How To Cut Glass Tile with precision? (DIY Guide) 2024

Do you want to add glass tiles to your place to give it a more modern and sophisticated look? Well, if you are going to be DIY-ing it, then you would need to know how to properly cut a glass tile. And while this process can be quite tricky, it is possible to do it at home. And in the article below, we are going to be showing you all the different ways through which you can cut glass tiles yourself.

How To Cut Glass Tile

What is a Glass Tile

As the name suggests, glass tiles are tiles made out of glass that can be used for flooring, walls, or as backsplashes. The reason they are so popular is that, along with being versatile, they also come in a number of different colors and designs. Because of this, you can always get them in the color or style that best suits your home’s aesthetic. They are also relatively inexpensive and quite low maintenance.

But while there are all these advantages of glass tiles, they can be quite difficult to handle, especially when it comes to cutting them. This is because, being glass, they are quite delicate and susceptible to breaking, cracking, or chipping. Furthermore, as glass is see-through, every tiny crack or imperfection caused during cutting or handling will be fully visible. And so here are the ways you can properly cut glass tiles.

Using a Wet Saw

The best way to cut glass tiles is through a wet saw. This is because it will allow you to make precise cuts without the glass chipping or breaking. First, using a straight edge, measure out the size of the tile that you need to cut, and using a marker or any other washable pen, mark it down. Then, turn on the saw and let it run for a few minutes. Now, align the glass tile with the saw and gently push it forwards through it.

We suggest that you wear some sort of gloves to protect your hands during the process, preferably rubber ones, as they do not absorb water. Once you are done with the cutting process, you can turn off the saw. Next, you need to examine the tiles; if the sides are slightly jagged, you can use a rubbing stone to smooth them down to your liking.

Using a Manual Tile Cutter

Another way to cut glass tile is by using a manual tile cutter. This cutter uses the same mechanics as the score and snap method. Basically, a manual tile cutter features a blade attached to a handle that is able to slide back and forth two metal rods. Behind the blade, there is a pressure foot that is responsible for snapping the tile after scoring. To cut your glass tile using this manual tile cutter, you need to first mark the cutting position on the tile using a removable marker.

Next, you need to place the tile against the guide present in the cutter and make sure that the blade is aligned with the markings on the tile. Now, press down on the handle at the top and slowly bring it forward, scoring the tile as you go. Make sure that you are putting enough pressure on the handle to adequately score the tile, but not too much so that it cracks.

Once the tile has been scored, you need to snap it in half. For this, adjust the pressure foot, situated behind the scoring blade, so that it is on top of the tile. Now gently bring the handle down so that the foot is able to break the tile at the score line. The cut should be relatively clean, but if it is slightly rough, then you can smooth it out using a rubbing stone.

Using the Score and Snap Method

The easiest way to cut your tiles is through the score and snap method. In terms of tools, for this method, you only need a glass scoring tool. First, measure and mark the place on the tile that you need to cut. Once that is done, you can move on to scoring the tile. For this step, we recommend that you use a straight edge or something like that to guide you. This will ensure that you are able to score perfectly straight.

Take your scoring tool and run it down the tile along the guide. You do not need to apply a lot of pressure as you are just scoring the glass, but make sure that you have a steady and firm hand. After you have successfully scored the glass tile, you need to place it on a strip of foam or cardboard. This strip should be directly underneath the scored line on your tile. If done correctly, your tile would be slightly elevated from the middle and would not have any support underneath the sides.

This will make the snapping part easier for you. Place your hands on either side of the tile and gently press it down. This will make your tile snap at the part that had been scored. We recommend that you wear some sort of eye protection during the process, as tiny pieces of glass can shoot upwards when you snap the glass, and you need to make sure that they do not end up in your eye. After snapping, you can smooth down the sides of the tile with a rubbing stone if they seem a bit rough.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep glass tiles from chipping when cutting?

One of the reasons why glass tiles can chip during cutting is because the cutting process is too slow, especially if you are using a saw. This is why, when cutting your tiles, we recommend that you do it at a steady and moderate pace. Also, the type of blade in your saw can also lead to tile chipping. Make sure that you use a good-quality glass blade for a smooth cut.

How do you manually cut glass tile?

You can manually cut a glass tile by either using a manual glass cutter or a simple glass scoring tool. For the tile cutter, you need to align the tile with the blade, score it, and then bring the pressure foot down to snap it in half. For the other method, using a straightedge as a guide, score the tile. Then place a strip of something soft underneath the score line to elevate that part and push down on both sides. This will break the tile at the point it has been scored.