This guide provides some general tips about how to cut a tile and how to do your grouting.

Cutting Tiles

Where possible obtain a tile cutting frame. Otherwise for thin tiles, cut by hand.

Note: the glaze on the tile must be scored across the top and on the edges as well.

Step 1. Score along the mark with the scribing tile cutter, against a straight edges such as your set square. Make sure all the glaze is scored.

Step 2. Place tile over a piece of dowel or a pencil and press firmly with both hands to break the tile (see Diagram on Cutting a Tile). For irregular shapes make a template and then mark around this on the tile and score tile. To make adjustments to tiles or to cut out pieces, use the nibbling pliers and smooth off with a tile file.

Step 3. You can cut wall tiles in the way described above but generally floor tiles are thicker than wall tiles and so it is best to obtain a heavy duty tile cutter for some floor tiles. (See Diagram on Using a Tile Cutter.)

Grouting

Before adhesive has fully set, cut or rake out any excess which may have squeezed up into and/or over the grout line. Remove spacers.

Mix up grout with just enough water to make it workable. Too much water will cause shrinkage with depressed grout line, and cracking of the grout. Apply the grout with a firm sponge and use a rubber mallet to tap firmly into the grout lines.

It is best to use a coarse sanded grout for floors due to grout lines being wider and deeper and the floor grout being more wear resistant.

Clean off excess grout with a lightly damp, large sponge. Do not slosh water on the grout as this will weaken the surface and cause dusting.

Using a suitable wooden stick or dowel, carefully and softly draw along the grout line to ensure a neat finish. When the grout has dried and a dry milky film shows on the tiles, polish off residue with a clean dry cloth. Don’t rub at the grout lines.

It is best to leave grout lines clear at internal corners on wall and wall/floor. Apply a recommended silicone sealant – Easy Seal TM at these points as grout will often crack in corners.

Other How To Guides that you may be interested in:

Click here for How to Guide on Tiling Walls

Click here for How to Guide on Tiling Floors