In every shower tile installation, the tiles must be cut to go around the shower valve. Depending on the size of the tiles, you can place the valve directly in the center of a tile or across two that are grouted in the center. Porcelain tiles are much harder and more durable than ceramic tiles, and you must cut them with diamond or carbide tipped tools.
Cutting a Single Hole
Hold the porcelain tile over the shower valve and mark the area that must be cut away. Use a grease pencil to mark the center of the area as accurately as possible.
Place a piece of masking tape over the center of the area to be cut away. This will help the guiding bit bite into the porcelain more easily. The guiding bit will center the perimeter of the hole saw while it removes the center of the tile.
Dip the guiding bit into cooling oil and place it on the masking tape in the center of the section to be removed. Start the hole saw, holding it vertically above the tile. Press down firmly on the saw as the guiding bit goes through the tile and the saw cuts a hole large enough for the shower valve to fit through.
Cutting Two Half Tiles
Hold up each piece of the tile in front of the valve to determine what areas must be cut away. Trace the outline of the section to be cut away on each piece of tile with a grease pencil. You should draw a partial arc or curve onto each tile.
Place a porcelain tile on the tray of a tile wet saw with the interior of the arc you traced facing the blade. Make several straight cuts from the side of the tile to the edge of the pencil mark. Each cut should be approximately 1 inch from the last, which will make the tile look as though teeth have been created in its side.
Cut away the teeth in each piece of tile with tile nippers. Break off the teeth in small bits until you reach the edge of the curve. There is no need to smooth out the edge; the face plate of the valve will cover the cut edges of the tile.
Things You Will Need
- Grease pencil
- Masking tape
- Cooling oil
- Hole saw with guiding bit
- Tile wet saw
- Tile nippers