How to Score Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tile is so hard and strong that it's easy to assume it must take a wet saw or other extreme measures to cut it. In fact, for straight cuts, all it takes is to score a line through the glazed surface, then apply downward pressure on both sides of the line until the tile breaks. Porcelain basically is pressed clay dust, so it doesn't have the variations of material going through it that marble and other natural materials do; it will break cleanly wherever it's weakest, which is at the score.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Tri-square
• Score-and-snap tile cutter

1. Measure the space for your cut tile, from the edge of the last full tile to the wall or other border. Subtract 1/4 inch so you can leave a small space at the wall, and also subtract the width of whatever size grout line you're using (generally, 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch).

2. Transfer your adjusted measurement to the face of your tile. Hook your tape measure over one edge of the tile and put a pencil mark at the appropriate line. Use your tri-square to extend the mark across the tile face, in one unbroken line from end to end.

3. Set your tile on the padded platform of the tile cutter, with the marked line matching the overhead track that holds the blade assembly. Set the round blade down on the front of the line. Press down on the handle and push the blade assembly along the line, scoring into the glaze. Run the blade along the line just once.

4. Lift the blade and pull the blade assembly back to the middle of the tile. Press down with the handle, so the two prongs sit against the tile on either side of the line. Press firmly until the tile snaps in half at the line.

5. Spread adhesive on the tile and set it in place, with the cut side facing the wall and the finished sides facing the other tiles.

Tips & Warnings

• Shards of ceramic can fly when you snap the tile, so wear eye protection.

References

• TileTool.net: Tile Cutters.