• Stone tiles must be cut to fit around fixtures and corners in a room.tile layer image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  Because stone tiles are made of natural material, they have imperfections and flaws that can cause them to fracture or break during the cutting and shaping process. Using the correct tools and working slowly will allow for clean lines and little waste. Even with the proper precautions, however, some tiles may crack, rendering them unusable. Buy more stone tiles than you need for a project to prepare for this possibility.
  
  

Wet Saw

• A wet saw can make straight cuts through most types of tile, including stone. The tile rests on a movable cutting surface that you slide toward the blade. As the blade turns, the saw's waterworks pour water onto the blade. Fit the saw with a diamond blade when cutting stone.
  
  

Stone Saw

• A stone saw is similar to a wet saw, except that a stone saw is specifically made for making straight cuts in stone. Like wet saws, stone saws require diamond blades.
  
  

Rod Saw

• A handheld rod saw fitted with a carbide blade is used to make curved cuts in stone. It's important to work slowly with a rod saw to keep the stone tile from fracturing as you cut. The tile rests on a work surface with the part to be cut away hanging off the table as you saw.
  
  

Rubbing Stone

• After cutting stone tiles, smooth the cut edges with a rubbing stone. Rub until the cut edge matches the other edges of the tile.