Cutting tile around kitchen socket

[DSA]

Hi,

Due to a slight change in the arrangement of wall units in the kitchen, I need to redo a few of the tiles which had nicks taken out of them and are now rather unsightly. The tiles are unfortunately 20x30cm (Plain white gloss), which seems to be a "strange" size according to all the local shops!

So it looks like I'm going to have to cut down 25x33cm tiles...

To do this I picked up a cheap tile cutter (£2 job from B&Q - bit of plastic with a blade as a wheel on the end...) - no doubt this will be fine for simply cutting down to 20x30, however on a couple of the tiles I need to cut an L-shape around a power socket. Will I be able to use this tool to achieve this, or will it be a disaster! I'm guessing an appropriate jigsaw/coping saw blade may be too expensive just to cut 2 tiles?! Alternatively are a shop likely to cut them to size if I give them the dimensions and ask nicely?

Thanks!

 

[jefoss]

hiya


if your only doing a couple of tiles try borrowing a wet saw or a angle grinder (with diamond blade) from someone.


take a peek at the all mighty gcol's sticky at the top of the tiling thread, plenty of tips in there, if you think your in too deep, probs best off paying someone to come in to do it.

where in the world are you? as one of my local stores does glossy 20 x 30's


Jef

 

[IJWS15]

You can get hand tile saws for a few quid from the sheds, ideal for the odd tile. Of those I have used I find the Wickes one is the best.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Tile-Tools/...vJOxcInvY1H4JwBcSZ2MIfCIMv2VNq1z WJ9bQPNXrg==

 

[jefoss]

You can get hand tile saws for a few quid from the sheds, ideal for the odd tile. Of those I have used I find the Wickes one is the best.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Tile-Tools/...Y1H4JwBcSZ2MIfCIMv2VNq1z WJ9bQPNXrg==[/QUOTE]


you mean using elbow grease? no no no no no

 

[DSA]

Well in the end I decided to buy a special grit edged hacksaw blade from Screwfix for £3.49 (listed as for ceramic tiles) which will hopefully do the job! The tile shops did offer a cutting service, but generally wanted £1 a cut, which seemed quite a lot to me.

And I've also got some HG Impregnating Sealer to do the natural stone mosaics. I don't know whether the builder sealed the rest when the Kitchen was originally done last year, so I'm going to do them now!

I assume all this talk of "you need to use a specialist cleaner before sealing them" is just salesman speak? I plan to use soapy water to remove dust and excess grout before sealing. I don't really see the need to spend yet more money, and the existing tiles look OK anyway, if just with some excess grout on the surface (which seems to come off OK with a bit of soapy water and elbow grease)!