It looks like he tried to trim the tiles to compensate for the wall's imperfections. Looking at the tile head-on the white stuff looks just like the installed jagged edges. Many glass tiles are clear throughout and have a coating on the back which gives them their color. Water resistant ceramic tiles for shower niches?. Those cut edges are usually put against the wall, so they'll usually be covered with baseboard. It will depend on the tile. Chipping tile when cutting with a saw happens because the blade gets worn. I really like your countertops and backsplash. You can also miter the edges of any edge tiles with a tile saw to create a slanted effect. I checked some unused tiles and some edges have this white powdery stuff on the cut edge. If the answer to any of those is no, then you kinda set yourself up for failure here by not educating yourself enough about the job on the front end to be able to know that a situation like this was pretty much an inevitable outcome of the parameters of the job as it was specified. Get tiles cut properly, and they'll fit perfectly, because the trim is perfectly flat/level/plumb (hopefully). How to Finish Tile Edges. It can be cut with a laser, but it won’t give projects flame-polished edges. cutting it leaves a chipped edge along the glaze. You can also use foam covers, such as those put around electrical wire, as a cover over sharp edges. I don't see how it would work to easily cut with so much tile hanging over to push through. So, my contractor installed my backsplash the other day, using the beautiful (and expensive) glass mosaic tile sheets I bought. Attempting to tile my bathroom. This coating can chip off and become jagged from cutting on a wet saw (tile saw). What do you do in a case like this? 12-15-2012, 12:50 PM. The score line will stop the side you want to keep … But nevertheless, the edge of the tile (ceramic tile with crackle glaze) chips when I cut. The installed tile trim will prevent any damage to the edges of the tiles so ensuring a proper installation is vital to completing your tiling project. Keep in mind "industry standard" (in my area) is paying your GC around 20-25% over materials and labor.... so asking your client if maybe a new drain cover for 15$ is not a big deal/big cost or require a third party to ask the question. In this video, professional painter Chris Berry (aka The Idaho Painter) teaches us how to cut in ceilings and edges without tape. In the tile class I took we were told that a wet saw works best with porcelain tile. Cut the new tile size with the utility knife and align it with the floor measurements. Part 3 of 3: Adhering Peel-and-Stick Tiles. Do you think I have recourse to have the tile guy fix these problems or does the fact that I cleaned up the tile give him an excuse to say that I might have caused the problems myself? Use caution when handling cut tile as they may have sharp edges. I have about 20 sq ft of back splash, less than you have. Nippers trim away small chunks of material, which leaves behind a rough, jagged edge. lol. As for the cove, that's a viable way of doing it. If you are a little tight just use a file, sanding paper, or even a concrete step to take off a 16th. Would you have rebuilt the wall? The other tool works well with ceramic. You could very well be right, but frankly...I can't see the "wall" from the pic. call a tile store for suggestions, i'd go with a dark sharpie. You can cut tile pieces as large as 12″ with a tile cutter – anything larger will require a tile saw. A finished tile edge will give your tiled surface a professional touch. We already paid he 50%. He' s blaming the tile ( from Subway Tile Outlet) but I'm thinking he cut them with the wrong blade, a dull blade or too quickly. I don't buy that. The client ALWAYS should have a GC who consults w/the client regarding decisions, REGARDLESS if any designer's charges are involved/consulted. Sounds to me like your GC is all about speed and not the details. If need be the sharp edge can be eased by hand with a carborundum stone or with a grinder. If it abuts the wall, you're right. There's also a spot where the beige grout is greenish colored at the bottom of the tub. A quality score and snap will leave a clean edge. If you are not careful while cutting melamine, you may lose the quality of its material and end up with jagged edges. I also just tried cutting a piece of the ceramic tile that I had cut 5 months ago with this blade. The tile is new. Email Save Comment 44. A good score and snap cutter will work on pretty much everything but the thickest and hardest tiles. I tried cutting two different crackle glaze tiles and I get the same problem. Press firmly on the tile (grout floats are great way to apply even pressure), wiping away access adhesive until the tile are flush with … i.e., with normal saw setup, the blade is coming down at the "front" of the saw and up at the rear, and the front of the blade is the cutting edge that should be moving down into … I did not follow my decorator's advise of Sherwin Williams Snowbound on the cabinets. First, you’ll want to measure how deep you need the notch to be. 4 Easy Ways to Finish Tile Edges August 13, 2015. The wall behind the tile is wedi board so shouldn't it be perfectly flat?I'll bring the problems up to the installer and see what he says about them. Follow. Sorry you're having these problems. This mask obviously is doing a horrible job of actually cutting out this butterfly. If need be the sharp edge can be eased by hand with a carborundum stone or with a grinder. A wet tile saw cuts tiles made of ceramic and porcelain leaving a clean, smooth edge. Hearing all this about heat and Quarts. This cutter creates cleaner edges that produce better quality finishes. Featured Answer. Hold the tile on edge against a concrete block and rub it back and forth three or four times. To start, we’ll keep things rough. Ridiculous. Unfortunately, the solution remains the same. Got a bunch of ceramic wall/floor tiles, 250 x 500 x 7.8mm Bought an el-cheapo wet cutter from Screwfix to make things easy, but when cutting it leaves a chipped edge along the glaze. Measure the areas to be installed with tile trim and then them measure again to … Cutting melamine board can be a tricky process because the material is not moisture-resistant and its edges easily chip. January 2015 edited January 2015 in General. If you're using a score and snap there's not a lot you can do. Maybe for rip cuts. Use 60 or 80 grit for starters, just to dull the edge or flatten the serrations if the tile has been nipped. Upon inspection though, the tiles on this outer edge (the most visible edge!) Avoid making multiple scores along the straightedge. Cutting tile allows you to fit pieces in corners, along household fixtures, in irregular places or for other purposes. So, my contractor installed my backsplash the other day, using the beautiful (and expensive) glass mosaic tile sheets I bought. Epoxy vs. Cement Grout — What's the Difference? On the other hand, if he was involved in the wall framing and the total construction of the bath, then he is totally at fault here. Set the foot in position and pull the handle down with enough force to snap the tile in two. @zellycat2,,,,the 24 hr leak test is for shower floors. Since the edges of cut tile can be very sharp and filing them can produce nasty slivers, you will need some heavy-duty work gloves to ensure that you don’t injure yourself. Dry set the tile first. Commonly, this will show when viewed from an angle. And this is inside the shower? @Kuyaariel.....I'm glad to hear the owner is making good on his work. Is "the contraption" he's using an angle grinder? Always make sure the tile you’re cutting is resting snugly against the guide plate. Ellsworth Design Build. I (an inexperienced DIY tiler) had some extreme difficulty with a lower end wet saw while cutting some porcelain tile. I would bring up these issues with the installer. This guide gives tips on how to cut tiles using tile saws, cutters, grinders and other tools.Use it to lean how to choose a cutter and how to make different types of cuts. To create a border between your tiles and the rest of … He should have explained to you that what you wanted wasn't possible without deconstructing the wall and then reconstructing it to more rigorous standards or changing your materials and spacing. I Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown, Choosing Tile: Durable, Versatile Porcelain, Why Marble Might Be Wrong for Your Bathroom, Contractor's Tips: 10 Things Your Contractor Might Not Tell You, Contractor Tips: What Your Contractor Really Means, Top Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look, Laser-Cut Focus: The Future of Design Is Here. I know that left on, the haze would be very difficult to remove later. Alternatively, you can chalk a line or use a straight edge to mark where the tile should end. Shopping for tiles to create a beautiful space is fun. The rougher the edge on the ceramic tile, the lower the grit of sandpaper needed to smooth it out. As for the paint colors, get a bunch of samples and paint it on the wall. Explore where and why one of these popular tile choices makes more sense than the other, Before you pick up a single tile, pull from these tips for expert results, Inventive options and durability make tile a good choice for floors. Make sure you get that shower pan dealt with as well. Chipped porcelain tile in shower? Fig 1: Wet saw in action. If the tile is soft, then adjusting the pressure used to score the tile can help. We'll discuss the different techniques and tools and we'll explain the differences when cutting different types of tile. Shopping for tiles to create a beautiful space is fun. Is this normal? The “off” switch is typically a red button on the side of the saw. This looks like a jig saw puzzle. In fact, with the right tools, it can be down right easy. My experience w/ "credible" "reputable" remodeling companies.... you need to be very involved and let them know from the beginning you expect them to come to you for all decisions "not specified"; and get it in writing so you can decide if you want to pay the "extra 15$ for new drain cover" etc. It may be possible to stain it and have it match, at least a lot closer. As to the dark areas, can you feel any roughness with a fingernail? In the end it really doesn't matter though. As you can see, the horizontal grout lines look fine. I didn't know that I had to scratch that stuff off beforehand. If you do go with a brick pattern, use a 1/3 offset instead of 1/2 - which may not look as good with a square tile. It’s easiest when you make the cut in the corner of the tile. I bought all my tiles from Lowe's (Ravello Beige) porcelain tile. Most companies are now warning about it and it can affect your warranty. Slate is a metamorphic stone formed from layers of mud that have been compressed under tremendous amounts of heat and pressure. Adjustments do have to be made by the operator when using a snap cutter. This type of acrylic is ideal for engraving because it turns a frosty white color when engraved, making it suitable for awards and plaques. Here is how to soften the rough areas on your cut ceramic tiles. These tips will help to prevent the jagged edge cuts. Not unless you are willing to address the underlying issues. Cutting out a small square from the outer edge of a piece of tile is easy with a wet saw. These tiles can have their edges polished on site into a smooth, bullnose or finished edge with a polish that matches the top of the tile. The tile chipped on the edges that were cut, and he set them anyway. Frequently replacing the saw blade and altering my technique (even enlisting a helper) significantly improved my tile cuts and I was able to produce smooth cuts. How can i disguise or hide it? To make the procedure of cutting ceramic tile easy, three different tools and techniques are recommended the most. The tile is rectified and the whole piece of tile was used. 1 Cut the tile down to the correct size on the tile wet saw. If you're getting chipped edges using a dry cutting disc, you can try holding a wet sponge against it, effectively creating a wet cut, or you may need a new blade. My cutter (Clarke ETC180 240V 500W Electric Tile Cutter) is designed to cut ceramic, quarry tiles, slate and stone so I think I've got the right kinda cutter. It'll leave a sharp edge, but a clean edge. The tar mixture is the waterproofing for the mortar bed underneath. Is this tile recycled from a previous job? Do you think I would be able to stain only the jagged bits? The tool you use will depend on what sort of cut you are doing and how many tiles you plan on cutting. It just needs a quick sharpening that you can do yourself. just to make sure they are cut properly, then back butter the tile -- avoiding a mess if you have to re-cut. That isn't a problem if the tile edge will be hidden by baseboard molding or wall tile. The first method for cutting straight lines in tiles is the hand cutter or tile scribe. In every shade of the rainbow, and virtually every dimension and design available, premium tiles can transform a ho-hum space into a show-stopper. The jagged edges don't have the same color and texture as the grout but then again it doesn't look exactly like the tile either. MrsAllen76 Member Posts: 2. I think the white stuff may be from the manufacturing process??? Before doing a brick pattern in large format, talk specifically with the tile company and the tile setter about it. Depends on if there is a pattern (recessed waffle, for example) on the back of the tile too. I think he might not have cleaned up any morter that pushed up between the tiles. Rub the edge of the tile with a carbide grinding wheel to clean up any jagged edges that may have been produced when the tile was snapped. You can purchase edge covers, particularly for garden edging, that are thick vinyl or plastic and formed to look attractive. But, if you're paying a "professional", I would expect all visible cuts to be smooth, whether he has to change up tools, replace or sharpen a blade, or go the extra mile of smoothing the edges with another tool. 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Easiest when you make the cut edge are glass w paint backing look jagged few times tool score... Edges despite cleaning blade! edge against a concrete block and rub it back and forth three or four.... It isn ’ t nearly as efficient as a tile trim cutter easy with tile. Through your closets and fielding design issues galore, your contractor might stay mum how to prevent jagged edges when cutting tiles is a pattern ( waffle!