How To Cut Tiles Around Outlet --- Irregular Subway Tile Backsplash

Cutting tile can be difficult especially when cutting around an electrical outlet, switch, or other box in a backsplash. Subway tiles are a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes and shower walls. Because they are made of ceramic, they are actually easier to cut than porcelain tile. But unless you know how to cut a U or L shape cut, it can be very tricky and you can mess up or break the cut. This video will show how to cut these irregular or handmade subway tiles. Many DIY and Beginners also struggle with knowing which area of the box to cut up to. I show the proper limit of the box to cut up to, leaving enough room for the screw hole but not so much room that the tabs on the electrical outlet cannot rest properly on the tile.
For another good video on cutting U and L shaped cuts in tile, click on this video link: • TILE SAW TUTORIAL FOR ...
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[@soukyphetsinor2716]

Very helpful, haven't done tile in awhile ty

[@fastwaterec]

Thats awesome. I was laughin watching the messed up measurement while you were cutting it. Good job not editing that out. Most of us do that way too often! Keep it goin man!

[@Mega12]

I’m a 20 year old and work for a general contractor and have remodeled my first house just now and starting tile work and glad I found your channel today, great tips and guidance 10/10 👍🏽

[@dscrive]

It is amazing how just watching your videos helped me jump right in to doing a bit of floor repair. my repair ended up better than the original installation due to the lack of lippage in the section I replaced :D Anytime one of my handy friends or family says anything about DIY tile I send them your way!

[@DeanRamser]

Excellent advice. This is our first kitchen porcelain backsplash project. You really helped!!

[@marathonfreak67]

Love watching a pro work. I learn something new every time and appreciate the years of experience that went into this work.

[@drummerguy612]

Keeps the mistake in, much respect ✊ Love this channel!

[@daniellewilliams6612]

Best video I’ve seen for making these type of cuts! Thank you!

[@JWayize]

Awesome channel! I love that you show mistakes, that’s just the way life is, definitely not perfect. I also appreciate that you shared your past in a previous video, my hat is off to you sir! Keep making videos and helping others 😊

[@mitchfeller9331]

I like know many of the things I learned by trial and error being done here. I also like watching and learning newer ways to do things. Thanks!

[@efrainyanez1708]

Thanks for the videos , love the way you explain things.

[@DD-bx5iy]

Thanks so much for the tips. It’s been yrs since I helped my exhusband tile. So this was a really great refresher.

[@bluegenie840]

Man I can’t wait to see your videos you’re so professional

[@thekickingwolf5115]

Love your channel. So helpful for a new setter getting into the business, and am so glad that there are honorable craftsman as your self. 🙏

[@leviledbetter]

Study the old school techniques keep them treasured. We are losing good tradesmen by the day

[@elenasunshine]

Beautiful. Thank you for this video. I was going to use the wet saw to make this cut and score it across. This gave me confidence that it can be done. ❤

[@bodhemon]

Doing that u-cut is really difficult. You made it look so easy.

[@sydgerald]

As I was watching the video, at 4:36 I had to repeat a few times, because I noticed you put the tile upside down, but I thought "Well that's another way to do it" but at 6:58 You mentioned the mistake, so I wasn't so wrong after all XD. It's very nice of You to actually show your mistakes, as very often people tend to "mask" them in order to show a perfect job. I'm in the process of tiling some floors and walls in my house and through your videos I've learned a lot! thanks for all the info you share with us. All the best from Chile.

[@kylejonesUB]

I love that your outlet cover screws both pointed up when you were done.

[@hotelrenovators9301]

Beautiful work!

[@Tipjar333]

Thank you. Timely and helpful.

[@K27fan]

thanks so much for this video, it is super timely. We are redoing the kitchen, Ive got the cabinets installed and there will be a tile back splash all the way up the wall. So I will have to deal with electrical outlets. Awesome video !!

[@EmanPwns]

Enjoy watching your videos and learning different techniques on showers and general tile work. And yeah happens almost every other job where I get 1 cut backwards, just part of the job man lol

[@Aepek]

Thanks for the vid and your technique of cutting out a box.

[@samuelhelmick7785]

Really like the videos bro 💯 keep up the great work. I can't wait to see you get the recognition and the amount of viewes that ur hard work deserves! Keep up the great hard work and it will pay off big time.

[@ryanmccracken212]

Wrap the plug with sparky tape unless you like to feel that little bit extra alive with the wet sponge in your hand when grouting

[@onjisan]

Thanks for the vid! Also appreciate you keeping the mistake in, and showing how to fix.

[@iamseed8]

great video thanks for posting

[@rlo4443]

Loved watching this!!!

[@anthonyamaro1771]

Electrician checking in!!! I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this video. I'm so tired of not being able to get the screws in the device or cover plate because of the lazy tile guy. I've had them tile in so tight you can't get the devices out or in. It's gotten so bad with backsplashes. I just leave loops and cut-in old work boxes later for Rough-in because the holes in the granite backsplashes are always 2" off. I have gotten pretty good with a grinder

[@bonertron]

how about some relief cuts for gfci outlet covers. so ya know, the screws go in

[@79whocares]

the way this guy cut the tile is good for the old style plugs where the plate screw went in the middle. surprsied he doesnt crack the tile putting on the plates.. the more i watch, the more i cringe

[@tjatile]

Just snip the screws with your pliers a bit shorter. The pliers have little grooves in them for exactly this purpose.

[@jorgerdavila875]

Thanks for your tutorial! I’m dealing with those outlets cut but you gave me good tip to make it right! And about the cut we all makes wrong cuts!!!!

[@josesantoscampos3462]

Just begining to do some tomorrow morning so right on time done some before but always good to remind my self that am on the right track so here's my like for sure.

[@jimsalmi6898]

Looks beautiful.

[@chulochapin]

Thanks for sharing 👍 Excellent work

[@abusydayinremodeling2720]

thank you! it was nice to meet you personally. now I also have the same cap!!

[@maintenancepriority]

Bro! Great video you killing me with touching the blade at the end. You see something new every once in a while

[@edwardsimmons3721]

Great tips thanks for sharing

[@worldkarting89]

Haha! I was gonna call him out for the safety glasses 😂. It’s crazy how helpful a good saw is though. Another great video. This is the only tile guy worth watching on YT.

[@transgreaser]

Dude. So awesome! I want your tile saw. And your skills.

[@danibohn7033]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@64maxpower]

I'm happy to see you do it that way.I would have cut it exactly the same way. Although I don't have as good results staggering the installation. I'm not nearly as good as you. I need to run out each course

[@rmgeorgen]

Great tip.

[@jassonzaragoza2776]

Thanks for the dope vid man💯

[@johnmelia2071]

After losing my job because of Covid I have decided that it's time for a career change. After watching your videos it has inspired me to want to go down the path to become a tiler. After looking at the prices of the courses at the minute it's not going to be possible. Keep the videos coming!

[@grizzly8859]

Work as a labour for cheap. What I did.

[@TonyKurth1]

Yeah.....I'm always looking for help....just go work for someone for a while.

[@videojoeshows]

Nice job with cutting the tile around a wall junction box. I have never installed a kitchen backsplash before & was wondering how hard it would be to cut a square notch with a tile saw & you made it look SO easy. All the best with your channel! Of course I gave you a thumbs up as well....I also subscribed to your awesome channel. Keep it going with your videos!

[@leviledbetter]

Here's a helpful tip for doing soft subway tiles: get one of those diamond covered RotoZip bits to put in your drill. That way when you come across GFI outlets you can cut the outlet straight across like normal and then after it's set you can use that roto zip bit to dig out the hole with GFI screws go. GFI outlets are always more work but I've found that The RotoZip bit saves time like you wouldn't believe just don't even worry about the little holes when you're on a GFI outlet Come back to the outlet after you grab before you put the covers back in.

[@kristianburrows6875]

Thanks for that. That’s a gem right here

[@leviledbetter]

@@kristianburrows6875 hope it's useful for you !

[@sirnatanielson]

Seriously. I wish more people would just pop a hole where the screws go. As an electrician, I've been fortunate to have one tile person actually notch for our devices. Most don't and then it's a painstaking process to cut my screws to make them fit. I wish more tile folks took the time to notch for screw plate holes.

[@Bruceyenzer]

I have OCD when it comes to alot of things. One of those things being that when I screw an outlet cover back on, the slot of the screw has to be perfectly vertical. Idk if you did that intentionally, but you've satisfied my brain with that. Lol. Thanks for the helpful tips in this video.

[@notsofast2325]

Thanks, going to do my Kitchen.

[@richardlevy7674]

thanks for the video

[@chrisowsianowski6876]

Brilliant 👏

[@aob.aob83]

Thank you very much for schooling us

[@timstoops5940]

Thank you

[@brandonlee8665]

Would be nice to a make notch for the cover plate screws.. just a thought.

[@ginger4368]

So helpful!!! thank you. I wish you had on your website or in links on videos of the products you use, prefer, and feel confident recommending. Or link to products so if we purchase you get a percentage.

[@tortelvis1]

Thanks this really helped me today with my backsplash in my bathroom! Question though. Is it possible on a small patio that I have to tile over the ceramic tile that is already there? I want to put down some slate tile over the ceramic tile because the ceramic tile gets too slippery. I appreciate any advice thank you!

[@pappazeuss]

cool.thanks.

[@tssafarina1]

Thanks for the tip on cutting a u shape tile. Hopefully the used tile saw I bought will handle it. I'll let you know how it goes.

[@787UrbanApparel]

Sweet !!! ... 💪💪💪

[@georgerath5124]

great video .you had your safety squints on your ok

[@Edward-ik7rw]

You move to fast, thank you for showing how to do this video. Could you break down the items to consider when installing backsplash with electrical outlets? I see you have done this many of times but I am trying to do this for the first time

[@laythalhamadani6022]

You are great

[@jasonelkins5912]

Very nice sir how do u like the Rubi 7 in looking to replace my splash saw and was looking at them

[@angelatran9486]

Hi. Thanks a lot for this helpful video-what size or brand is this blue outlet extender?

[@tonybashiproductions3356]

Great job, are you using the premixed glue for the tiles?

[@joereed7225]

Any videos on cutting around a toilet flange?

[@DiademStudios9]

Do you have a link of the white trim you used around the tile corners?

[@sergiosotojr2272]

What do you use thin set or mastic for kitchen backsplash?

[@ncooty]

Very useful. Camera could stand to zoom in more. Don't need your mug in every shot. :)

[@BlueTurfer]

In the past I've had to use Dremel with a diamond bit to drill out space for the screw after the fact.

[@rainmaker3700]

Hey do you like that saw Isaac?? I need to get a new one, I am tired of trying to square up my Dewalt every other job.

[@jamesrowenhorst6372]

what size spacers did you use here? we're doing similar tile next week

[@chucklebutt4470]

Worked at a big box store in the flooring department 3 years ago, if I had known about your channel I would have sent them to you! lol. Man, I gotta redo my bathroom floor tiles but there's just the one bathroom for the three of us, me wife and todler Might have to shit in a bucket like the good old days. It would bring me right back to 2003 Iraq. I'd have to go to these primitive FOBs and set up a bunch of comms (I was in the Signal Corps). Gotta poop in a bucket and then burn the poops. Oh, wait... This is a comment about FLOORING. I love your vids, dude!!!

[@randolphpinkle4482]

I saw that you'd made a mistake while you were measuring and wondered what you were doing. Glad I wasn't losing my mind. Yes, wear your glasses. And slow down.

[@Lazzat2009]

As a sparky, can I please make one request. The screws on newer decora cover plates are still designed to go behind the back of the mounting plate. On drywall, the back of the screw simply drives slightly into the drywall, however on tile, This means that the screw actually pulls the receptacle plate out a bit, and also doesn’t let the cover rest on the tile surface flat. Please notch the top and bottom mounting screw locations for better setting of the screws. Cheers!!

[@jaymoolah5031]

aint nobody doing all that for the electricians

[@frankcatrini4816]

@@jaymoolah5031 i do tons of backsplashes and always do a tiny notch for the plate cover screws because no electrician comes to re install the outlets and if you dont notch the tile the whole plate pulls away. you can also trim the screw down slightly if you missed the notch or forgot one

[@Vade1313]

Have you ran into issues with the screw hole that holds the cover plate ever? I sometimes have to notch the tile so that screw isn’t going into the tile. Especially on custom cover plates people have. Was looking to see how other guys deal with this because a straight across cut never works out well for me due to that cover plate screw hole location. It makes it so the tabs just barely hold the plug, and leave not much room for adjustment. I cut it lower and do a V notch where that screw goes. Ever have this issue anyone??

[@lilcs3011]

I guess I'm doing something right I figured this out on my own though trial and error.

[@reddbeard2030]

I remember posting a vid in where I used my impact to swap outlets and some Canadian Troll was like "oh you shouldn't be using that to do electrical, I guess the States just let people do whatever". I'm not mad atcha. Just beware of the Aholes, lol.

[@Killer-or1jb]

I would’ve told him, Americans do what the eff we want

[@reddbeard2030]

@@Killer-or1jb Oh, after I finished with him I didn't hear a peep, lol.

[@user-vu3uk4sb1i]

Show more on how to put in boarder

[@frankcatrini4816]

no little notches for the outlet plate screws? on gfi outlets if you dont notch for the plate screws as you install the plates , the plates dont snug up all the way , which creates a gap against the wall..

[@seanc6468]

What happened to the spacers? I need to know..

[@donnbialik9085]

There are spacers that can be used to gap the outlet or switch. You just use a longer screw and the spacers. Lots of people do not know about the spacers.

[@MoneyManHolmes]

I love those. I don’t know why the electrical manufacturers put such tiny ears on the outlets and switches.

[@intertubicular]

You do great work. If I may give you a tip however. When doing tile on a backsplash it's so much easier to back butter and trowel your adhesive to each individual tile. This gives you so much more control of the installation in both neatness and overall even adhesive coverage. Nothing worse than racing to get cuts done when you have adhesive or thinset drying up on the wall. Try it. You will find doing this makes installation so much easier, neater and stress free. Obviously you can't do this with small format 12" x 12" mesh sheet products like mosaic and stone but subway tile and square tile it's the only way I do it!

[@tjatile]

It's much slower that way if the tiles are less than about 4x16. If the mud is drying out too much, just use an offcut piece of tile to wipe up the dry stuff, usually at the edge cut pieces. But pros won't have that happen, because they aren't letting it get dry by the time they get there. For some awkward areas it makes sense, like if a plug is close to a wall and it's too skinny to fit the notch trowel there, but it's better to spread the wall at once, and doing that will help you feather any high spots in the drywall around windows or plugs and give more even coverage than notching a single piece at a time.

[@arcticvic]

where can i buy a tile saw like that one?

[@rafaelj80]

QUESTION: are you installing tile on top of painted drywall..? If so, what type of bond or mortar are you using..? Thanks

[@cheliesco]

OmniGrip Mastic

[@patricemalki6794]

What size grout line is that.. 1/16” or 1/8”?

[@CulichorHimself]

the tile "expert" LOL

[@rainmaker3700]

I see lippage!!! J/K I know it's the style of the tile. :)

[@jbitile8241]

For new tile setters when he stopped the blade that is a poclein blade with no lines on blade as to be a soli d blade with no grooves on blade. Cause if blade had grooves it will cut your finger off. Make sure the blade is solid all around before attempting what he did

[@tjatile]

When it has lines like that, it's called a "segmented" blade

[@anthonynapier4668]

👍 👍

[@user-fp9cb8bn1e]

What if the subway tile is beveled? Thats where I am stuck helping it to lay flat.

[@marley8318]

youngins remember that is a tile saw where you can touch the blade, dont try that at home

[@heartwormskillcats8357]

I was wondering about that lol.

[@ronaldchrist2827]

I would really like to learn this trade I will appreciate you help please 🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@mr.g937]

The NEC (National Electrical Code) specifies a maximum distance of 1/4" by which an electrical box may be recessed into the wall. While it is not unsafe to mount the receptacle on tile as tile is a non-combustible material, generally speaking, best practice is to use an electrical box extender to ensure that the box extends to flush with the tiled surface. In this particular case you are very likely in compliance because of the minimal thickness of the tile, but just something I'd point out to be aware of for anyone considering doing a tile backsplash, and who has boxes which are pushed back into the wall, as poor installation often does. 314.20 Flush-Mounted Installations. Installations within or behind a surface of concrete, tile, gypsum, plaster, or other noncombustible material, including boxes employing a flushtype cover or faceplate, shall be made so that the front edge of the box, plaster ring, extension ring, or listed extender will not be set back of the finished surface more than 6 mm (1 ∕4 in.).

[@jdj3042]

Where the screws from the cover not to long?

[@jhonymonteiro1374]

I love videos you can ride your mistakes lol

[@sharlarunquist6378]

What's the edging called that you did around the open end, and is that necessary? Can I leave just the tile edges?

[@joaquinsuarez6090]

You can put tile ends or metal or plastic ends sold at Home Depot or Lowes and secure them with galvanized roofing nails, that way tiles will look nicer and finished.

[@mistressrydia3057]

if i had dollar for every time i cut on the wrong side of the line... i could afford to leave early every friday. ha!

[@mesposito1625]

Hi, can you tell me if those are 1/16 or 1/8” spacers you’re using? I just purchased the exact same tile and I’d like to install with 1/16 but I’m not sure the tile can handle it

[@snell2k]

What size spacer did you go with and how did it come out? I just bought the same tile and have been searching for spacer size - thanks in advance!

[@mesposito1625]

@@snell2k although he never answered me, I did some research and those are 1/16 he's using (hunt tool co- excellent spacers btw). I wound up going with 1/8 because 1/16 left me with some sliver cuts on the ends. Plus I just think 1/16 is asking allot considering the irregularity of the tile. I was concerned 1/8 might be too much but I actually love the way it came out. the joints don't look too wide at all.

[@snell2k]

@@mesposito1625 thank you! I think I’ll go 1/8 too

[@kingdavid9520]

What kind of wet saw is that

[@kirkdunn1379]

Nice you showed that mistake, they happen daily...with multiple trades on a site it's a constant "thing" managing a construction site or even 1 trade is troubleshooting "101'....solving problems/mistakes is the game.... Make them all the time after years in trades

[@grizzly8859]

I yet to see anyone have a better method than me for cutting out outlets, floor vents, toilet flanges.