Tools

Here are the basic tools that you'll need in just about every tile installation:

Tile Snapper

For straight cuts, a tile snapper is the best tool for a do-it-yourselfer. It holds the tile in a frame as you score the surface with a small wheel.

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

Tile cutters are available at home centers and 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.

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 spreading thinsets on horizontal surfaces. Use V-notched trowels for spreading adhesives 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 most home centers.

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.

Tub Saw

The tub saw gives clean, smooth edges. It cuts with a diamond-blade that is bathed in water to keep it cool and to wash away the dust.

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

Margin Trowel

A margin trowel may be the most useful tile tool of all.  You’ll use it to hand mix mortars and grouts, to scrape excess adhesive off of walls, to spread mortar or adhesive onto the notched trowel, and to “back-butter” small tiles.

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.

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.

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 grid lines 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.

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, or a high speed rotary tool (a “Roto-Zip” or a “Dremel Tool”).