Thursday, May 30, 2013

Operation Hearth Re-Tile - Making the Cut{s}...

Okay so after all the inspiration, perspiration and trepidation…it was time for the next step in my hearth re-tile project. 


After deciding on the 2" hex pattern and picking up that deliciousness and some supplies from The Tile Shop, it was time to use them!  More specifically, I needed to figure out the placement of the tile, make necessary cuts and dry fit things into place.

***Please excuse me while I panic about what the best way to to approach this is.***

Luckily, my helpful neighbor came to the rescue.  He tackled a tile project or two in the past, and was able to sit with me and map things out.  We had just enough tile for the hearth, with very little to spare…so we had to carefully utilize each and every sheet.  After laying all the tile we had out on the floor, we determined where to make cuts so I wasn’t filling in small gaps around everyyyyy edge of the hearth.  {Whose brilliant idea was it to use hex shaped tile for the first tile job they ever did??  Oh yea, that was me. :-/}

Using a straight edge {old piece of scrap wood}, measuring tape and pencil we marked our cuts on the tile.  And Perny supervised. ;)


We started with the first row of tile that would butt up against the straight edge closest to the fireplace.  We marked the tile so we'd be cutting the triangular tips of the hexagons off to create a flat edge on enough sheets to span the entire width of the hearth.  After that was done, we would then cut sheets to fill in the remaining gap between the sheets and the wood trim.  Once those cuts were done, we would peel individual tiles off of the sheets and make cuts to fill in the spaces along the two short sides of the hearth.

With our plan in place and our first set of marks done {we cut things one row at a time…after cuts were made, we’d bring things inside and do a dry fit to make sure we were on the right track} we headed out to the driveway for the fun/terrifying/panic-inducing task of using the wet saw.  Maybe you think I'm being a little dramatic about using the wet saw, but I'm pretty sure the last time I used a  power saw was in middle school shop class.


My awesome neighbor set the saw up, and then got me rolling.  I was TERRIFIED to make cuts.  Marble isn’t the easiest thing to cut…especially when it comes to taking off small corners of small tiles.  I was sweating.  I’m not sure if I was soaked more from the wet saw or my own nerves.  I. Didn't. Want. To. Chip. My. Fragile. Marble.



After I did the first few sheets, I calmed down a bit.  I was able to get through every single sheet and piece of tile without any chipping or errors.  Sorry for the out-right brag, but I was pretty proud of myself in that moment.  And then even a little more proud when I assured myself that all the pieces fit perfectly into place.



Dry fit complete!!!!

Anyone else give yourself a major pat on the back after completing a new-to-you task?!


***Although I was super, duper lucky to get some free tile and materials for this project from The Tile Shop, this is not a sponsored post.  I've always promised to keep it real with you guys, so I wanted to let you guys know how much they rock! :)***

39 comments:

  1. even in the dry fit it is already BEAUTIFUL!

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  2. This is QUITE the accomplishment... the idea of cutting marble makes me sweat too! I love the tile you picked and I know this post isn't about your floors, but I can't help but drool every time I see them in the photos. The color is so, so good.

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    1. Thank you so much, Emily!! I'm not going to lie...I'm still super smitten with our floors after all this time of living with them. They transformed into just wanted I wanted after refinishing them. Loooove me some original hardwoods! :)

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  3. You are still a freakin' rock star!

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  4. Looking good! We used a herringbone marble mosaic in our shower nook and I remember how long it took to cut all the little tiny edge pieces and they all needed to be cut at a 45 degree angle. Ahhgg.

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    1. Thanks Becky!! Ooooh, I'm a sucker for herringbone. As much as the cuts were a pain, it looks beautifulll! :)

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  5. You go girl! I would have been drenched in sweat too! It looks great! :)

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  6. The tile is so pretty. And love Perny, you know I do!

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  7. The tile looks so so pretty!! I'm in love with it!! Such a good choice :)

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  8. So so so pretty! Jealous! Wanna come do ours now?? LOL I love that tile!!! xo K

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  9. What an awesome choice and GREAT neighbor!!! I'm not sure I would have been so brave!!!

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    1. Thank you Anneke! He really was a great source of confidence for me through the project. Huge help! :)

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  10. It is so pretty! I would have been freaking out using that saw, too, and sweating in all sorts of terrible places. You did an awesome job and definitely earned bragging rights!

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  11. It turned ut great!! I wouldn't dare use a wet saw considering the first time I used a staple gun, I stapled my own hand. Oye. I leave the big girl tools to my hubby. ;-)

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    1. Oh man, you definitely had me belly laugh when I read that post, although I totally don't think it's funny that you got hurt {I swear haha}. Thanks for sharing the story with me though!! :):)

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  12. It looks so good! I'm so proud of you for making the cuts and getting over your fear! :D

    I'll let you in on a little secret - my boyfriend makes every. single. cut. we have to make on our saws because I just can't do it. I can turn our miter saw on and pull the blade half way down but I can't actually go through with making the cut haha As for our table saw, I have to be inside when he's using it because I have visions of body parts getting sawed off!

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    1. Thanks so much, Caitlin! :)

      Oh man!! Good thing he doesn't mind making the cuts for you! ;)

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  13. Fully impressed with the wet saw success. Seriously. That's boss style. Great job :)

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  14. Love it! My husband is getting his bachelor's degree in computer programming, and I brag to him about my newest-found computer skill ALL of the time. If you can't brag, how would you stay motivated?

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  15. I am so in love with this tile! It looks so good on your hearth!

    I really want to use it on our bathroom floor when we remodel; I just have to convince Kevin.

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    1. Thanks so much, Jess! Ohhhhh, yes!! You guys would love it! :):)

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  16. Great job!
    It's so funny that Perny helped too ;)

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