Tools

Tile Cutter

Tile Nipper
Notched Trowel
Grout Float

And here are 4 specialty tools that aren't required but can make your tile job easier:

Rod Saw

Grind Stone

Tub Saw

Jamb Saw

In addition these are more supplies & tools that you could use to makeyour tiling job easier.

Tile Cutter

For straight cuts, a tile cutter is the best tool for a do-it-yourselfer.

It holds the tile in a frame as you score the cut line with a small wheel. Score it several times if you have a thick tile.

Then as you press down on the handle it snaps the tile at the scored line.

Tile cutters are available at tile supply stores, but it may be best to rent one if you don't plan on doing a lot of tile work in the future.

Tip: Before using a tile cutter, oil the guide bar and scoring wheel. And to keep nice clean cuts replace the scoring wheel as soon as it gets worn.

Tile Nipper

Use a tile nipper for irregular cuts. Score your cut line with a glass cutter or utility knife. Then nibble off small bits of tile until you remove what you need. It helps to score gridlines in the area you want removed. This will help you keep the nibbled pieces small.

Be patient when using a tile nipper, if you take off pieces that are too big you could go beyond your cut line. Then you'll have to start over.

Tile nippers will leave jagged edges on the tile so use them in less visible areas or where you'll be covering it with trim, like around plumbing fixtures.

Tip: Pieces tend to go flying when using a tile nipper so wear eye protection.

Notched Trowel

Notched trowels are used to spread and "comb" adhesives onto the underlayment. Two sides of the trowel are notched with either "V" or "square-shaped" notches.

Use a square-notched trowel for setting thinset on horizontal surfaces. Use v-notched trowels for setting mastics on vertical surfaces.

Trowels also come in different notch depths. Use one that's two-thirds the thickness of the tile you're setting.

If you don't want to invest a lot in trowels, you can get less expensive plastic ones at your tile supply store.

Tip: Another helpful tool for scooping out adhesives and grout, and for spreading adhesives in narrow places is the margin trowel.

Grout Float

Grout floats are rubber or foam-faced trowels used to force grout into the joints between the tiles.

Use sweeping motions diagonally and back and forth to work the grout into the joints.

Once the joints are filled, use the straight edge on the side of the float to scrap the excess grout off the tiles. You need to hold the float almost at a 90 degree angle to do this. Again, diagonal motions work best for this.

As with notched trowels, you can also buy disposable grout floats at your tile supply store.

Rod Saw

If you're losing patience (and tiles) using a tile nipper for irregular cuts, try a rod saw with a carbide-grit blade. This will take a lot longer than with a tile nipper, but it'll give you a cleaner edge and a more accurate cut.

Option: For perfect circle cuts, like around faucets or supply lines, use a carbide-tipped hole saw bit with your power drill.

Grind Stone

After cutting tile, it's a good idea to smooth the cut edge with a grindstone or tile sander.

Otherwise, you could end up with a sharp edge that may remain partly exposed even after the tile is grouted.

Tub Saw

The tub saw, used mostly by professionals for straight cuts, gives clean, smooth edges. It cuts with a diamond-blade that is bathed in water to keep it cool.

You may want to rent a tub saw if you've got a lot of cuts to make.

Jamb Saw

Sometimes it's easier to cut off the bottom of door trim rather than having to cut the tile to fit around it.

Set a jamb saw on top of a tile and piece of cardboard to account for the thickness of the finished floor. Teeth on the side of the saw cut into the jamb.

CHOOSING ADHESIVES     FLOOR UNDERLAYMENT