How To Cut Porcelain Tiles Without Chipping Them

Porcelain tiles can be an excellent addition to your home. They provide a classic look without sacrificing the durability required of materials in kitchens and bathrooms.

As you work to add porcelain tiles to your home, you may need to cut it from time to time. This can be difficult to do without chipping the tile given how hard it is. However, with the right saw, it’s not impossible.

To cut porcelain tile without chipping, use a wet saw with an adjustable blade. First, fill the reservoir with water. Then, turn the saw on and notch the tile at one end. Next, start pushing the tile into the saw blade approximately 1 or 2 inches. Then, rotate the tile and cut across the marks.

Wet saws are versatile tools that can be used to cut through many different materials. They have several unique strengths that make them the best option for cutting porcelain tile.

First, and most importantly, wet saws offer the benefit of extremely precise cuts. When you’re cutting porcelain tiles, you need to be able to make uniform cuts. If you aren’t able to do that, you’ll end up with tile pieces that don’t fit neatly with one another upon installation.

Wet saws also enable DIYers to create smooth, straight edges. This is also something you’ll want to prioritize while preparing porcelain tiles for installation.

If you plan on cutting lots of porcelain tile, then it’s a good idea to invest in a wet saw if you haven’t already. Doing so will allow you to get the best cuts on your tiles without chipping them.

Following a notching system while cutting porcelain tile is the most effective way to prevent chipping. However, the process isn’t a perfect one. You’ll be able to make successful cuts more consistently by following a few additional practices.

The first of these is to apply pressure while you make your cuts. You can do this with a hand tool, a power saw, or another tool that you have, which will get the job done.

The method is fairly straightforward. Simply apply an even amount of pressure across the entirety of the tile throughout the duration of your cut. The pressure should be gentle and enable your wet saw to cut through the tiles as smoothly as possible.

If you’re wondering why this works, think about how you would cut a piece of paper with scissors. You would push down on the paper to give yourself extra control and secure it in place. That’s exactly what you’ll do when applying pressure while cutting through porcelain tiles.

It’s also important that you don’t cut too deep when working with porcelain tiles. Deep cuts have the potential to ruin the structural integrity of the tile, which is a surefire way to chip it.

For the best results, DIYers should adjust the blade of their wet saw to make 1/8-inch deep cuts. This is the ideal depth because it allows you to make your cuts without damaging the porcelain itself.

As you prepare your tiles to be cut, you can also increase your chances of success by utilizing better placements. For example, if your blade lowers, you should face your tile up. If your blade cuts from the bottom up, then face your tile down.

Wet saws are undisputedly the best way to cut porcelain tiles. This is thanks to the advantages discussed above, including precision cuts and the ability to prevent chipping.

However, if you don’t have a wet saw, you may want to try cutting your tiles with another tool. Popular alternatives include drills, a Dremel, and tile nippers.

Each of these tools can cut through porcelain tile. However, you should expect to experience more frequent chipping if you decide to use one of them.

Related Questions

Are there any benefits to using porcelain tiles over ceramic ones?

Porcelain tiles are made out of a thicker clay than their ceramic counterparts. This makes them more impervious to moisture and a better fit for heavy-duty usage.

Is porcelain tile more expensive than ceramic tile?

Yes, you typically will have to pay more for porcelain tile than ceramic tile. However, as discussed above, homeowners do get value out of paying these additional costs.