The bathroom tile in my recently purchased house isn‘t finished. The previous owner used floor tile to surround the tub; he/she left many pieces of tile unfinished, but luckily left us a stack of the tiles so we could finish it off. However, we don‘t have an unlimited supply of these tiles, so we‘d like to get it right with as few tries as possible!I‘m wondering: -I need to fit the tub faucet and knobs within two 12 square tiles. What‘s the best way to measure the placement of the fixtures? Is it possible to make some sort of template that I could transfer to the tiles? -Can I make the cuts for the fixtures using a hacksaw-type tile saw blade, or should I buy a tile drill bit? (I realize it rather depends on where the fixtures fall within the tile-- but if I don‘t need to buy both, I won‘t waste my money. )Thanks!
By making some tiles out of cardboard, then placing them in their proper position, will show you where to use a ceramic hole-saw on the real tile to make good holes. I have also seen tile setters cut the tile in two places, intersecting at the centre of the hole. Then use a plier-like nibbling tool to remove the necessary material [ please where safety glasses for this ], when finished the cut lines are barely noticeable, especially if it is done in least conspicuous place. Another option is if you were to go to a professional tile setter, with your clearly marked tiles, I'm fairly certain he/she would make your holes, for a fee.
If you are trying to use floor tile on the walls, I would go to a tile store and have them make the cuts you need (use a grease pencil to mark the tiles) the two methods described in the first two answers can help you. but if you have ever tried to cut floor tile with one of those hacksaw tile blades you would know that it is VERY DIFFICULT, wall tile cuts no problem but floor tile is much tougher. also if you know where they were purchased they may cut them for you for free.
I'll try to answer this in layman's terms as best i can.. Take one tile and hold it exactly square with the tile just above the faucet Knob. Take another tile and put the edge of it dead center in the middle of the faucet knob(this will take another person to lend a helping hand obviously).The other edge of the piece of tile you are holding on the center of the faucet knob will come to exactly where you want to put the center bit of the tile hole cutter so mark that with your pencil take the piece your holding square on the tile above the faucet knob down and cut your hole using a tile hole saw bit that is slightly larger in diameter than the faucet knob.. Sorry if this sounds complicating but i think once you start doing it you'll see how easy it is.. Good luck..
