It’s a common activity to put holes in tiled walls, regardless of whether it is a freshly carved bathroom or an existing one. Almost everything on the wall — from installing the hardware for toilet paper rolls to soap plates and proceeding into a new medical office —tile drilling is needed.
These bathroom components are generally attached in an employing wall anchor, so it is just part of a task to enter the tile. It would be best if you drill into the substratum behind that substrate in a way that it does not harm the wall anchor.
You can also drill in ceramic without breaking it with the correct tile drill bit. To discover how to drill through tile, read our guide.
How to Drill Through Tile: 8 Easy & Smart Steps
You know precisely how to drill on the tile. You might feel another successful tiling project has been done. The pattern is fantastic, the tiles are cut correctly, and all lays uniformly. It’s pretty much the art piece. However, your work is not yet ready.
Now comes the step that might potentially harm your hard work: to attach accents by piercing a hole in the tile. You’ll finish up with a slip or uncomfortable motion with a cracked, hideous-looking tile.
Nonetheless, no pressure!
Make sure that you know how to drill through the tiles before you pin your bravery and begin to break the smooth surface. It could appear like a straightforward job, especially if you are a DIY man who is not familiar with the varieties and qualities of tiles. But the minor error might destroy the tile even if you are an expert in installation.
Fortunately, we have lots of advice to show you how to drill tiles and not shatter them. Yet, remember that these measures won’t be an assurance that your tile won’t break.
Without further ado, here are the appropriate methods in drilling tiles
Step 1: Recognize your tiles
The type of tile you work with is one of the first things to take care of if you want to learn how to box via tiles. You will have a better notion of the scale of the assignment if you know the qualities of the content you are attempting to sort through.
For instance, porcelain tiles are more complicated to drill than ceramic tiles because they are pretty thick. In this way, it takes more labor and plans to boil through porcelain tiles than to cut through other tiles. A specialized boiler bit is also required to pierce the hard surface of porcelain tiles.
Look at the tools you need for boiling the tiles to know what you’re against.
Step 2: Acquire a Proper & Updated Drill Machine
Please avoid the old version of the drill type. The possibility of injuring the tile’s surface increases when they are not as efficient as the new version of the drilling machine, especially if the drill bit does not work at optimal capacity.
Please don’t use your normal drill bits; they aren’t powerful enough to pierce the hard tile surface. Instead, choose either the diamond-tipped bits or the carbide-tipped masonry bits.
The first choice is quite robust and can boil through even the toughest of tile, even porcelain, although it is a bit costlier. Moreover, they’re not going to burn as quickly as the fragments of stone. In contrast, the most popular sort of drill bits for tile-boiling are the carbide-type maçonnery drill bits.
However, while this form of the drill bit can be used to glass ceramic tile and stoneware, porcelain stoneware is not advised.
You require robust diamond bits, such as our DRY GRES box bit series, for porcelain stoneware and more rigid materials.
Step 3: Measure and Define the Range
Once you have tried to bounce a hole in a tile, you will undoubtedly notice that holding the parts onto the surface is effortless which is a significant issue. You’re going to scratch or, worse, fracture your tiles. One wrong move and you will get in trouble.
One easy way to establish a specific voltage is to apply masking tape over the region to perforate the hole. Estimate the region, identify it with a dot, and install the cover.
Make sure that you don’t misplace the hole after inserting your masking tape again. In this manner, when you start to drill, you will have sufficient surface traction.
Cut holes through the hardwood to ensure that the soldering bit you are using is the same size. Put it over the boiling hole and grasp it with your hand tightly.
Step 4: Now It’s Time to Drill
This is the stage where you’ll learn to do tile drilling genuinely. After the surface is marked or the wood template is in place, boiling begins.
The problem with tiles is that they are constructed to be abused with (though we are not sure whether we can call it a problem). You might wind up destroying all of your hard work if you speed up through the procedure.
One of the most crucial things to remember is the fact that tile drilling is work that needs a lot of patience. Boil softly and slowly at moderate speed. Take your time – it might take time until the glazed surface penetrates.
Please don’t think that it is more effective to go full speed, it’s a mistake. In actuality, it will only be overheated, and the vibrations may harm the surface.
Press constantly but not excessively. If you don’t break through the tiles, it might result in fractures instead of drilling them.
Step 5: Remember to freshen up the drill
One of the secrets of a tile hole is to maintain its coolness and calmness. To refresh the drill, use a bit moist sponge to prevent overheating.
You can stop and shower it with some water every once in a while when it’s isolated, especially when it can no longer deal with the dull tool in one hand, the wood design in the other, and cool the driller nibbled simultaneously.
Make sure the motorized component of the drill does not contain water. Another way to keep the pot cold is to hold a moist sponge underneath it. This not only prevents the drill from overheating but also captures the dust and waste from the tile.
A brief point: Diamond bits are not as maintenance-friendly as carbide drill bits that ceases overheating on the second bits and should always be kept cold.
Even if they heat up, you can continue to work until you can cool down. But you need to drill carefully, do not put too much pressure, and lubricate it with cold water to improve your tool’s service life.
Step 6: After Hitting Wall, Replace The Bit
The tile has been cut, and the wall surface is struck without harm. Now you may respire a relieved sigh. Now you have to bore the wall and attach the accents. You are nearly there.
Keep piercing gently to ensure that the wall surface does not crash. If the wall is blown away, the anchor is not firmly fastened, and your accents are clear.
It’s time to turn the drill bit into one that is appropriate for drilling the substrate. The trick is to keep the drill slow and stable to obtain the perfect hole without harming the tile.
Step 7: Try to Drill Slow and Steady
The tape facilitates the marking of the wall and helps avoid boxing at the beginning of the hole. Go gently to ensure that the hole ends where you want it to be, especially at first.
You can raise the drill speed once the hole is started, but do not run it at maximum speed. The fix is drilled without overheating and without harming the boil: steady pressure and a medium rate.
Step 8: Accelerate Speed at the End
When the bit gets through the tile, you will notice a shift in resistance. You may now speed up the drill while the pressure is being backed up. The hole in the drywall or backboard will therefore be extended with minimum damage.
When boiling is done, press the anchors, screw the bolts and lift the dust-up tiny.
How to Drill a Big Hole Without a Hole Saw?
However, what if you have to drill a 2-inch hole for stubble? Contractors often utilize costly hole saws, but there’s another method to do it.
- With a felt-tip pen, grate, or pencil, use it to outline the tile.
- To drill a series of close-spaced holes in a circular motion, use a 1⁄4-inch masonry bit. Then, take a hammer and tap the tile very softly through the whole ring.
- Tap into the sketch and be patient, as it can take a few minutes to free up the center of the hole. The edge of the hole will be rough, but a decorative snap plate may be hidden.
This process for hard drilling and taping may also construct a square or rectangular tile cutout.
How to Do Ceramic Tile Drilling
A carbine and steel combo box can be used to drill a hole in pottery tiles.
Ensure you have a water supply to spray and apply to the drilling region to keep the drill bit cool and for you to remove waste during boiling.
Begin to boil with just a reasonable amount of pressure at low speed – too much can shatter the tile. You may use a standard exercise bit for it until you pierce the backing board. Continue to boil slowly to ensure that the stuff beneath the substance is not damaged.
How Can You Drill On the Porcelain Tile At Your Home?
Porcelain is a denser material, more challenging than ceramic, which gives it somewhat more challenge to drill through. Therefore, a pointed diamond drill bit should be used to drill your hole.
Start carefully and use only enough strength to keep the drill functioning; don’t press too hard because it can break your tiles.
Bottom Line
As previously noted, tile drilling requires a specialized drill bit – normal and even masonry bits won’t be enough since they aren’t powerful for hard surfaces to penetrate tiles. Instead, use either carbide or diamond-tipped drill bits. Grasp the procedure of drilling on tiles from the guidance of Canitec. Drill attentively and obey the principles mentioned above.