I recently took out a built-in oven and now I need to make some space for a standard one. Specifically, I need to cut about half an inch off the tile countertop. What's the best tool for making a straight cut? I'm concerned that I might not have enough room to set up a guide. I was considering using a small circular saw with a diamond bit. Any tips?
3 Answers
I just did this for a sink install! I used a diamond-tipped blade on my 4-inch grinder, and it cut through the tile like it was butter. My spouse held the vacuum by the cut, which really helped with the mess. Definitely recommend doing that!
An angle grinder with a masonry or tile disc is your best bet if you can fit it in. It'll make the straight cut you need pretty easily. Just make sure to have a friend nearby with a vacuum to catch all the dust.
That's a great tip! Dust can get everywhere, so having a vacuum handy is definitely a must.
If you’re working with ceramic tile, I’ve had success with a manual tile snapper. It’s a bit heavy and you have to score it slowly with a carbide wheel, but tapping it at an angle towards the counter helps to break it cleanly. You might even want to try a glass cutter for more precision, especially near the backsplash. Just remember to soften any rough edges afterward!
Did you find that scoring and then snapping worked well? I’m curious about getting a cleaner cut.
Was it hard to keep the cut straight with the angle grinder? I already have one and a diamond blade.