Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing tile or other rigid floor or wall coverings around obstacles in irregularly shaped areas includes a foldable sheet of durable paper. The lower face of the foldable sheet includes a non-absorbent sealing layer of wax, plastic, or the like for allowing the foldable sheet to be placed against wet mastic adhesive without damaging the foldable sheet. The upper face of the foldable sheet is marked with a reference grid. The foldable sheet is formed to be of the same dimensions as a whole piece of tile. The foldable sheet is placed in the position where a tile is to be installed and folded away from obstacles which the tile must ultimately pass around. The fold lines are then marked to indicate the portions of a tile that must be cut away before such tile can be installed in such irregular space. A residue of wet mastic adhesive helps secure the template over the face of the tile to be cut. The template then serves as a guide for cutting the underlying tile.