Setting Out: A hopeless DIY needs help

[hopeless]

Woman desperately seeking help on how to cut a few tiles. I have already purchase a small tile cutter, (the plastic ones) I have ruined a few tiles already and dare not cut any more. Other than hire a more robust model (which I will most likely end up doing) unless someone can advise me how to cut tiles accurately.
Any information will be gratefully received. Hopeless

[jimbob]

Hi Hopeless,

It all depends on what type of tile you are trying to cut. If they are just ceramic, any half decent cutter should do the job easily. (I am assuming you are talking about a dry cutter here, not a wet cutter).

Score a line across the tile using consistent pressure in one pass, this is to mark the glaze - then snap using the cutter and it should work fine (it is not necessary to exert too much pressure on the breaker arm to snap a ceramic tile).

Harder material such as porcelain will require a more robust cutter, deeper scoring and stronger pressure on the breaker.

Perhaps if you let us know the tile type, describe the cutter a bit more or even better post a pic, and describe the way you have been doing it, we can help a bit more....

Cheers
Jimbob

[hopeless]

Hi Jimbob and thanks for you message. My tiles are the plain ceramic cheap ones which my builder choose for me, but he's done a runner and I'm left to finish the jobs he left half done. The tile cutter I bought is the Plasplugs supposed to cut up to 330mm 13ins square. I did follow the instructions a you mentioned but I'm still breaking tiles into pieces. I have considered hiring a tile cutter from HSS and when I phone they said they were reluctant to show me how to use it because of the health and safety issues that's why I'm so desperate to find someone who can help me.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

why dont you hire a tiler to do a good job for you???

[jimbob]

Is it the Plasplugs Compact Contractor with the yellow lever? I've never used it myself if so.

Make sure you score the line across the entire length of the tile (ie begin your score line the closest you can possibly get to the edge of the tile and keep the pressure on until the end). Keep the tile still in between scoring and breaking (ie don't move it), so it should be in the correct position to break. Don't put too much pressure on when you use the breaker - try leaning slowly onto the breaker arm (gently at first) exerting more and more pressure until it snaps.

Failing that it could be a dodgy scoring wheel. I take it you bought the cutter new?

[jimbob]

why dont you hire a tiler to do a good job for you???

She might not be able to afford it, Gooner. If the builder has done a runner, I'm assuming he has already been paid...

[hopeless]

I have asked a tiler who I know to finished off what the builders left undone but they're not interested in coming out to me to tile only 30tiles. It would only take a tiler an hour or so but where do I find someone reliable who is not a cowboy like my builder. I only have myself to finish this job off and as I have never tiled before I'm finding cutting tiles pretty difficult. I have done some research on tiling and reading this information is easier said than doing. Hopeless

[hopeless]

Like a idiot I did pay my builder in full before completion because he gave me a story about wanting to buy a truck pretty quick and the guy needed the cash upfront. Still once bitten twice shy and that's why I've ended up dong the tiling myself. My tile cutter is the one with the orange levers and it dose not fell very stable when scoring. I guess I am hopeless after all. Regards to all who has responded to me...many thanks....Hopeless

[lcjohno]

just try the technique jimbob is telling you and you'll get it right after a few attempts. If you break the tile dont worry, just dont get a new one, use the broken tile or the offcut to practice or you'll run out fast. Good luck!

[Ramag]

Have you thought about asking a neighbour for a little help, they can not be all office workers

[jimbob]

Like a idiot I did pay my builder in full before completion because he gave me a story about wanting to buy a truck pretty quick and the guy needed the cash upfront. Still once bitten twice shy and that's why I've ended up dong the tiling myself. My tile cutter is the one with the orange levers and it dose not fell very stable when scoring. I guess I am hopeless after all. Regards to all who has responded to me...many thanks....Hopeless

We've all done it, Hopeless. It's the builder who's the idiot, not you.
Keep trying with the cutting - if necessary pop to your local DIY store and get a handful of the cheapest tiles they have to practice on, it'll probably only cost a couple of quid

[Colour Republic]

Hi hopeless,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, the cutter sounds a bit rubbish to me sometimes tile cutters can be so bad that IMO are not fit for purpose. It really is very easy to cut most tiles so i would be inclined to blame the cutter not you. Is everything on it plastic?

Even though it is a very small job there will be tilers out there willing to do it, you have a couple of options, you could
A) put a request out on this forum for somebody near you to come and have a look, most members have pictures in their portfolio so you can check them out
B) have a look at these sites http://www.findtrustedtradesmen.co.uk/ or even the trade body http://www.tiles.org.uk/directory/findnearest.shtml although a lot of the companies listed on this site are tile shops not fixers but then even so most shops should be able to put you in touch with a fixer

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

good luck, if you lived near me id just do it for you ,builder ay!!!!!

[wacker]

Hi Hopeless, another option is mark out the tiles you wish to cut, and take them to a tile shop. Most of the ones I know local to me will cut them while you wait. About 50p per cut. Hope this helps.

[Colour Republic]

Hi Hopeless, another option is mark out the tiles you wish to cut, and take them to a tile shop. Most of the ones I know local to me will cut them while you wait. About 50p per cut. Hope this helps.

Not a bad idea there Wacker

[hopeless]

A big thank you to all who have responded to my request I do appreciate your views. I have now contacted my local tile shop and they have agreed to cut my tiles for a small charge. Thank you so much everybody.......Kindest regards the not so much Hopeless

[Oli]

Hi, Where do you live? im sure someone could sort it out for you.

[Ramag]

Well done members another satisfied customer

[A1P]

Hi.Sorry to hear about the builder.You have had lots of good advice re-the tiling.Can I just advise you to pursue your builder if there is other work to complete or any of the work done is not upto standard.Trading standards will advise you and hopefully also have a list of dodgy tradesmen to add his name to.There are procedures to go thru and they will help you.It will take up your valuable time but is worth doing depending on the size of the problem.You really should have some details of what he has actually done and he should offer some sort of guarantee.If just the tiles possibly not worth the hassle.

[hopeless]

Hi thanks for your advise.......A friend recommended this chap as he worked for her husband who is a builder however, I later found out this chap also has a short fuse when I questioned him about something that wasn't right. He responded to me quite aggressively so I walk away as I did not want to go there. Later I found a few items broken, my shed lock was sheared off, my car pump which was left in the shed had the rubber tube cut off. Like many cowboys he said he would come over to finish the work but did not turn up for week. It got to the point that I just wish the work would finish quickly as his attitude got worse. I do fear that if I complain I may end up with broken windows or worse still slashed tires so naturally I would want to see him again even to put things right. Thank you for your response....Hopeless

[A1P]

What a nasty situation to be in.You are the person who has been let down and left with less than satisfactory work and possible,but hopefully not,future problems.It is wrong that you should feel intimidated but I can quite understand that with no support you do not feel like taking him on.At the risk of sounding like an 'agony uncle',perhaps you could get your friend's hubby {the builder)to have a look tho'that might spoil a friendship.Best wishes.

[hopeless]

Thanks for your kind words. I think I may have to resign into cutting my losses and chalk this whole chapter to "never employ a builder who has anger managements issues". However looking on the bright side people on this site like you and many others have been very supportive, I am very grateful for that.
Best wishes.........Hopeless

[whitebeam]

Would of been helpful if we knew where you are located hopeless

[hopeless]

I'm located south of Lincoln about 9 miles from Newark Nottinghamshire.
Best wishes........Hopeless

[faithhealer]

keep in touch, ruddy builders.

[hopeless]

Now I know where to get real support and advise if I should have the need to seek some DIY problems that might turn up in the future. I can't thank the helpful people on this site enough. Again many thanks indeed......Bless you all............Hopeless (but not so hopeless after all)