How to Cut Tile Backsplash on Wall

Installing a tile backsplash can transform the look of your kitchen or bathroom. While tiling may seem intimidating, it’s actually a rather straightforward DIY project. Learning how to properly cut and place tile is an essential skill for achieving a professional-looking finished product. This guide will walk you through the complete process of how to cut tile for a backsplash installation.

Getting Started with Tools and Materials

Before you can start cutting tile, you’ll need to gather the right tools and materials:

Tiles: Ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone tiles. Make sure you purchase enough tiles for your project, allowing 10% extra for cuts and breakage.
Tile cutter: Use a manual score-and-snap cutter for straight cuts. A wet saw is needed for angled, L-shaped, or U-shaped cuts.
Adhesive: Choose an appropriate tile mastic or thinset mortar adhesive for the wall surface material.
Grout: Pick unsanded grout for joints 1/8″ or smaller, sanded for wider joints. Match grout color to your tile.
Trowel: Use a notched trowel to spread adhesive.
Spacers: Plastic spacers maintain even grout joint width between tiles.
Grout float: For smoothing and shaping grout once tiles are set.
Grout sealer: Seals and protects grout lines after grouting.
Safety gear: Gloves, goggles, knee pads, and N-95 dust mask.

Once you have all your supplies ready, you can begin measuring and planning the tile layout.

How to Measure and Mark the Tile Layout

Careful measuring and marking ensures your tile rows come out straight and evenly spaced. Here’s how to measure and mark the layout:

Measure your walls and sketch a layout plan noting the dimensions. Account for focal areas like stove, sinks, etc.
Calculate the tile height and width. Dry lay tiles and spacers to find your best layout spacing.
Mark horizontal and vertical lines on the wall using a level and pencil. These represent your tile rows.
Mark vertical lines at the midpoint of the wall to start full tiles in the center. Then measure out equal widths from the center lines.
Use spacers when marking layout lines to account for grout joint width.

Follow your layout lines during tile installation to keep courses straight and evenly spaced.

Cutting Tile for Outlets and Switch Plates

When tiling around electrical boxes, you’ll need to cut holes for outlets and switch plates to fit. Here’s how:

Trace the outline of the box on the back of the tile. Mark the screw holes too.
Drill a hole inside the outline just bigger than the jigsaw blade.
Use a jigsaw to cut along the outline, piercing through the tile.
Break off and smooth the edges with an abrasive stone.
Test fit the cutout around the box until the tile sits flush on the wall.
Place tile spacers around the box when installing tile.
Apply silicone sealant around edges of switch plates/outlets to prevent moisture entry.

Be sure to turn off power at the breaker before beginning any electrical work.

Cutting L-Shaped and U-Shaped Tile Pieces

Fitting tile neatly against corners or around pipes and fixtures often requires L-shaped or U-shaped cut tiles. Here are some tips:

Mark the contour shape on the back of the tile with a pencil.
Use a wet saw outfitted with a diamond tile blade to make precision curved cuts.
Make several shallow passes when cutting curves rather than one deep cut.
Use an angle grinder with a diamond blade for small L-shaped cuts.
File the cut edges smooth so they fit tightly against adjoining tiles.
Use caulk in the corner where the two legs of the L-shape meet.

With care and patience, you can make professional-looking curved cut tiles. Slow and steady is key.

How to Use Tile Nippers for Irregular Cuts

Tile nippers are handy when you need to nip away small irregular edge pieces to make a tile fit. Here’s how to use them:

Mark the area to nip away on back of the tile.
Position the nippers at the mark and squeeze the handles together firmly.
The nippers will bite off a small piece of the tile edge.
Repeat, nibbling away along the cut line until you achieve the desired shape.
Smooth any rough edges by rubbing on an abrasive stone.
Test fit the tile and nip away any remaining areas that prevent a good fit.
Nippers won’t produce perfect smooth cuts, so plan to conceal edges against countertops, cabinets, etc.

Nippers provide an easy way to customize small shape irregularities without having to use a wet saw.

Cutting Tile Around Pipes, Fixtures and Openings

Cutting tile to fit around pipes, fixtures, windows and other openings takes careful measuring and cut planning. Here are some tips:

Slide tile spacer into gap to act as a guide when marking cutline on tile back.
Ensure sink/fixture pipe hits the tile center to hide cuts behind.
Cut hole in tile just larger than the pipe diameter using a jigsaw.
Dry fit and use nippers to nibble away more until tile sits flush.
For long horizontal window sills, mark and score tile with cutter, then snap pieces apart.
Use L-shaped and U-shaped cut tiles at inside corners by windows or cabinets.
Caulk gaps around pipes, fixtures, and edges with flexible silicone sealant.

With careful tile layout planning, you can conceal cuts behind fixtures and minimize tile cutting.

Cutting a Tile Border or Accent Strip

Adding a border or accent strip using a contrasting tile color is a great way to jazz up your backsplash. Here are some tips for neatly cutting border tiles:

Determine the border width – commonly used are 1-6 rows wide.
Dry lay border tiles to find the layout spacing you like best.
Mark the border width on the wall using spacers to represent tile joints.
Use the score-and-snap tile cutter for straight edge cuts on border row tiles.
Change blade angle on the cutter for mitered corner edge cuts.
Use a wet saw for specialty border accent shapes like diamonds, trapezoids, pencil liners.
Adjust fit by nipper nibbling edges if needed.
Plan the layout so accent tile edges meet against cabinets or countertops.

Carefully measuring and cutting border tiles takes your backsplash from basic to beautiful!

How to Achieve Professional Looking Cuts

The mark of quality tile work is the perfection of the cuts. Here are some top tips for professional looking tile cutting:

Use a wet saw for the cleanest, most precise cuts and edge finishes.
Make several lighter passes rather than one deep cut to avoid chip-out.
Use a continuous rim diamond blade vs. segmented for best results.
Keep the saw table and tile very wet during cutting to minimize dust and overheating.
Move the tile very slowly and steadily through the blade. Rushing causes uneven cuts.
File sharp raised edges smooth after cutting using a silicon carbide stone.
Test each tile and nibble or file down any areas that prevent tight joints.
Carefully inspect and discard any chipped or cracked tiles.

Patience and care pays off with perfectly cut tiles that look professionally installed!

Tips for Cutting Common Tile Materials

Certain tile materials require specific cutting techniques:

Porcelain: Score and snap using tile cutter. Porcelain chips easily, so a wet saw is best for specialty cuts. Use a continuous diamond blade.
Ceramic: Score and snap with a tile cutter for straight cuts. Use a wet saw outfitted with a ceramic tile blade for curves and shapes.
Glass: Use a wet saw only as score/snap tools can shatter the glass. Diamond or abrasive blade must be silicone carbide, not diamond.
Natural Stone: Use a wet saw with a diamond blade. Softer sedimentary stones like limestone cut easier than granites.
Mosaic Sheet: Score and snap using tile cutter. Nippers and wet saw also work well for small intricate cuts.

Understanding how to cut each tile type takes the guesswork out and ensures successful results.

Cleaning and Reusing Leftover Cut Tile Pieces

Save those tile remnants! Here are great ways to reuse cut tiles:

Use small pieces for mosaic backsplash accents and medallions.
Frame mirror edges using coordinating cut tile strips.
Create a kitchen trivet for hot pots from cut tiles and clear silicone.
Fill leftover pieces into gaps when you miscalculate installations later.
Use irregular shaped cuts for creating an eclectic cabin or cottage backsplash.
Glue tile pieces to ceramic plant pots and pans for decorative accents.
To clean, scrub with a stiff brush and soap/water to remove adhesive, dirt, and grout.

With some creativity, you can find ways to incorporate the leftover snipped pieces!

Common Tile Cutting Mistakes to Avoid

Prevent tile cutting pitfalls using these pro tips:

Don’t cut tiles without accounting for the spacer gap – measure from the edges of tiles already on the wall.
Don’t assume tiles are perfectly square – check for squareness and orientation.
Don’t start tiling in the center – start with a full tile in the corner and work out.
Don’t cut too aggressively – make several light passes when cutting curves and shapes.
Don’t allow the tile saw blade to overheat – keep it constantly lubricated with water.
Don’t force tiles that don’t fit well – re-cut or nip them for a tight seamless fit.
Don’t apply uneven pressure when scoring – use consistent pressure along the entire cut.

With careful measurement and precision cutting technique, you can avoid tiling mistakes or uneven tiles.

FAQ

What tool is best for cutting tile backsplash?

For straight cuts along the edges, a manual tile cutter is quickest. But for specialty cuts like L-shapes, holes, and curves, you need the precision of a wet saw with a diamond tile blade.

How do I make tricky angle cuts in small tiles?

Use a wet saw outfitted with an angled crosscut jig. This holds the tile at the exact angle while you slide it across the blade for a perfect mitered edge cut.

What should I use to smooth rough tile edges?

An abrasive silicon carbide stone is perfect for honing rough edges and rounding sharp corners. Always smooth cut edges before installing tiles.

How do I cut tile around electrical boxes?

Use a jigsaw to cut curved openings for outlets and switches. Turn off power at the breaker first! Protect boxes with painters tape and use tile spacers around edges when tiling.

Can I use a glass cutter to cut ceramic wall tile?

No, a glass cutter will not work. It will only scratch the glazed tile surface. You must use a manual tile cutter or wet saw equipped with a diamond blade.

Conclusion

With the right tools and careful technique, cutting tile backsplash can be accomplished by any motivated DIYer. The most important things are taking accurate measurements, using the appropriate cutter for the job, and having patience for precision cuts. Skilled tile cutting elevates simple backsplashes into beautiful showpieces.