tile drilling

[dirt dibbler]

my bathroom has recently been tiled, is it generally better to drill tiles somewhere central on the tile, rather than the trying to drill on the grout line, if i tried this is it likely to break the tile?

[matthew.larkin]

I'm no expert, but I bought a specialist tile drill bit a few years ago and I've gone through at least 20 occurences of drilling and never had a problem with a tile breaking. I've usually drilled through the centre of the tile, never the grout, but often I will have drilled close to one edge or another.

But, I may have been incredibly lucky not to have caused any cracks, so as they say round here "your mileage may vary"

Matt

[Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot]

Yes - not on the grout line, unless the hole you're drilling is smaller than the gap between the tiles, or they'll chip. Tiles aren't hard to drill, just go slowly until you're through the glaze.

Si

[1501]

And don't forget to place a piece of masking tape on the tile where you want to drill to stop the drill tip skidding.

[Stuart Noble]

IME when the adhesive is completely dry, you can drill anywhere you like with a standard masonry bit. If the tiler has used extra adhesive to level the tile, that may take a couple of days.

[Andy Hall]

He'd better have strong arms if he's going to be drilling for a couple of days.

[Huge]

Apart from the ones I have in my bathroom....

:o(

[Stuart Noble]

I knew as I was typing that someone.....didn't think it would be you though

[Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot]

Forgot the "Most..." :)

Si

[jal]

That's the one! I learned that invaluable tip a few years ago (I used sellotape actually). I also use a small [ordinary] bit to drill a pilot hole, then the size of bit I actually need.

I think I'd try it first, though, in a place where a cracked tile won't be noticed ...

john

[John Rumm]

You may find some useful information in the tile drilling section here:

[1501]

One other thing, if you really want to crack a tile use the drill's hammer action.

I.e. just use the rotary action.

[The Medway Handyman]

I'd avoid the grout, highly likely to chip the tile because the drill will be bigger than the grout gap.

Best bet is a Bosch Multi-Construction Drill Bit

You can also get them in B&Q or Homebase.

These have a much sharper point than a normal masonry drill and will drill tiles & masonry without a hammer action - which can crack the tile. No need for tape, just position the drill & push firmly. The sharp point will break the tile surface & stop the bit wandering.

Also, use a plug like this

without a 'lip'. This can be pushed below the tile surface to stop the expansion cracking the surface.

[Dave]

We had our bathroom tiled last summer. Wife wanted various things mounted on the wall. After much discussion and explaining that once a tile has been drilled, you can never recover from the hole that is left when you take something down from the wall and not leave a very visible hole. I did...

Most of the eye level holes were drilled into the grout, as it is easier to hide a hole with a bit more grout. Wherever possible, I used No. 6s plugs and screws though.

The method I used was to drill the first hole between the tiles, into the grout, with a drill that was just a little bit larger in diameter than the grout line.

NOTE, DO NOT USE ANY HAMMER ACTION.

The masonry drill I used must be getting on for 30, or even 40 years old now, so no sharp cookie. Then open up the hole with a drill of your choice, but do not go from 4 mm to 8 mm, as I can not vouch for the integrity of the tile. Take it in small changes of size. Unless the tile has a void behind it, everything should be OK. Just be gentle, but firm, with the pressure behind the drill

In all the years I have been doing this, I have never cracked a tile by drilling through the grout.

Tiles are funny things to drill, as your masonry twist drill will try to skid all over the tile, leaving a scratch all over its journey.

The glaze can be incredibly hard to get through. Once through the glaze, they are very drillable. My bathroom tiles are very difficult to get through the glaze, but I did it with very old drills. :-)

Others have advised using a layer of masking tape, or even selotape. My advice would be to use at least 3 layers of masking tape to start drilling in the glazed tile area. Better still. Get yourself a piece of wood and one of those tacky rubber strips that are used under mats on top of laminate floors. Place the wood on top of the tacky rubber, after drilling a hole in the wood the same diameter as the masonry drill and place both on the tiles you want to drill. Drill your first hole, but only use the hole in the piece of wood to drill at most 3 holes. Any piece of wood will do, as long as it is thicker than about 8/10 mm.

Do not try to put pressure on the drill by the pistol grip, but by pushing in line with the twist drill. Usually by pushing on the back of the electric drill's body. Use the drills spin lock button to help. Set the drill to spin, hold the front body in your left hand and push with your right hand at the back of the drill.

HTH

Dave

[Andy Hall]

You have to get them in when you can. I suppose that I could have added that he would need *even* stronger arms if it was a Didldi SDS drill.... (but I refrained)..... ;-)

[Stuart Noble]

I think you missed the reference to the Aldi pressure washer. Tut tut :-)

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember dirt dibbler saying something like:

Use a hardened nail and gently tap it to break the glaze. Drill without hammer action until you're through the tile and then use hammer action for the underlying plaster/brick.

Works every time and is quick.