, https://www.wallcoverings.org/?page=PlumbLine, https://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/new-backsplash-with-kitchen-mosaic-tile/view-all/, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-install-a-mosaic-tile-backsplash/, https://vintagerevivals.com/2014/08/the-nugget-installing-a-tile-backsplash-and-how-to-perfectly-cut-penny-tile, https://sawdustgirl.com/how-to-cut-a-hole-in-a-tile-backsplash/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A glass tile backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom announces itself with shimmering light and rich colors. If you are uncertain how to cut a tile or what tool to use, ask a store employee for advice. The plumb line will help you lay out your tiles evenly once you go to mount them on the wall. A multi-surface blade seems to work better than a tile blade, however. cut them away with your box cutter. You should ensure that the wall you want to tile is clean and on the level. If they don't. Hold the float at a 45-degree angle to the tiles to spread the grout. Withdrawing the cut portion of the grid and the tiles. The prices will vary depending on the tool and the store. How to Care for an Unglazed Kitchen Backsplash, How to Tile Drywall Without Overspreading Adhesive, This Old House: How to Install a Tile Backsplash, How to Put Tile Over a Formica Backsplash. So we opted for metal tile edging to complete the backsplash. To mask off the counters and cabinets: lay strips of painter's tape along any counter or cabinet edges that touch the backsplash wall. Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. Cut and tape at the other edge of your intended installation area. Home Renovation & Repair Specialist. These are the best ones selected among thousands of others on the Internet. Purchase one that will filter dust particles. Installing a glass tile backsplash is made easy with a sticky thin-set mortar that secures the tiles firmly to the wall. A straightedge or level can help you keep the tile even. Spread a thin layer of thinset mortar onto the backsplash wall. Position the square 0.64 inches below the line. Gently guide the tile into the saw to make the first cut. To get a clean cut, push the glass tile against the saw’s blade lightly and steadily. These are the best ones selected among thousands of others on the Internet. Flick the switch(es) to the off position. It is typically a small, metal panel painted to match your wall. Be sure to clean up after you cut the tiles so that no dust gets into the installation part of your project. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Use the wet saw to make the cut. Once you reach a piece that has to be cut, simply measure the space, then mark on the back of the tile. Wait 10 minutes for the grout to begin to dry, then clean off the remaining grout with a lightly dampened grout sponge. You may have to experiment before you find the right one for your type of tile. Use a utility knife, level and ruler to cut along the top and bottom edges of the backsplash area. Most dust masks and respirator masks come with a description of what they are used for, such as sanding dust, aerosol, etc. Score along that line with a box knife. Let the grout dry for 24 hours. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Turn off the power to your kitchen. You may need to cut tiles to properly fill your backsplash area. There are 28 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. When you are installing decorative tiles or borders in the backsplash along with field tile, leave a gap for these, then install them after the field tile. The bubble inside the glass tube should be centered between the lines. Last Updated: July 10, 2020 If the backsplash is already installed, you may still be able to cut holes into it for new fixtures, as long as you use the proper tools. Glass tile is a favorite material for backsplashes because of its beauty, versatility, and durability. Mounting a towel rack does not. @PaulHazen It can cut tile as well, but generally when cutting tile you want perfectly straight lines and you are cutting them before they are placed on the wall. If you are working with a large sheet of tiles. Mark off an area on the floor nearby that duplicates the size and shape of the backsplash. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can use them on ceramic tiles, however. Begin with a full tile in the bottom center of each wall of tile and lay the next tiles up and out from here for a balanced installation. Open the panel, then find the switch for the bathroom or kitchen electrical outlets (wherever you are doing the backsplash). How to Cut Mesh-Backed Tile Around Outlets. How to cut glass backsplash. Glass tile installed on a kitchen backsplash using a high polymer content thinset suitable for glass tile. You can rent many of the required tools from a hardware store. With hexagon tiles, you have to cut them to get a flat edge where your backsplash ends. Turn the saw on and guide the diamond blade across the glass tile. The most detailed guides for How To Cut Backsplash Tile are provided in this page. How To Cut Granite or Quartz for backsplash - DIY - YouTube Remember to flick the switches back on after you have finished installing the tiles. Place a tweezers on a mosaic tile and align it with your pencil. Cut through the tile using an angle grinder. Be sure to mark any outlet and light switch holes. Remember to flick the switches back on after you have finished installing the tiles. There is more to installing backsplashes than just arranging tiles, however; you have to measure and cut the tiles so that they fit properly. Installing a new electrical fixture will require you to get inside the wall. Cutting tiles is not as hard as you think! If you’ll need to cut the tiles to fit into corners or underneath cabinets, it may help to purchase more tiles than you need to make up for tiles that break while cutting. Press each tile into the mortar in the same layout you determined on the floor. This step is known as "dry-fitting." Hold the float at a 45-degree angle to the tiles to spread the grout. 6. Expert Interview. I shared a post a long while back: how to cut tile around a vent but the vent was in the perimeter of the tile so it’ was done with regular wet saw. Dont drag the rolling saw cart back through the glass tile after cutting. The only thing left to do is the installation, but it's not so simple as laying the tile down, you've got to cut it to fit in some places! Find the electrical panel in your home. Or getting rid of all that carpet and redoing your living room. One example is how to cut the peel-and-stick tiles to fit in areas too small for a full tile. Grout the backsplash by spreading grout over the entire area with a grout float. Double check all the cuts on the floor layout before installing. Can transform the look of a kitchen backsplash using a high polymer content thinset suitable glass... Height and length of each section side is facing up drag the rolling saw cart back the. 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