How to Cut Porcelain Tile Around the Toilet Flange

[@kathypage5707]

This worked perfectly. I am a 59 yr old female and never used an angle grinder. I bought an angle grinder and a diamond blade, followed your video and it worked perfectly, THANKS!

[@RedheadedMusic]

Thank you for such great tips, will be doing this in a few weeks. This will truly make a difference. Please be sure to tell ALL of your viewers how REALLY IMPORTANT ear and breathing protection is when dealing with loud tools and fine tile dust. Once you loose your hearing or damage your lungs.... game over. I am sure you “normally do use these things... but take the time to mention the importance on any job. These kids today are far too impressionable.

[@jimtfrommn]

I had sacrificed two tiles this evening trying to use an angle grinder to cut around a toilet flange. I saw your demonstration and got it first try. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

[@joycecarroll3783]

Holy cow. I do guitar restoration for a living and really appreciate good tools and straight forward instruction. I have never laid tile, but you just gave me the nerve to try it. I thought I was going to have to spend a lot more for a tool to do this job. Thank you, from a DIY gal.

[@TheScoobish]

Thanks so much for this. I appreciate the clear instructions and demonstration. You're a bit of an artist with that angle grinder!

[@jeffb1344]

Thank you very very very much!!!! I followed the same procedural cuts you made after 2 unsuccessful tries before viewing this one. Yes, and both attempts it cracked, so your cuts provided expansion relief perfectly. I also used a water bath from a light trickle from a garden hose to keep both blade and tile cool.....Light, light passes....and a lot of patience..... Perfect tip!!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thank you for the comment and I'm happy to hear that you have the confidence to do this!!

[@mattriddle1985]

I've been trying to cut around a sump pump basin for a week! You're a life saver! Thank you for this!

[@lass-inangeles7564]

That was incredibly useful to know and watch you do it. The rhythm, speed, angle of blade, number of times, light pressure, etc can only be understood with a demo. You handled that angle grinder cut like an experienced pro! Thanks a lot for your video!!

[@phoenixshade3]

I'm in the process of installing floor and wall tile in my bathroom, and I will be making this cut literally in just minutes. This video couldn't be more concise and informative. Thanks for sharing it!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Sounds like a good plan John! I appreciate your comment and happy to help.

[@camcrothers7216]

AMAZING! I would not have believed that was possible without seeing it for myself. You did a fantastic job and have given me inspiration to finish my bathroom reno. Well done! Thanks for sharing.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

enforcer686, thank you for your comment and I'm glad I could help!!

[@NorthernChev]

I used this video as a guide earlier this year when I cut my first tile to fit around a closet flange. I followed his directions and my tile turned out perfect on the very first try. Since then I've used this same technique on two more closet flange tile cuts and they too have all come out exact using this video.

[@pwsigmund]

Excellent video and explanation, thanks for putting it together. I have to enlarge the opening in previously installed floor tile to retrofit a flange extender, and was unsure how to make tight radius cuts with the 4 inch blade. I didn't think of holding the grinder on an angle until I watched you do it. Sure glad I found your video as I'll be doing the job tomorrow AM. Thanks again.

[@Magnageek]

Wow! That was terrific! You just saved me a heck of a lot of time and money with your video, and I thank you!

[@rickrider]

Gotta thank you for your very practical videos. Used this method to cut hole for toilet and worked perfectly. Also, cut hole for heater vent and worked fine. Big this was take your time. Also practiced on a few scraps to get the right touch.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thats awesome Eric!!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

pwsigmund, I am glad this video helped and thank you for the comment! I really do appreciate it!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thanks ManVLife, I appreciate your feed back!

[@shanblain]

Wow it took me two hours trying to make a cut like that for a toilett before this video thanks; ill try to master the grinder now..great job

[@NicholasPutz]

Dude!!! Seriously... You ROCK!!! I broke like 5 tiles attempting different ways to cut a hole in my tile, your method worked perfectly!!!!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thanks!!

[@OconeeQuilter]

Thanks so much. I cut around my toilet flange with no trouble! Two thumbs up!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thanks I appreciate the comment! Glad I could help.

[@captron7250]

Great tip, thanks for posting. Never thought to do it this way.... I know people post "wear a particle mask" But if you value your lungs you really should... You see all those COPD commercials on TV? It's no joke. I'm an X-ray tech, and you should see all the construction workers that walk through my door with serious lung problems.

[@theshawnfussellband]

kind of cool how you cut the waste piece through the center. I've been using an angle grinder for years and always manage to get the circles out in one piece. In fact, I have a set of coasters made from holes I cut out for shower drains : ) They make nice conversation pieces. One thing I would add for the DIY folks out there, be careful as to what surface your using underneath while cutting. The grinder wheel can grab it and give you a good jolt and cuase either you are the tile damage. I find that Dura-Rock (concrete board) is soft enough to take the wheel in without the jolt. And with porcelain...take it slow. I've cut out perfect circles before then have them snap in half when they cool down. I'll be a happy dude when the porcelain fad is over..if it ever comes. Porcelain was made for toilets...not the floor. Everybody wants it until they slip and break a hip on it.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

+TheSonicSolution good points!

[@RAM_industrial_death_metal]

Wow! That's all I can say. I've been doing ceramics for some time now, and I can do anything that the customer asks, but NEVER did I think to use the grinder under that angle. Thanks!

[@elitommy747]

EXCELLENT INFO!!! Thank you!!! I had always cut the tile in half to make this impossible cut on my wet saw and it took me forever to notch the half circles out. NOT ANYMORE)))) However I will have a helper with me to use a spray bottle to avoid inhaling that dangerous dust. Thanx again!!!!

[@samuelrmason]

That was very clean. Gives me the confidence to try it.

[@tommycirrus]

Fantastic Demo! There is really no need to make lots of little jageddy edges, I keep telling my guys this. Thanks.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

I use a DEWALT DWE4011 4-1/2-Inch Small Angle Grinder with One-Touch Guard and the specs are- 7.0-Amp AC/DC, 12,000 rpm motor. I have many of these tools listed on my site and there is a link to it just below the video in the description. Hope this helps!

[@bernardshelton7349]

Great video, compared to some others I've seen today. Yours was the fastest & best. Thanks for sharing.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

You are welcome Bernard!

[@Redwood65]

I did it just like you showed it. Works excellent! Advice for the DIY peole like me. Prepare for LOTS of dust. Have a helper stand there with a shop vac hose held near the tile while you cut, wear a mask, ear protection, and of course don't forget the goggles.

[@taxfool]

Thanks for the tip! I was always curious how the pros make a nice circle around the toilet.

[@tonybeadle8392]

That was some confident cutting.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thank you so much for your comment! I really am happy to help!

[@trueblue2124]

He's done that a few times over the years - well done - nice job.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thank you!

[@Dieaap]

Thanks for sharing your skill. Life just got easier!

[@glbcpa]

Perfect video, answered more questions than I thought I had.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thank you!

[@darksele1]

Wow!! Just love that attention to safety.

[@niptodstan]

Well explained. Its a shame standards are falling. You're good and it shows in How you handled the cutter.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

niptodstan I appreciate that!

[@sigmckone]

Ive been using too steep an angle for my initial cut! way easier now. Great vid.

[@dalec9818]

Thank you. This helped me too. One suggestion from a fellow who has lost some of his hearing. It didn't appear that you had hearing protection. Please consider it. Lost hearing is gone forever.

[@mikecrowley9773]

Fantastic demo!

[@drtee51]

Wow! Thank you! You restored my self-confidence- I think I can do that!

[@grizzly8859]

As a tile setter my self, this is one of the easiest ways i have seen it done on you tube. Most other videos make it look awkward and harder then what it needs to be. But my i think is still a little more simple.

[@maryc8070]

Well done! Many thanks! You're REALLY fast!

[@SandraGrace1]

Cutting a line in the center of the hole makes a big difference. Many wasted tiles before watching this video. Thank you!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

+Sandra Sternberg you are welcome!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thanks Simon, I really am glad you liked it and I hope it helped! Thanks for your comment, means a lot to me!!

[@4himministry339]

Thanks for providing a great tip.

[@djjoeydpr]

sir, you have skills. thank you for sharing. like other comments, do value your health, you have much to share with us, keep healthy!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Yes i hear you!

[@JohnWilliams-jv6gd]

Great tip! Just done this, took my time (1hour with set up?) and it came out sweet. This is my first tiling job so no previous skills. I guess if you are experienced you can use a grinder without the guard but I'm a newbie so I used one and it didn't seem to affect my view or cutting technique. Thank you!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Good idea! Thanks for the comment.

[@allynloring6095]

Great video...thanks for posting

[@Logosfollower]

Great video, very helpful. I'm very glad I saw this before I started!

[@OrzelBialy007]

I'm learning new things everyday, thanks!

[@caleblooney7658]

Good stuff man, I'm gonna use this trick and impress the guys on my crew.

[@sierra2425]

What is the grinder model you used? I need to check the specs/power to find a similar one.

[@woohunter1]

Been doing a lot of tile work, and then toilet flanges are such a pita! Sometimes I have gone as far as choosing to have a grout line down the middle of flange just for that reason, as long as layout makes sense everywhere else of course. Big holes in the center or close to the edge of tiles make me swear some times. Have to give your method a try. Never thought about scoring a line down the middle of hole.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Glad to help!

[@steveg665]

Thanks for sharing. I followed your instructions with full success.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Steve G Thanks Steve! Glad it worked.

[@mikeb.7324]

Great video! Too bad I didn't see it a few days ago! I spent about 2 hours scoring the circle with a carbide scoring tip, drilling a small hole, attempting a diamond roto-zip (did about 2" in 10 minutes before quitting), and finally breaking the tile in half so I could nip the entire thing with carbide nippers! Try that with porcelain tile! I may be stupid but I'm persistent. And the sickest thing is I had the grinder and a diamond blade in the toolbox 10 ft. away. Thanks for making me a little smarter.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

I think we have all been there!

[@gotgreengrot]

Thank you for sharing this and your other videos. Very helpful. This may be a dumb question, but will this work on a ceramic tile too? Again, thank you for all your educational videos...Most appreciated!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

+Lauren X Yes this saw will cut tile of all kinds including ceramic,porcelain, glass, stone and metal tile.

[@sic510]

Thank you for showing a good and easy way to do that. Most contractors wont take the time! I think it took less than making a bunch of squared cuts!!!

[@schoolboy405]

im going to do some tiling, with the subway style on the floor, with 4x1' tiles. The floor is about 12x3,and where the toilet is at becomes about a 1' wider. Any chance you could make a video emphasizing on the layout and where to begin tiling? Also on how to pinpoint shower head and water handles to make tile cuts? Would very much appreciate it.

[@nazbazal70]

brilliant no nonsense video👍

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

I appreciate that!

[@stefanpadulo2707]

Thanks for the vid! would you still cut the circle in half if the hole was dead center of the tile?

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

+Stefan Padulo You are welcome! Yes I would, but I would go very slow and put no pressure on the tile. Let the grinder do the work.

[@Slappedkat]

Great tutorial, thanks mate.

[@cgonsie]

Excelente trabajo. Gracias por compartirlo. Algo mas que aprendo. rgds, desde Barranqilla, Colombia

[@61harvey]

I can tell you are a true craftsman, but PLEASE, young fella....hearing and breathing protection. Youth is certainly wasted on the young. Once the ringing starts, it doesn't stop.....EVER!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

+Danny McnamaraThanks Danny. I use ear protection, eye protection and breathing protection. I was filming and decided not to where ear protection.

[@manuelsantos8213]

Great video, thanks for posting

[@FordFracture]

Nice cuts slick ! I'm gonna have to remember this when I tackle my bathroom. Ok now I have to ask this the tile I'm gonna use has a pattern stamped in it (looks like wood) do I dry cut it or use a wet cutter

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

FordFracture you can actually use both. If you have access to a wet saw it might be easier. If you need to make cuts the length of the plank you will probably need to use a grinder because it won't fit into the tile cutter or the wet saw.

[@ojalej]

Great demo,is there a reason the grinder has no hand guard on it?

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

ojalej Yes I took it off so I can see what I am doing.

[@stufffromthepast123]

How long does that diamond wheel last?

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

MyVideosForYou100 they will last for quite a long time if you buy one that good quality. I use the same blade for months.

[@acorner1564]

Excellent your work.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

thank you!!

[@jimbuildscars71]

Excellent technique!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thank You!!

[@morriss003]

Good job. Simple and helpful

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thanks!

[@azkenpoman]

outstanding! worked like a charm. Thank you

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Glad to help.

[@raymondsiewert2720]

Love you brother in Christ ! Tile setter for 30 years and have had the toilet hole end up in the middle of a porcelain tile many times . You can just break the tile on your cutting board in the center of the hole. Then use your wet saw to cut out both sides. On a flat surface, with the tile dried , put the pieces back together at the break. You cannot even see the break with the naked eye , and using blue painters tape, tape the seam back together using 2 layers of tape. You can pick the piece back up and set it as one piece again. When you remove the tape after the tile has dried, you can't even see the break ! Plus on the front edge of the toilet you have so much room and it will be covered . On the back side of the toilet in the center of the hole you have about 2 inches . Even if the tile goes beyond that, it is behind the toilet and it will not be seen because you can barely locate the break with the naked eye up close. Just a tip from an old pro. Love your video's . You are the only one l trust on KZbin ! You can do the same thing with 6 inch porcelain on single pull shower ascutchens . Bless you in Christ.

[@willlatino]

awesome!! thanks-. love the video and how you describe it in detail

[@js7919]

I use a sponge with the blade guard on and keeps the dust down the guard keeps water from shooting across the room

[@666dynomax]

thanks... ran in to this issue... on another hole type. Better than the last video I watched where the guy cut the tiles around the toilet.

[@MrAmagaska1976]

nice job and nice video! thanks for sharing!

[@thefatdago]

Thank you Friend.....I only broke one tile before got it ..I didn't quite bang it out like you....LOL.... but it worked and looks great....

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

+thefatdago That is great to hear!

[@dchubad]

that looks like a pretty dam good cut to me. always wondered how they did it. thanks for posting. thumbs up rating

[@christyjohnson2679]

Great video 👍 thanks. Don't think I could do it as good do

[@tariq887]

Excellent buddy. you are the Master

[@picco68]

want to thank you for this I had to do mine over two tiles and I was a bit freaked out on how to do it and it worked perfectly wish we could add pics

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Awesome! I'm glad it worked out.

[@Apaulshi]

You are an artist.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thank you!

[@951700983]

Nice!!! cut. Always, I did that the same process. Some time I used my wet saw for inside cut to circle and my grinder around cut to circle. :-)

[@bossie503]

Well done, thanks, but how do you get the tile around the toilet now without breaking it?

[@mss627]

I would imagine cutting the initial circle takes some skill. I don't know if my hand is that steady. Also what about the anchor bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. Will they fit within the circle or will you have to do some drilling on adjacent tiles?

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Yes they will. Remember I had a first doing this too. You can do it!

[@SwampDonkey64]

Thanks for the tip, I sincerely appreciate it. My tip to you “respiratory”. Tile dust goes in but never comes out, don’t want your lungs to look like the pan on a tile saw.

[@caytonflooringllc8469]

1 gallon mastic bucket lid exact same size as toilet flange. Perfect circle every time. 32 oz cup lid for shower knob cutout also works for most shower drains.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Great info Mathew

[@WV591]

where do you get those diamond wheels?

[@Deltro61]

May I ask the brand of blade you are using? I just tried cutting four porcelain tiles and broke all of them. My saw does not cut anywhere near that smoothly or aggressively. I'm thinking its got to be the blade.

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Its a dewalt masonary blade It is on amazon!

[@benjaminlambert8944]

I wish I had seen this a while ago. Genius!

[@wenthebuilder9464]

Beautiful cut!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

thank you!

[@silvansilva1340]

Good Job, man!

[@siggiewi89]

good idea. never tried this before well done

[@jimtfrommn]

I had sacrificed two tiles this evening trying to use an angle grinder to cut around a toilet flange. I saw your demonstration and got it first try. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

[@craigbelcourt942]

Another great video ... you rock!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Thanks.

[@danieltoone9219]

You made that look a lot easier than I'm sure it is!

[@sothatshowyoudothat]

Practice!