How to Cut Ceramic Tile Around a Toilet

Laying tile around a toilet can be challenging, but it's not impossible. The best method is to remove the toilet and lay the tile underneath. There is a way, however, to make cutting tile around a toilet much easier, while saving both time and tile.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Box knife
• Safety glasses
• Rotozip
• Ceramic tile bit
• Caulking gun
• Latex caulking

1. Create a template. Lay a piece of tile on top of a piece of construction paper. Trace around the tile and cut out the template. Make enough templates to go all the way around the toilet.

2. Lay your tile until you reach the toilet. Place a template on the floor next to the toilet as if you were actually laying the tile. Fold back the excess construction paper next to the toilet. Hold the template in place and use your box knife to cut off the excess construction paper as close to the toilet as possible.

3. Place your template squarely on top of a piece of tile and trace the shape onto the tile. Repeat Step 2 for each tile that you need to lay around the toilet.

4. Put on your safety glasses. Take the traced tile outside and place it on a flat surface. Allow the traced edge to hang over the edge of the surface. Insert a ceramic tile bit into a Rotozip and plug it in.

5. Use the Rotozip to cut the tile to shape. Set the tile around the toilet. Seal the gap between the tile and the base of the toilet with caulk.

Tips & Warnings

• Caulking is available in a variety of colors. If your toilet is white, use white caulking; if it is almond, use almond caulking. You can also use a grinder with a concrete cutting blade in place of a Rotozip.
• Wear safety glasses. You will be dry cutting the tile, and bits of tile will hit you as it is cut.