Help!: Cutting Tile Trims

[turtle-tiling]

G'day to all, i have trouble when i try and box around window with the tile trim. My heads hurting . When i measure sides and top/bottom then i cut and hey presto too short or angles are different. I have bought extra lengths of trim and practiced but when on a job its different. I know i struggle with it so im after a bit of help to explain where to measure where to cut. How do you lads and lasses do it is there an easy way that will stick in me matter hopefully one of you can make the penny drop. Thanx in advance and stop me from doing this

[bigandy]

well for me i dont really measure but offer the trim up and mark it in situ as i find this more accurate. it only takes a milli or so to be out and your trim is to short. if you hang on i am sure someone will put it more eloquently that i have described.

[beanz]

hehe! I know what you mean, last week i was running scotia around the top of a recess, it was recessed on the sides too, so lots of fiddly cuts. It took me all day, and my brain was completely fried by the end of it!?! Also ended up costing me, as i cocked up the longest cut, so had to go and buy another length...
The only advice i can give you is take your time, and tripple check everything before cutting. Hopefully someone will have a miracle cure to our mental ailment.

[FreeD]

I feel for you i spent all day saturday putting trim on one large window...was a freaking joke...i'm still not sure what i'm doing but i got there in the end.
one of the pros on here should do a youtube video that would help!

[bigandy]

We should ask wivers,mankini in tow, to do a series of how to tile and distribute them ot side some tile shops

[mike walker]

like was said mate dont measure put one end against window reveal then mark other end. and if you find it hard to make a nice job of the cut buy a trim cutter about£20 that will help you or use square edge trim still looks great and can be fitted with square cut instead of mitre

[brian c]

TT.,i thought we went over all this the other week? its not so easy is it?

[Rob Z]

Hi TT,

My background was carpentry before I started in tile, so I often approach things thinking like a carpenter and working with a piece of wood or trim. Like Big Andy said it is more accurate to mark it in place. It works this way with a piece of wood trim, and even though you can't hold all the separate pieces of tile up at once, you can still do the same sort of thing. Measure out what it is that you are trying to trim (casing around a window, jamb pieces, etc) and then lay out that distance as a straight line on a work table (piece of plywood or whatever is handy). Draw out that line to the length you measure and then started laying the tile on the line the you have drawn. You can start at the center and start dry-laying the tile as needed to get to the end of the line. Balance your cuts and do what is needed so it looks good. Only once you have it laid out the right way should you start cutting. You could do the entire window trim like this, laid out on the board. Once you the hang of it you probably won't need to lay things out and will be able to envision it in your mind, but while you are learning this is a good method.

This works for shower curbs, niches, window sills, tops of kneewalls, etc. My guys do this sometime because it helps them visualize wht they are doing.

I hope this helps.

[tile55]

I normally leave the window recess to last, ad like most of the guys size up the trim against the window or angle. I then mark the tile trim about an inch longer than is necessary, mitre one end, then offer up the trim to thw window again, I then mark the correct line as it is much easier than with a long 2m trim to get the exact measurement. I then mitre this end and trim is ready to go.
I would tile and put trim in the window ledge first, then left or right reveals leaving the top reveal to last as the 2 uprights semi support the tile trim and give slight help in keeping the tiles and trim up.

[grumpygrouter]

Make sure you mark the "flat" side of the trim not the curved bit and I always draw a small "direction of cut" line from my marked point. I assume you are using a mitre box?

[turtle-tiling]

Cheers for all the replys lads its good to know im not on my own thanx for all the answers cheers

[doug boardley]

mitre box and fine toothed hacksaw ninja, trim snips have been the most obsolete tool in my armoury!!

[Fred]

I mitre one end, measure the length and add a few cm's, offer it up to the window edge, mark the final cut and wolla...........

[FreeD]

When u say you mitre one end then offer it up how do u hold it into position last window i did was 1 1/2 metre wide...surely to get it exact u would have to sit the trim on the first tile so its supported then move to other end of window, mark remove and cut? then tile away slotting the trim behind as you go?

[Martyn Leeds]

best tip i'd give for plastic trim is to get a good pair of trim-cutters.

From previous threads you'll see that a lot of folk don't really rate them - but i couldn't work without them now. Mine are just like these.

[doug boardley]

When u say you mitre one end then offer it up how do u hold it into position last window i did was 1 1/2 metre wide...surely to get it exact u would have to sit the trim on the first tile so its supported then move to other end of window, mark remove and cut? then tile away slotting the trim behind as you go?

thats the way I usually do it to Fred

[Rob Z]

TT, now that I read the other repsonses here I realize that I thought you were refering to something else...for us "Tile Trims" are pieces of tile, so that's why I said what I said. Whoops! I see you are all referring to pieces like we get here that are made by Schluter. The tool that Martyn posted is the same one I have.

Anyway, now that I know the lingo , I will ask if they sell end pieces for these plastic or metal trims? That does away with the need to miter them, and the end pieces don't cost very much.

[R Montgomery]

TT, now that I read the other repsonses here I realize that I thought you were refering to something else...for us "Tile Trims" are pieces of tile, so that's why I said what I said. Whoops! I see you are all referring to pieces like we get here that are made by Schluter. The tool that Martyn posted is the same one I have.

Anyway, now that I know the lingo , I will ask if they sell end pieces for these plastic or metal trims? That does away with the need to miter them, and the end pieces don't cost very much.

Yea that one got me too.It seems to be like Schluter in that it fits in between the tile and the substrate but it's made out of plastic as well as metal.It seems to be used for corners as well as thresholds.I'm not sure why bullnose or quarter round are not used,maybe it's a price thing.I'm still trying to figure out the lingo too,anything you learn I would love to know.

[Rob Z]

Roger, maybe we should start a thread for US/UK conversions for tile setting terms.

[R Montgomery]

Roger, maybe we should start a thread for US/UK conversions for tile setting terms.

Sounds good to me because I'm still stumped by some of the easiest terms.

[macten]

I normally leave the window recess to last, ad like most of the guys size up the trim against the window or angle. I then mark the tile trim about an inch longer than is necessary, mitre one end, then offer up the trim to thw window again, I then mark the correct line as it is much easier than with a long 2m trim to get the exact measurement. I then mitre this end and trim is ready to go.
I would tile and put trim in the window ledge first, then left or right reveals leaving the top reveal to last as the 2 uprights semi support the tile trim and give slight help in keeping the tiles and trim up.

That's exactly how I do it too

[MICK the Tiler]

All this talk about cutting trim and how hard it can be? I don't feel so bad now as I've spent all day MITREING!! Full bodied Porcelain around a window reveal.

[rob]

The best way to get an acurate measure for your trim is to have two samll (same size & profile) bits of trim with a mitre on one end of each & a square cut at the other. Once the tiles are down and in place, insert the two small sample trims (only need to be about 50mm lenght) at each end of the section required.
Then all you do is measure in between the two of them (from square cut to square cut) and then add the lenghts of the two short bits to your measurement. You now have the exact size to cut your actual trim.

Hope you can understand this. If not let me know and I will take some photos and post them for you.

To cut them I use the Quansol mitre box, and trims are now a pleasure!!
Hope this helps

[brian c]

The best way to get an acurate measure for your trim is to have two samll (same size & profile) bits of trim with a mitre on one end of each & a square cut at the other. Once the tiles are down and in place, insert the two small sample trims (only need to be about 50mm lenght) at each end of the section required.
Then all you do is measure in between the two of them (from square cut to square cut) and then add the lenghts of the two short bits to your measurement. You now have the exact size to cut your actual trim.

Hope you can understand this. If not let me know and I will take some photos and post them for you.

To cut them I use the Quansol mitre box, and trims are now a pleasure!!
Hope this helps

post some pics then

[klaatu]

hi turtle where are you are you near west yorkshire ?

[Dave]

Roger, maybe we should start a thread for US/UK conversions for tile setting terms.

Go for it Rob...you add the ones you don't know and we can tell ya the answer and vice versa you tell us the ones we ddon't know..

[rob]

I will be away at a wedding for the next few days and try and get some photos on the forum next week

[turtle-tiling]

Thanks everyone for answers very helpful and good reading. Klaatu sorry mate not from west yorkshire although i do support the Mighty Leeds i'm from sunny North Wales...