It is important to know how to drill tiles, because holes will be needed one way or another Quite often, a bathroom may require an additional shelf or towel holder. How to carry out installation without damaging the coating? You need to approach this point especially carefully if the entire room is tiled.
How to make a hole in tiles
You can drill a hole in a tile with your own hands, but you need to select: a tool, a drilling location and a special drill. Ordinary drills will not work here, and if you try to use them, it can cause damage to the appearance of the tiles. You can make a hole in a tile only with a tool whose cutting edge is harder than the tile.
For drilling, do not apply excessive load, vibration, or a high number of tool rotations
The best option would be to choose drills with diamond coating.
Drilling the required hole is not so easy for them, but you will have to spend a lot, since the cost of the product is very high. An equally bad option would be a drill with a victorious tip. It is much cheaper in price. There are also special feather drills that are designed specifically for forming holes in tiles.
Naturally, it is impossible to make a hole in a tile manually and you will need to use special equipment. You can cut or drill a hole using a drill, on which the rotation speed should be well regulated. Some people do the drilling using a screwdriver. You can make a hole with a hand drill, but you need to be as careful as possible. It is advisable to purchase a special tripod, which will allow you to install the equipment at a certain level and prevent it from swaying during operation.
Tips: how to cut a hole in a tile for a faucet without splitting
In ceramic tiles, cut out a socket for the faucet in certain cases.
The drills themselves must be made of high-strength materials capable of passing through dense structures, and have an appropriate configuration or sharpening
Namely:
- It is possible only after the coating has completely dried;
- Only with proper preparation;
- It is possible before installing the tiles on the wall;
- It is advisable to have a minimum set of knowledge on working with electrical equipment.
If the tiles have not yet been laid, then you need to soak them in a basin of warm water. Making a round hole or square will be much easier than when the canvas is placed vertically on the wall. Next, the tiles are placed on wooden blocks, always face up. You need to stick tape on the tile. This prevents the tool from slipping when drilling.
The place where the hole will be made is marked in advance and the drill is placed clearly in line. At first, the material is drilled at low speed, and when the drill is inserted inside, it increases.
If the installation of the tile, for example on a rough one, has already been carried out, then you also need to stick adhesive tape on it and make notes on where the cut will be made. The drill should only be held perpendicular to the surface. The hole that forms in the tile must be constantly moistened with water. It is strictly forbidden to drill holes closer than 1.5 cm to the edge.
Important! After drilling the tiles and you need to make a hole in the wall deeper, you should change the tile drill to a concrete or brick drill. It has a thinner thickness, which will avoid the tiles from splitting. In order not to drill a hole deeper than necessary, a mark is often made directly on the drill using insulating tape.
Once the work is completed, you need to blow out the hole and drive in a plastic dowel. The rest of the holes in the wall are made in the same way. Only after this can the installation of the mixer or shelves be carried out.
Nuances: how to cut a hole in a tile for an outlet
How to make a hole in a tile for a pipe or installation of sockets?
If you need to make holes of large diameter, it will be more profitable to purchase a special drill - a “ballerina”
To do this you will need an unusual drill, and:
- Drill-circle;
- Drill ballerina;
- Large feather drill.
A ballerina is a tool that allows you to make large holes, regardless of diameter, and its peculiarity is the ability to adjust the width of the hole. However, to work with it, you need to have minimal experience working with such products so as not to compromise the safety and integrity of the coating. Experts recommend that beginners use circular drills, which look like a cylindrical bit with a cutting edge on one side. The diameter should be slightly larger than the socket box. The crown can have a different edge.
There are circular type drills with tungsten coating, and others with a serrated edge.
In order to insert the tool into the cavity of the drill chuck, you need to press it a little at a low speed of operation of the device. When drilling, the tile must be wetted with water, and after the process is completed, the same drill can be used for drilling brick and concrete. It is best to choose a tool with a small diameter and gradually shift the drill, since when working with a large drill, there is a high probability of a crack forming on the tile. Anyone can cope with drilling tiles, even if they have never encountered such a process before. You just have to properly prepare everything you need and follow the recommendations presented.
Details: how to make a hole in a tile
The process of cutting tiles is practically one of the important tasks when arranging tiles. Drilling tiles is sometimes required for shelves, faucets, and similar needs. Otherwise, it simply won’t be possible to install the necessary accessories, since the well-known suction cups are not the most reliable option, especially shelves cannot be installed on such a fastening element.
If possible (there are fragments of unnecessary tiles), then it makes sense to do a little training first. When everything starts to work out, you can move on to completing the desired task.
Drilling tiles is not an easy task, as the material:
- Slippery;
- Lasting;
- Fragile.
It is these indicators that require maximum care when working so as not to disturb the coating and not spoil the appearance of the room. To prevent cracks from forming on the already finished finishing of the room, it is worth drilling holes before installation. This way, it will be much easier not only to make holes, but also to remove tiles that have cracked during processing. In addition, it is much easier to wet tiles that have not yet been glued, since you can simply place them in a basin.
Important! If the seams between the tiles are too large, and you need to make small holes for fastenings, then drilling in the seams is acceptable.
This makes installation much easier. When drilling holes in wall tiles, maximum care is required and experts recommend hiring a professional. It will not cost much, but you will not have to eliminate the consequences in the form of a cracked coating, which is far from easy and can entail more serious costs.
Some people, instead of adhesive tape, use insulating tape with a mark on it to eliminate slipperiness of the coating. It is best to mark with a bright dark marker, which is excellent for drawing on tape.
High-quality selection of tools and drills can significantly simplify the process and speed up installation. Diamond-coated drills are available for sale in large quantities, and finding the most suitable option is not difficult. Do not confuse a drill with a jigsaw, since a jigsaw has too much vibration and it is impossible to make a clear cut of the tile without the formation of crumbs and jagged edges. Fragile tiles should be drilled gradually and preferably with stops, between which the surface of the product must be wetted. It is not advisable to use a tile drill to work with concrete or brick, as this will dull it and may even become deformed.
How to make a hole in ceramic tiles (video)
It is quite acceptable to carry out such work yourself, but you must follow safety precautions, since the drills are very sharp and precision is required to carry out the installation without injuries or cuts. In general, installation will not take more than half an hour if you have everything you need at hand.
Similar materials
The tile is highly durable, water-resistant, relatively cheap and easy to maintain. You can easily install it yourself on the wall or floor in your own home. However, when performing tiling work, novice craftsmen have to seriously rack their brains - how to drill tiles correctly and so that they do not burst in the process. After all, standard concrete drills cannot be used here.
What drill and what tools should I use?
Holes in ceramic tiles are made for pipes, sockets and fasteners for installing furniture or plumbing. Even in a small bathroom you have to drill a lot. However, at the slightest mistake by the master, the tiles crack and split, because the ceramics itself and especially its top layer of glaze are fragile. And then the resulting fragments can only be thrown into the trash, since it is often impossible to use them elsewhere.
What tools should you use?
To drill a hole in tiles, you will need:
- electric drill or powerful screwdriver;
- drills are spear-shaped and with one-sided acute-angled sharpening;
- diamond bits-crowns;
- ballerina with sliding cutter.
You can even use a hand drill for drilling. But if you need a lot of holes in the tile, then it would be best to replace it with an electrical analogue. Also, for drilling work on tiles, you will need a pencil for marking and water to cool the working tool. If drills and bits are not constantly moistened, they will quickly become dull or crack from overheating.
Types of drills
What to do to prevent ceramic tiles from cracking?
Not every pencil can leave a clearly visible mark on the tile. Therefore, it is recommended to first stick paper tape in place under the hole, and then draw a cross on it to indicate the point of drilling the hole. The glued paper will also make the work easier, since the drill will slide less on the smooth glaze.
Use masking tape to make the job easier
To minimize the risk of ceramic chipping when drilling tiles, you should:
- Turn on the drill only at low speeds - the norm is 100–400 rpm.
- Drill ceramic tiles a couple of days after gluing, when the glue has firmly set, or on a flat and stable surface with a board or gypsum board underneath.
- Work without excessive pressure and constantly wet the cutting tool for cooling.
- Forget about the presence of the hammer drilling function in the drill (a hole in the tile can only be drilled in non-impact mode).
- Keep the drill strictly perpendicular to the surface of the ceramic.
- Move the drilling point at least 15–20 mm from the edge of the tile - the closer to the center the hole is drilled, the less likely it is to split.
If your skills in handling a drill are minimal, then you should first practice on an unnecessary piece of tile. It's easy to split tiles due to inexperience. Drilling holes in it is a responsible task and should not be rushed. If the incorrect installation of beacons for floor screed will require only a small addition of concrete, then if the fragile ceramics are handled incorrectly, it will instantly crack.
If you don’t have the skills to work with tiles, it’s better to entrust the job to a specialist
How to drill holes for dowels in tiles?
Depending on the required dimensions, it is recommended to drill holes using different tools. In some cases you will have to use a crown, while in others a drill of 8–16 mm is sufficient. But a situation is also possible when it will be difficult to do without an angle grinder.
To drill tiles for dowels, you need a tile drill 1–2 mm larger than the plastic insert for the screw. They first need to carefully drill through the glaze layer without unnecessary pressure. And then we slowly go through all the remaining ceramics up to the wall.
The wall surface itself, especially if it is concrete, should be drilled with another drill of a slightly smaller size. Wasting a specialized and expensive tool designed for tiles is not worth it and is simply pointless.
Which drills to use for different surfaces
How to drill a hole for taps or sockets?
To drill holes larger than 20 mm for pipes or socket boxes, a thin drill will not be enough. Here you will have to use crowns or a ballerina. The first option is more expensive, but also easier to work with. And the second option allows you to get by with one tool, with which you can drill holes of different cross-sections in diameter.
If there is no ballerina or crown of a suitable diameter, then you will have to drill several small holes around the perimeter of the large one. After drilling them out, you will need to carefully use pliers to cut out the center outlined in this way and trim its edges with a rasp.
You can also resort to using a grinder. But it will be difficult to drill an even round hole with it. This is more of a tool for cutting tiles to required sizes or cutting rectangular pieces from them.
During the process of renovation in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and other utility rooms, the question often arises of how to drill a hole in the tiles. Of course, this must be done in such a way that it does not burst and lose its visual appeal.
At first glance it may seem that everything is simple, but this is not at all the case. Tile is a fairly slippery and brittle material, so unless you are a professional builder, drilling into tile can be a real challenge. So how to drill through tiles without loss?
In fact, everything is not as difficult as it might seem at first. You just need to listen to some advice:
- First of all, choose the right tool. It should fit comfortably in your hand. You need to hold it firmly and confidently.
- The operating speed of the selected tool should not exceed 1000, or even better, 800 rpm.
- Keep the drill or screwdriver in one position, do not press or change the angle. This can lead to the appearance of “cobwebs”.
- If you need to drill a hole at the junction of two tiles, use an extremely thin drill, even if it is not “tile”, but for concrete.
- If possible, leave at least 1.5 cm from the edge of the tile; the corners and edges of the tile are very fragile.
- It is best to drill holes before laying tiles on the wall. Soak the material in water for at least 40 minutes. This will make the tile more viscous and there will be no cracks.
- If you don't know how to drill into tiles without cracking, and you've never done it before, it's best to practice on scrap pieces first. This way you can feel the tool and understand how hard you need to press on the drill.
Choosing a tool
So, what to drill with? First, you need to choose the drill itself. The model should not be high-speed or impact, because you need to work with very fragile material.
Suitable for working with tiles:
- a regular electric drill turned on at the lowest speed;
- low-speed screwdriver that plugs into an outlet;
- cordless screwdriver with a rotation speed of no more than 800 rpm;
- hand drill.
Some nuances of work
To understand how to drill a tile, you need to take into account some subtleties:
- Under no circumstances should the drill or the tile itself overheat, otherwise the entire top layer will become covered with a “cobweb” and the material will crack.
- To cool the work surface, regularly wet the drilling area with cold water.
- Try to correctly determine the force of pressure. If you press too lightly on the drill, the hole will not work. If you squeeze it, the tile will crack.
- When in tiles, never use reverse mode. Only slow clockwise rotation of the drill is permissible.
- Be especially careful at joints. The tiles there do not have a protective coating and crumble easily.
Choosing drills
The science of how to drill a hole in a tile is not too complicated, but it has its own peculiarities. For example, the right drill bit.
If you are at least a little familiar with construction work, then you know that there are different drills: for wood, concrete, metal, and so on. So “tiled” drills have their own characteristics. The process here is based on the friction of abrasives. So, to drill tiles or porcelain tiles, you will need a Pobedit or diamond drill bit. Most often they have the shape of a crown or an arrowhead.
If you are not too strapped for money, then it is better to give preference to diamond-coated consumables. They are, of course, more expensive, but they work better with ceramics. Spear-shaped drills with pobedit are also designed for working with tiles. Due to the shape of the tip and the special angle of the cutting edge, the contact surface is significantly reduced. You will have to use less effort, which means the tile will not crack.
Drilling according to all rules
- Before drilling into the tile, seal the intended work area with several layers. This will prevent the tool from slipping and slightly strengthen the edges of the potential hole. You can also use electrical tape or a regular medical plaster.
- Use a bright marker to mark the markings.
- Insert a special “tile” drill and set the drill to the lowest speed.
- If the device has a shock mode, be sure to turn it off. Failure to comply with this condition will certainly lead to the tiles splitting.
In cases where it is necessary to drill a deep hole in the wall along with the tiles, the work is carried out in two stages. First, the tile itself is drilled. Then they change the drill to a thinner one and continue to “gnaw” the wall itself to the required depth. This is done so that during the process of drilling concrete the fragile edges of the tiles are not damaged.
How to make a large hole
Or tiles, if you need to run a pipe or insert a socket? There are also special devices for such work:
- circular ballerina drill;
- crown with abrasive edge.
The ideal option in this case is a special crown with a diamond coating on the cutting edge. It is quite expensive, and if you are not a professional builder, buying one does not make much sense. In order to make just a few holes, a more budget-friendly option is a crown with pobedit teeth. This consumable has several disadvantages:
- one piece is enough to drill about 20 holes, after which the device can be safely thrown away;
- No matter how carefully you try to act, the edges of the hole will never be perfectly smooth; there will definitely be chips on them.
The victorious crown also has advantages:
- low cost;
- there are many diameter options, up to 15 cm.
There is another option for drilling tiles if you need to cut a hole of significant diameter. This is the so-called ballerina drill. It is a spear-shaped structure, in the tail part of which there is a special bracket. Another one is inserted into the latter - a “tile” drill. If you've ever seen a compass, you'll easily understand what's what. This device is inexpensive and is quite suitable for home work. However, there is a small nuance here too. When working with tiles, try to choose a “ballerina” drill whose central drill bit is shaped like a hexagon rather than a spear. This design is more stable.
Drilling tiles using a crown
- Determine the location of the future hole and cover the surface with masking tape.
- If you are not too confident in your abilities, you can make a stencil from plywood and press it tightly against the wall in the right place.
- Install a bit of the required diameter and start drilling at the lowest possible speed.
- Try to keep the tool perpendicular to the wall. This way the crown will be able to “bite” evenly into the tile along the entire circumference of the cut.
- If you are using a diamond-coated bit, you can increase the speed slightly. And to avoid excessive heating of the surface, pour water on it while drilling.
The “wet” drilling method is generally much preferable. Especially if the tile has a glossy glass coating. In this case, any drill will last much longer, and the risk of overheating and splitting the tiles is minimized.
We work as a "ballerina"
In order to use a ballerina drill, you need to set the dimensions correctly. Please note that between the side and central drills you need to set not the diameter, but the radius of the future hole.
Place the main hex drill in the center and start working at low speed. Try to hold the drill firmly and levelly, otherwise it will jump off and you will not be able to achieve the desired result. One of the advantages of the “ballerina” is that it can be used to drill a hole with a diameter much larger than 15 cm. But a larger crown simply does not exist.
Conclusion
At the end of our conversation, let’s remember once again how to drill tiles so that they don’t crack and spoil the impression of a brand new renovation:
- Be sure to wet the work area with water, for example from a spray bottle. This way you can avoid overheating.
- Try not to place holes along the edge of the tile, this creates additional stress.
- If you need to make deep holes, change the drill to a thinner one after going through the thickness of the tile. This will protect the edges of the hole from damage.
- When drilling, be sure to use only low speed and do not press the drill too hard.
- Try to use only special drills for work. Believe me, they cost much less than replacing cracked tiles.
Let's imagine that you are faced with the task of hanging a toilet paper holder. The toilet is tiled, which makes the task much more difficult. What should I do to carefully drill a hole without breaking the tile? I will show you a way to do this simply, and even with an ordinary concrete drill.
Of course, the toilet paper holder is just an example. Using this method you can hang anything: a shelf, a mirror, a towel holder, etc.
How to drill a hole in ceramic tiles with a regular drill bit
Without a doubt, if you have a special drill for glass and tiles, then of course it is better to drill with it. I don’t have such a tool, due to the fact that I don’t often do repair work. A story from the household category.Therefore, all I have is a set of concrete drills.
So let's get started. We try it on to the place where the holder will be for further installation. We glue pieces of electrical tape or masking tape to the drilling sites.
Now we mark the exact places for drilling. All I need to do is make four holes.
We do everything exactly.
Applying electrical tape is not only for marking. It prevents microcracks from spreading during drilling and protects the tile from breaking.
Now the most important operation. We take a concrete drill and place it on the mark. With gentle blows of the hammer, we begin to hit the drill, periodically turning the drill by hand. Time per hole is approximately one minute. As a result, a small groove should appear in the tile.
Everything needs to be done carefully, without haste. As a result, we perform the actions for all four holes.
The electrical tape can now be removed. We take a screwdriver and clamp the drill in the chuck.
At low speeds, drill a hole in both the tile and the wall to the desired depth.
We install plastic dowels.
For all four holes.
Now we screw the fastenings of the holder.
Laying tiles rarely occurs on a flat, smooth surface. Often you have to deal with the fact that there is a socket, a switch on the wall, pipes are laid under the faucet or toilet, so you need to make a hole in the tile. Today we will tell you in detail how to drill tiles to the required diameter.
Basic drilling methods
There are five main ways of drilling holes, which we will discuss in more detail. So, drilling is done using:
- special drills for tiles. Designed for small holes. These drills do not have threads; the tip has a pointed tip. The tips are tetrahedral, but certain difficulties arise when sharpening. These drill bits work great on mosaic and glass;
- concrete drill with pobedit tip. Almost every owner has it in stock, you can save on your purchase. If it does not have a carbide tip, then it will do, you just need to sharpen the end, giving it the shape of a regular drill;
- self-tapping screws with LM tip (flea beads). They are used to make holes in wall tiles, which are characterized by a certain softness. A self-tapping screw with an LM tip simply screws into it. To get one hole you need to use 2-3 of these screws;
- diamond-coated tile crowns. Suitable for large and small diameters, for pipes, sockets, switches. They differ in a strictly fixed diameter, at least 5 mm. The price ranges from 300 to 1500 rubles, but they are worth it because they have a fairly long service life. Very often used for.
- circular drills - ballerinas. The pilot drill has a sharp tip in the center, and the rod is equipped with a movable cutter. Thanks to this, any diameter can be adjusted and there is no need to purchase crowns for different sizes. Costs from 300 to 500 rubles. Using a ballerina, it is easy to make a hole in the central part of the tile.
Regardless of which method you use, the main thing is to remember to turn off the impact mode on the power tool and set it to work at minimum speed, otherwise you are guaranteed to get chips.
We use a diamond crown
Making the markings
Let's consider a typical case. We need to remove the pipes for the faucet in the bathroom, and to do this we need to drill a hole in the ceramic tiles.
It’s better, of course, to think about this some more and make sure that the holes for the pipes are located exactly in the center of the tile. To do this, you can move the layout or start laying from the desired place. If, nevertheless, you were unable to install the tap in the center, then it is advisable not to focus attention on this place and not to place decor or borders nearby that will catch the eye.
Both tap holes are at the same level, so first we measure the distance from the floor. For both pipes it must be identical; for this you will have to use a plumb line or level, whatever is available.
Then measurements are taken horizontally between the center of each point and the corresponding marks are made. We got two points, from the center of each we measure the radius of the desired hole in order to outline the cutting line.
Drilling
The drill must be switched to drilling mode with minimum speed. For this work, a diamond-coated bit is used, which is inserted into a chuck. When buying a crown, be sure to make sure that it is intended specifically for tiles, because its analogues for concrete, wood or metal do not suit you at all. It is desirable that the working surface of the crown be covered with diamond chips as much as possible. Ideally, use a crown with a centering drill, this will minimize the risk of displacing the hole.
Drill carefully, pressing lightly on the drill. After cutting through the icing, increase the pressure and speed.
During the drilling process, the working surface of the crown needs to be cooled. Bosch crowns have coolant inside, so no additional moisture is required.
If a small-diameter crown is used for work, which does not have a centering drill, then displacement occurs quite often. To prevent this trouble, you can use a conductor. To make it yourself you will need a piece of board or plywood and one minute of time. You need to cut a hole of the appropriate diameter in it and use it as a conductor, pressing it with your hand.
We fix the tiles
Before laying, you need to check whether the holes in the tiles match the location of the pipes. If everything is fine, then we proceed to installation. The wall is covered with a layer of glue, which is then evenly distributed with a comb. The tile is pressed into place.
We work as a ballerina
Making a hole with the help of a ballerina is not difficult, the main thing is to accurately follow all the steps, namely:
- mark the center of the future circle;
- adjust the required drilling diameter;
- cut through the glaze layer;
- make a groove on the back of the tile;
- cut a hole on the front side.
One ballerina can make from 20 to 30 holes, which is quite enough for the home. Work must be carried out in compliance with safety precautions: the minimum speed is set and the position of the drill is perpendicular to the tile.
Cutting large holes
There are situations when it is necessary to cut a large hole, but there are no necessary tools for this.
- Mark the center of the future hole and draw a circle of the required diameter around it with a compass or pencil.
- Take a small-diameter tile drill and make a series of holes inside the circle, placing them as close to each other as possible. To prevent the drill from slipping on the surface of the glaze, it is better to cover it with masking tape. An excellent option for working together - it’s easy to make marks on paper and you can see them very clearly.
- Remove the drilled part and remove all irregularities with pliers. Parrot cutters will do the job best.
- Sand the cut area using sandpaper.
Let's sum it up
You can drill a hole in the tiles during the preparation process and even after they have already been glued. When working with glued tiles, you need to be careful so that the tile remains intact and the drill is not damaged.