Old work cut in tile for gfci

[jeffreylee7469]

Can anyone offer advice on cutting ai an old work box in tile?
What’s best for cutting the tile for the old work box?
What’s the best orientation to seat the box, vertical or horizontal? The other receptacles were installed horizontal. It’s countertop for a microwave?

 

[marmathsen]

Can anyone offer advice on cutting ai an old work box in tile?
What’s best for cutting the tile for the old work box?
What’s the best orientation to seat the box, vertical or horizontal? The other receptacles were installed horizontal. It’s countertop for a microwave?

Typically you would use a wet saw. Using a diamond hole saw with a stream of water is how you drill a slab for a faucet, etc. so that'd probably be your best bet for what I assume is a backsplash. I guess you could theoretically use a diamond blade on an oscillating tool but all the ones I've seen market them for grout removal so I'm not sure how well it would work on the tile itself.

What kind of tile? Ceramic is pretty soft, porcelain is much harder.

We've always involved a tile setter and they typically break out a tile or two, then cut some new tiles on a wet saw and reinstall them.

Rob G
Seattle

 

[jeffreylee7469]

Thanks
I will look at the diamond tip. Not sure if it’s porcelain or ceramic.
What is the best way to cut the hole, between two tiles in the grout line or in a single tile?

 

[marmathsen]

I don't think it matters. Might be a little easier on the grout line if it saves you cutting one side

Rob G
Seattle

 

[Electromatic]

I'd definitely cut along the grout lines on two sides (1 vertical, 1 horizontal) as that's much easier to cut than the tile itself. However, if you have to line the box up with other devices, etc., that may not work out.
I've used a rotary tool with a diamond blade with pretty good success. Use a spray bottle to keep the cut/blade wet while you cut.