Every new diy project seems to create a new dilemma. I am building a raised hearth for a wood burning stove. The hearth is in a corner with the stove facing out from the corner.
The hearth is square with one corner squared off. Everything is in place and I’m ready to lay the slate. I’ve decided to butt the slate (no grouting) to achieve a sort of modern rustic look. My problem comes at the squared corner (s). I need to cut a 45 degree bevel to fit the slate neatly at the corner. How do I cut a beveled edge on a piece of 6 x 6 slate?
Should I just use grout on those two joints and call it good with the rest of the slate butted? Or is there a way to cut a beveled edge on the slate for a professional looking job?
Your help is greatly appreciated. I’ve got to do the job today, because the stove is to be installed on Thursday. Thanks.
Replies
I'm not exactly sure what you're saying, but assume you want to cut diagonally somewhere along a square piece of slate. Others will reply, but I would think a diamond blade in a saw or angle grinder would work, or use a tile cutting saw with the water bath (more control while trying to hold relatively small pieces--may be hard to hold and saw 6" pieces with a circular saw). If you use a circular saw, you should find a way of holding those slates secure while you cut--maybe a frame of 1x2's and cut through the frame thats nailed to a big piece of scrap plywood? I would think using grout where the rest are ungrouted would look bad.
Sore, I'm assuming you are referring to an outside corner. I just did quite a bit of this on my fireplace. Use a wet saw with a bevel guide that attaches to the sliding table of the saw. This will put the tile at a 45 degree angle to the saw blade. Don't expect the corners to be perfect like working with lumber because of irregularity of the face of the slate. I left about 1/4" between the two pieces and filled with grout. I found out that the 45's came out better if I drew a line on the back of the tile with a Sharpie pen then followed the line with the diamond blade. If it's an inside corner I just butted the slate. -Ed
For that little bit of cutting just get a diamond segmented circular saw blade (I have found the ones from Lowes last just as long as much more expensive ones). Put on a dust mask and just make the cut, but don't cut it like lumber. (Dangerous suggestion contained in next sentence). Pull back the blade gaurd and score the cut first, only go 1/8" deep. Then take another pass and work your way down through the stone. You'll be done in no time.
Post some pictures!
MERC