Tile Measuring & Cutting Tips

Measuring the Space

• When you measure a space for tile, you need to be as accurate as possible. Therefore, you should begin by breaking the tile job into sections. For example, a shower stall should be measured in three parts: each of the three walls should be measured separately, then those three totals added together. First, measure each section in inches. For each section, measure the length and width, then multiply the two numbers. This will give you the number of square inches needed. Divide this number by 144 to get the number of square feet required for this section. Add up the three sections for the total square-footage of the job.

Adding for Waste

• Once you've measured the tile, you need to add in additional material for waste--those small, trimmed-off pieces of tile that are unusable. Standard ceramic or porcelain tiles laid straight with no pattern should have 5% additional material added on for waste. Stone tiles, glass tiles and fragile tiles should have 10% additional material for waste, and if you're going to use a pattern, such as a diagonal pattern or multipiece pattern, you should have as much as 20% additional material for waste.

Cutting the Tiles

• To get accurate cuts, first lay out your tiles, without mortar, in the area where they'll be installed. Work from the center out, so your cut tiles are balanced on each side of the installation, and so you don't have a cut tile in the center of the job. Cut your tiles on a tile saw for the straightest and fastest cuts. You can mark your tiles with a pencil and straight edge during your dry-fit to line up with the blade. Double-check the cut tiles with the rest of the installation before you begin, to ensure they'll fit. It's often possible to cut a tile so that you can use it a few times. For example, if a 12-inch tile is getting cut down to four inches in width to be installed along the edge of the room, careful cutting will get you three pieces from that one tile. Mark the tiles with a pencil ahead of time, and measure each section of the tile to make sure your cuts are even and that you're making the most of each tile.