How to Cut Stone Tile

In this how-to video, learn to cut stone tile with This Old House host Kevin O'Connor and tile installer Chuck Ferrante

In this video, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor and tile installer Chuck Ferrante explain how to cut stone tile.

How to cut stone tile

Place duct tape strip along the tile edge that will be cut.
Put two short tape strips on the floor tile closest to where the cut tile will be installed.
Set tile in place on top of the nearest floor tile, and butted tight to the baseboard.
Mark where the top tile overlaps the floor tile below; draw the lines on the short tape strips stuck to the floor tile.
Move the top tile off to one side.
Set the pencil compass to the equal the distance from the floor tile edge to the pencil lines, plus the width of the grout joint.
Set the top tile back in position, then slide the compass along the baseboard so that it draws a line along the tile.
Place the marked tile on a wetsaw and slowly cut along the line.
Use nippers, if necessary, to snap off small tile pieces.
Test-fit the tile before applying the mortar.

Tools