How to Drill into Ceramic/porcelain Tile Without Cracking It

cctvtobeornottobe · May 11, 2019

Hi all,

first of all i don't know whether i have Ceramic or porcelain tiles.

also if you could help me identify which type i have, what is the best method for drilling them or technique to avoid cracking them?

Is it fairly simple too do or a nightmare?

just encase you haven't already guessed i a not a tradesman.

thanks for your help.

ruston · May 12, 2019

PEG said:
If you search ebay,you can find the type and colour of your tile,and purchase one,with the correct size hole,already drilled,in the right place.
It is then a simple case of replacing the original tile,with the supplied tile,obviously aligning the ready drilled hole,with the hole you have drilled in your wall.

When the tile adhesive has set,it is then a doddle,to fit a plug,and fix the accessory,desired.

What i am short of,is a head-guard,as them short-sighted fools on Dragon's den,keep slamming the door in my face....

@PEG mate , I think you have a tile missing.

Pete999 · May 12, 2019

ruston said:
@PEG mate , I think you have a tile missing.

More like the whole box

cctvtobeornottobe · May 13, 2019

Rpa07 said:
No you’ll need the diamond tipped drill bits made especially for drilling hard tiles.

should i drill a smaller pilot hole fist?

cctvtobeornottobe · May 13, 2019

rolyberkin said:
Quickbit Tile & Glass Drill Bit 6 x 75mm - https://www.toolstation.com/quickbit-tile-glass-drill-bit/p54807

This type of drill bit are very good, Screwfix do a set of three for about £12.

should i drill smaller pilot hole first

Zerax · May 13, 2019

cctvtobeornottobe said:
should i drill smaller pilot hole first

If you're drilling a hole of 6mm diameter... there's no need for a pilot... the risk is that the drill will 'skate' off the surface... so make sure you've applied some masking tape, and be VERY careful. Once the point of the drill has bitten into the surface, it gets safer... but go slow.

EalingBadger · May 20, 2019

Andy-1960 said:
Also make sure you knock the rawlplug thru the tile before you put the screw in otherwise the plug will expand and break the tile.

And preferably knock the plug in until it is below the level of the plaster and into the main fabric of the wall as well.

The amount of stuff that falls off of people's walls as a result of not understanding this simple fact is phenomenal.

(This advice is obviously not applicable for simple plasterboard walls framed on timber, but then one shouldn't be using simple wall plugs on this style of wall anyway.)

[ Con't: Grandmothers / Eggs ]

EalingBadger · May 20, 2019

NDG Elecs said:
I've drilled and plugged hundreds of holes and never had this occur once. If the plug is flush with the tile (as a minimum) then the bit that pushes out and expands laterally is deeper and beyond the tile usually.

Probably okay to do this now with modern screws that have a neck that is substantially thinner than the threaded part of the screw or are threaded all the way up which allows the plug to easily plastically deform into the relatively large amount of empty space within the thread, but not so guaranteed with old style screws that have a solid metal shaft that generally tends to get thicker as it approaches the head.

Red Tony · May 20, 2019

A new drill bit on a low speed gear and plenty of patience.

DPG · May 20, 2019

Sticky pads

NDG Elecs · May 20, 2019

EalingBadger said:
Probably okay to do this now with modern screws that have a neck that is substantially thinner than the threaded part of the screw or are threaded all the way up which allows the plug to easily plastically deform into the relatively large amount of empty space within the thread, but not so guaranteed with old style screws that have a solid metal shaft that generally tends to get thicker as it approaches the head.

You say it is "probably ok"..... I can guarantee you there is no probability about it.

Thankfully I only use 'modern' (brand new) screws.....and never had a single tile crack ever....not one!

EalingBadger · May 20, 2019

NDG Elecs said:
You say it is "probably ok"..... I can guarantee you there is no probability about it.

Thankfully I only use 'modern' (brand new) screws.....and never had a single tile crack ever....not one!

I am not doubting your personal lived experience.

Just suggesting that it does not equate to the entirety of everybody else's, that's all.

My experience and that of others would suggest that there are alternative possible outcomes. Outcomes which are best avoided by simply adopting a slightly different technique, that's all.

NDG Elecs · May 20, 2019

EalingBadger said:
I am not doubting your personal lived experience.

Just suggesting that it does not equate to the entirety of everybody else's, that's all.

My experience and that of others would suggest that there are alternative possible outcomes. Outcomes which are best avoided by simply adopting a slightly different technique, that's all.

If you are not doubting my 'personal lived experience' what was the disagree for on page one of this thread? That suggest to me you are doubting my PLE .....

Techniques and methods such as using the correct type of screw and plug will very easily have the job done correctly and professionally and it will last.

I'm finding it amazing that this post is so long for such a simple task!

EalingBadger · May 20, 2019

NDG Elecs said:
If you are not doubting my 'personal lived experience' what was the disagree for on page one of this thread? That suggest to me you are doubting my PLE .....

Techniques and methods such as using the correct type of screw and plug will very easily have the job done correctly and professionally and it will last.

I'm finding it amazing that this post is so long for such a simple task!

I was doubting your assertion that tiles don't crack.

Not the same as suggesting that you have ever cracked a tile.

I know that I have (not in the last 25+ years or so though), and I am positively ---- about deploying the "correct" tool / fixing for the job.