The method used to cut and scribe resilient tiles is much the same as for equivalent sheet products.

Use a utility knife and cut the tile in two passes - first with a straight or concave blade, and then with a hook blade.

With the first cut, keep the blade vertical so that it runs cleanly along the straightedge.

Then use the hook blade to complete the cut.

With some types of tiles you can score or cut them part way through, and then snap the tile.

However, although this snapped edge will be clean enough to butt against a wall, you should always use the machine cut edge if you're butting it against another tile.

Cutting border tiles to size

If the walls are straight you can use the trace cut method to cut border tiles.

1. Place a full tile in position (A) and another tile hard against the wall (B), overlapping the first one.
   
   
2. Cut tile A using the edge of tile B as a guide.

3. Remove the waste piece from tile A and put the full tile B in its place.
   
   
4. Put the border tile A in the remaining space with the cut edge against the wall.

If the walls are out of alignment or have an uneven surface, you'll need to scribe each border tile with a bar scriber.

Scribing with a bar scriber

Border tiles can be direct scribed in the same way as you would scribe sheet material.

Position the tile as described above for the trace cut method.

Set the bar scriber to the full width of one tile and follow the contours of the wall.

Make sure you keep the scriber at right angles to the wall while you're scribing.

Door jambs and architraves can be direct scribed either with a bar scriber or dividers.

Push the tile up against the object and set the scriber or dividers to the width of the overlap to the last full tile. Then scribe the tile.

To make the job of cutting the tile easier, heat the back of the tile first.

Templates

Templates can also be used in the same way as for sheet material. However, the following differences apply:

1. Before you remove the template from around the object, make sure you mark where the bond (or joint) occurs between two tiles that are already laid.
   
   
2. Lay out as many tiles as you'll need to accommodate the area that the template covers, and tape the tiles together so they can't move.
   
   Then place the template on top and line up the bond mark with the actual joint between two tiles. Trace the outline onto the tiles and cut them to shape.

Laying the border tiles

When you spread the adhesive for the last two rows, make sure all the tiles for that area have already been cut so you don't get caught with any late placements.

Also remember to observe the correct open time for the adhesive you're using.

If you put the last two rows of tiles on top of the outside row of bonded tiles, they'll be clear of the subfloor while you're spreading the remaining adhesive, but still in close reach when you're ready to lay them.

Once the tiles are laid in position on the adhesive, roll them out with a hand roller or tap them down with a mallet.