Tiling tools buying guide
You can't start your tiling project without the right tools for the job. If you don't know where to start, plan your project by familiarising yourself with the various equipment available to you. Ensure you are practicing safe DIY with safety goggles and gloves to protect you from flying fragments and sharp edges.
Tile scorer
Get clean breaks in your tiles by scoring through the glaze first, using a tile scorer. You can use one with either a tungsten carbide tip or steel wheel.
Tile nippers or nibblers
For very narrow cuts, score first and then nibble to the line with these tungsten carbide-edged pincers. They're also perfect for cutting mosaic tiles.
Diamond-wheel tile cutter
The rotary blade on this machine will cut through all types of tile. If you're redecorating or renovating a large area, it's worth buying one of these fairly inexpensive cutting tools.
Grout spreader
This tool is specifically designed to spread grout across tiles and into the joints. You can buy different sizes of spreader for your walls and floor.
Notched spreader
A notched spreader will give you the right depth of evenly-spread adhesive, every time. You can buy one for either wall or floor tiles, or choose a multi-toothed tool that works on both surfaces.
Tile saw
This saw is ideal when you want to cut curved lines through a tile. You can also use a jigsaw or RotoZip with a ceramic blade for clean shaping.
Tile file
Use this file to smooth down the rough edges from a cut tile.
Tile snapper
This handy tool makes it simple to snap a tile in two after you've scored it by squeezing the marked lines. Some also come with a scoring blade.
Sponge
Synthetic and strong, a decorator's sponge is handy for wiping and cleaning up any spillages after you've decorated.
Profile gauge
A profile gauge will help you fit your tiles perfectly around objects like pipes or toilets. Just mould the profile of the object onto it, and then transfer the pattern to your tile or other floor covering.
Flat-bed tile cutter
These cutters are superb for scoring and snapping tiles. You can get different models especially for wall tiles and thicker floor tiles.