Adding a tiled back splash is a great way to dress up a kitchen. Often when doing a simple tile back splash, some cuts are needed to get the tile around switches and receptacles. There are a few options and methods for doing these small cuts that don’t necessarily involve expensive or fancy equipment. Chances are you probably have at least one of the tools needed.

The first method is a jigsaw with a diamond blade design for cutting tile, this blade will allow for quick straight and curved cuts. Make sure to put some masking tape on the bottom of the shoe of the jig saw so the metal does not scratch the tile surface. Use the saw on a medium speed and be sure to turn off the orbital action if you jig saw is so equipped.

The next is to buy a diamond cutting wheel for a small size angle grinder. These blades cut dry so there is a little bit of dust but they can make cuts quick and convenient.

The last way is to use a diamond wheel wet saw; this is the more expensive way to go but also makes the cleanest and dust-free cuts. If you have a lot of cutting to do, a wet saw is the preferred method. If one of these types of saws is out of your budget, you can usually rent one from a local equipment rental store.