How to Drill into Ceramic/porcelain Tile Without Cracking It

[cctvtobeornottobe]

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.

 

[Smithy87]

Generally I’ve always either used a glass/tile drill bit to just get through the top layer of the tile the switch to combi drill for the wall or use my sds drill on the non hammer setting and just go gently.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - what size hole do you need?
Perhaps put “tile drill” into a search engine and you’ll see plenty of options at the usual outlets. Soft tiles may be done with hardened steel bits, which are just a £few each. But you’ll likely need a diamond based cutter if it’s a hard tile. If you’ve a spare tile I’d have a trial run .

 

[Pete999]

Stick some masking tape over the point you want to drill if it's a small hole, and don't have your drill in the hammer mode, if you have speed control use the lowest setting.

 

[Andy78]

Same way you milk a hedgehog, very carefully.

 

[Andy-1960]

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.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Most good quality masonry drill bits will drill ceramic tiles no bother (hammer action off)
Porcelain or glass tiles however will require a special diamond tile drill bit.

 

[cctvtobeornottobe]

Hi - what size hole do you need?
Perhaps put “tile drill” into a search engine and you’ll see plenty of options at the usual outlets. Soft tiles may be done with hardened steel bits, which are just a £few each. But you’ll likely need a diamond based cutter if it’s a hard tile. If you’ve a spare tile I’d have a trial run .

i want to put up some roller blinds so the hole wont be that big

 

[SparkySy]

I have used bosch multi construction bits on tiles before and armeg twisters and tile drills if you only want a small hole. I've killed 5 drill bits on one hole before trying to fit a lit mirror as well when someone used floor tiles that were hard as 4@@k on the walls!

 

[Strima]

Keep the bit cool by dunking it in water regularly, take it slowly and don’t buy cheap bits.

 

[NDG Elecs]

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.

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.

 

[cctvtobeornottobe]

Keep the bit cool by dunking it in water regularly, take it slowly and don’t buy cheap bits.

would i be able to drill through with bosch metal drill bits?

 

[Rpa07]

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

would i be able to drill through with bosch metal drill bits?

 

[rolyberkin]

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.

 

[PEG]

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....

 

[ruston]

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]

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

More like the whole box

 

[cctvtobeornottobe]

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

should i drill a smaller pilot hole fist?

 

[cctvtobeornottobe]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[DPG]

Sticky pads

 

[NDG Elecs]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Timbo]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-diamond-tile-drill-bit-6-x-67mm/51908

Ox Dry Diamond Tile Drill Bits For Porcelain Granite Tile Marble Ceramic Stone | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ox-Dry-Diamond-Tile-Drill-Bits-For-Porcelain-Granite-Tile-Marble-Ceramic-Stone-/332768042910?nav=SEARCH

 

[NDG Elecs]

Sticky pads

I'm starting to agree with you now DPG ! What a bloody palaver.