Despite the fact that ceramic tiles have increased strength, they are very easy to damage, therefore, when you make repairs, any actions in relation to the tiles must be carried out very carefully. Working with tiles implies the possession of some skills and knowledge, especially this applies not only to laying, but also to drilling holes. Otherwise, you will incur heavy losses due to the fact that the plates will be damaged. In more difficult situations, you have to redo the repairs.
Drilling a hole in a tile is not an easy task. This requires possession of skills in working with building materials, however, if you have the desire and practice, such work can be done without calling a professional.
To achieve the goal, it is enough to listen to 6 tips:
- Choose a tool that will be comfortable to hold in your hands, because its position should be firm and confident;
- Work at minimum speed, about 1000 revolutions, no more;
- Do not put pressure on the device or change the angle of inclination, this may lead to cracks;
- If you are drilling a hole in the seams, use a thin drill, even if it is not intended for tiles, but for concrete, however, it is better to drill the material, not the seams;
- If the tiles are not laid, then soak them in water for about an hour, this will help to avoid cracks;
- Try not to make holes at the edges of the slabs, here it is more fragile.
Before you start drilling, it's best to practice on a separate tile. An experienced craftsman always feels that the tile can crack and slow down, while a beginner must feel the tool and how the drill goes into the tile.
How to drill a tile on the wall: we take into account all the features
Tile is a versatile cladding material, suitable for use in any room, on the floor or on the wall, no matter the bathroom, kitchen or toilet.
Using this material, you can create an original and practical design, change the proportions and parameters of the room. However, like any other material, ceramics are fragile and have a slippery surface. It is this fact that complicates the drilling process.
When you start renovation work, very often there is a need to create holes in the tile, so that in the future there is a shelf or towel holder.
As practice shows, the need for an additional hole appears mainly after the tiles are laid, and not until this moment.
However, regardless of when the need arises, the procedure must be done very carefully so that a split or crack does not appear. In addition, it is very important to pay attention to the correct selection of the tool that will be able to perform the task with high quality.
How and how to drill a hole in a tile
Various tools are used to create a hole in the tile.
Mainly choose:
- Perforator;
- Screwdriver;
- Hand drill;
- Electric drill.
The required tool should be selected not only based on preferences, but also on the required connector diameter. For example, if the hole needs to be small, it is appropriate to use a hand drill, since its speed is easy to control, this ensures that there is no crack or split. Also in this situation, you can use a screwdriver, which is not designed for high speeds.
In order to make large holes, it is better to use a hammer drill or electric drill. Be sure to turn off bump mode before starting work and use the minimum speed. In addition, stock up on such devices as drills, a level, a construction pencil, tape, and electrical tape.
Drill selection rules: how to drill a tile so it doesn't crack
When you decide on the tools, you need to choose the drill that is more suitable for the given situation and can cope with the task. Consider all the details of your ceramic tile, such as how hard it is, how porous it is and how thick it is. Drills for working with slabs are presented in a large assortment, they differ in diameter.
- Spear drill. It is the most common and is suitable for making a small hole. The drill is designed for long-term operation.
- Solid carbide drill sharpened on one side. Suitable for any tile option, except for porcelain stoneware. The drill is designed to create holes up to 12 mm in diameter. The drill can drill through ceramic wall tiles with ease. The diameter will be such that the dowel fits there.
- Diamond core bit. It is needed to make a hole from 10 to 70 mm. Such a product is able to cope with any surface including fragile tiles. One crown is designed for 50 cycles.
- Coated crown. It copes well not only with tiles, but also with such coatings as marble, porcelain stoneware which is on the floor and even brick. With this crown, you can easily make a hole for an outlet, cabinet or towel dryer.
- Ballerina circular drill. Designed to create holes up to 90 mm in diameter. The drill consists of several disks, which are located in parallel, and the distance between them will correspond to the radius of the required hole.
If you pay attention to the indicators of practice, then it is best to use sprayed crowns, since they are able to make an even hole and at the same time not harm your tile.
Tip: how to drill a tile so that it doesn't crack (video)
Now we can say with confidence that you know almost everything about how to drill a hole in a tile and at the same time not create a chip or crack on it. After reading our article, you have become a kind of professional. Prepare all the necessary tools for work and do not forget to surprise your family and friends with a new skill and please your wife with a new shelf in the kitchen.
For all its advantages, tile has a rather significant drawback - this material is very hard and at the same time fragile, therefore processing, which cannot be avoided in the repair process, is quite difficult and requires skills.
Sometimes the need to make a hole in the tile to secure wall decor or plumbing becomes a real challenge, and if the drilling rules are not followed only cracking and deterioration of the material can be achieved.
Floor tiles are easiest to drill because they are thicker and the forces applied are directed exclusively in one direction, which increases drilling accuracy and minimizes risks. A successful result depends on:
- choice of cutting and driving instrument;
- drill hold at one place;
- compliance with technique drilling.
For drilling tiles, use special drills with diamond plating, but if, besides installing a floor-standing toilet, nothing else is foreseen, then for the sake of two holes you should not spend money on an expensive part.
It is quite possible to do this and conventional drill for a stone with a victorious soldering.
The main difficulty is in fixing the drill on a slippery glaze surface, for which you can glue the intended drilling site with a plaster. Drilling should be started at low spindle speeds and smoothly at high speeds after the glaze passes.
In no case punch mode cannot be usedwhile the tile body is being drilled, otherwise it will crack. They switch to it after reaching the concrete surface in order to drill a recess for the dowel.
All this time the drill should be strictly at right angles, so as not to touch the edge of the hole with its cutting surface.
For drilling uniquely do not use a power drillAlthough such advice can be found, even one hole will require a lot of force, and it is quite difficult to keep the drill straight.
You can use both a household electric drill and a professional one, however do not use Soviet-made drills, on such models there is no possibility of smooth engine start.
The greatest difficulty is drilling a layer of glaze, the drill cannot be fixed in place. To do this, it is necessary to screw the passageway using a hardened self-tapping screw, lightly hitting it with a hammer several times, this is quite enough to destroy the glaze.
Also you can stick a medical patchthat will easily hold the drill in place. They start drilling at low speed, but only in the drill mode, after passing the glaze layer, you can reach the maximum speed.
After the drill comes out of the tile onto the concrete, if drilling needs to be continued, switch the tool to punch mode. If you need to make a large number of holes, then drill after each pass needs to be cooled in water.
Drills can be used when it is necessary to drill a hole to lead out electrical wires or secure equipment. Well, what to do if you need to withdraw through the tile water pipe or make a hole under electrical outlet?
As a more expensive option are used diamond core bits - they have a fixed size, so it is advisable to purchase such a tool as a set, which includes crowns with different diameters.
Mostly it will be needed by those who is professionally engaged in renovation work... In order for the crown to serve for a long time, drilling is performed at the lowest speed, while it must be frequently cooled. The crown is used for both laid and not yet fixed tiles.
Ballerina - has a lower cost, so it is advisable to purchase it even for home tool kit... Unlike crowns, it can be used to drill various hole diameters, but only on tiles that have not yet been laid.
But since hole arrangement in most cases it is known, and their number is small, then it is used precisely.
Also watch the video tutorial with the master's advice on how to drill a tile
In this article, we will tell you how you can properly and accurately drill a tile.
There can be many reasons for drilling the tiles: this is the installation of a water pipe, an outlet is installed in the bath or in the kitchen, you need to hang a shelf, heated towel rail on the wall, etc.
It seems that it is quite easy to drill a tile, however, it must be done so that it does not crack or split completely.
For such work, you just need to follow a few simple recommendations, and you will be satisfied with the result, completing the work quickly and in the way it should.
Of the tools, you may need the following accessories:
- electric drill (for an accurate result, choose the minimum number of revolutions);
- cordless screwdriver (the maximum number of turns for a tile is from 800 to 1000);
- network screwdriver (also low-speed);
- hand drill (if you need to make a hole up to 12 mm in diameter).
Which drills are best for you?
In this section, we'll take a look at the best drill bit to drill into tiles. It depends on the correct choice how neat the hole will turn out and whether it will not be necessary to replace a piece of tile.
Before you start drilling the tiles in the bathroom or kitchen, there are two things to remember.
Firstly, the tile surface is quite slippery, so it is difficult to hold the drill in the required position to avoid slippage.
Secondly, in order to do everything right, you need special drills of a suitable type; tips for brick or concrete will not work here - the tiles will immediately crack.
In order to solve the first problem, you just need to take a piece of masking tape and stick it on the drilling site.
This will eliminate slippery surfaces.
Choosing the right drill is a big deal in this matter. The following types are ideal.
Diamond drill
Of course, a tool with such a drill will allow you to drill any tile most successfully, but do not forget that this method is the most expensive.
It doesn't make sense to buy an expensive drill if all you need to do is make a small hole in the wall or floor.
On the other hand, almost everyone who professionally performs apartment renovation has such tips.
Perhaps, in this case, the purchase will be advisable.
Drill with a victorious tip
Also an effective tile drilling tool, it is a more affordable alternative.
If you at least sometimes use a drill at home or in the country, then get such a tip, it is sold in any building supermarket or just on the market, and the result is very accurate.
Special drills
The store may recommend even cheaper kits or separate tools for drilling in various materials, including tiles.
However, there is already a danger of choosing such a tip, which, despite all the efforts of the seller, will be completely useless.
Therefore, in order to make a hole in a tile in a floor or wall, we recommend the second tool from this list.
How to drill a tile without cracks?
The algorithm of actions is quite simple, you can drill the tile with your own hands quite easily even if you do not have repair skills at all.
When calculating the location for drilling, do not get closer than 15 mm to the edge. This will minimize the risk of cracking.
Before you start directly drilling the tiles, soak them in water for 30-60 minutes. This will further reduce the chance of cracking.
If a piece of facing masonry has not been previously soaked, then you can at least moisten the drilling site. This method is suitable if the tiles have not yet been glued to the wall.
The best way to work is not to drill the tile itself, but to make a hole along the seam.
We drill a tile for a dowel
In fact, the instruction is very simple, you just need to complete all the steps:
- Apply a small piece of masking tape to the place where the hole will be drilled in the tile;
- Calculate the position of the hole (at least 15 mm from the edge of the tile) and mark it with a cross or a circle directly over the glued piece of masking tape;
- Install the required drill. Remember that conventional drills are not suitable for this case, you should choose them from the list above;
- Start drilling by holding the hammer (or drill) perpendicularly. At the same time, set the lowest number of revolutions;
- The finished hole must be adjusted to the size of the dowel. To do this, take a regular concrete drill and carefully drill it out. In order not to miscalculate with the depth of the hole itself, you can use a special stop, but if you do not have one, then make a mark on the drill itself;
- When the hole is fitted to the dowel in diameter and depth, blow it out, remove dust and remnants of concrete chips;
- Now you can insert the dowel. Please note that it should fit into the tile itself by a couple of millimeters.
How to make a hole with a hammer drill using a diamond core bit
Of course, diamond-coated bits are far from cheap pleasure.
So, the price largely depends on the quality of the material. You can choose the most affordable option, but the cost will still remain quite high.
As a cheaper alternative, you can use a bit with a victorious teeth. This tip is enough for 20-25 or even 30 holes.
To work with such a tool, you need to know a few subtleties. Pieces of tiles should be laid out on a flat and smooth surface. It shouldn't be too hard.
A good option is wood. After that mark the place of drilling from the front side. Using the above guidelines, carefully punch the hole to the desired size with a hammer drill.
Do not press too hard on the tiles, otherwise it will be difficult to avoid cracks. If the spraying or teeth are of good quality, the hole will be ready in a couple of minutes.
How to make a hole in a large diameter tile
The easiest way to really quickly drill a hole is to use the so-called ballerina.
This is a special drill designed for drilling holes of various diameters in tiles.
This tool has a special sliding ruler, thanks to which you can adjust the width of the hole.
However, it should be borne in mind that if it is not difficult to work with an ordinary drill or perforator, then the use of a ballerina requires certain skills.
Therefore, before making a "clean" hole, practice on unnecessary pieces of tiles, just do not forget to moisten the drilling site.
Another tool that can come in handy for drilling a large hole is a circular saw.
It is easier to use than a ballerina, and it will take about 6-8 minutes to work, taking into account the average pressure on the drill. We advise you to drill the tiles until you install them on the wall or floor.
Firstly, in case of failure, you will not need to replace the whole sector, and secondly, it will simply be more convenient for you to work.
Before starting drilling, be sure to briefly immerse the tile in water to avoid overheating.
Thus, it is not difficult to independently make a hole in tiles of any diameter.
The main thing is to choose the right drill, set the minimum speed and do not forget to wet a piece of tile with water, otherwise overheating is inevitable.
Pay attention to the choice of the position of the future hole, do not place it too close to the edge.
The appearance of this or that visit, as well as the indicators of comfort, directly depend on the quality of the finishing done. Usually, after finishing the bathroom with tiles, the question often arises of how to drill the tiles in the bathroom in order to hang or install such important interior items as mirrors, hangers and so on.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the tile is a very fragile material that is afraid of mechanical stress and, with one wrong action, can simply crack. There are certain methods that allow you to drill the most accurate hole, while leaving the tile completely intact.
Tools and materials
To drill the tile as successfully as possible without damaging it, you need to prepare certain tools, suitable drill sizes, and materials. Among them, it is worth noting such pieces of equipment as:
- hand or electric drill;
- special victorious drill, preferably with a ring-shaped tip;
- special drill for processing the base;
- the mounting tape is sticky;
- marker;
- vacuum cleaner.
If it is necessary to drill a large hole in the tile, for example, for pipes or for a socket, you can use a special ballerina drill or cutter.
The main secrets of drilling
As well as wherever a certain responsibility is required, tile drilling has its own characteristics and nuances. Such little tricks include such moments as:
- The hole does not need to be drilled at the very edge of the material, in the gaps and in the crosshairs, the probability of chipping in this case is quite high.
- When drilling, it is worth wetting the drill with water from time to time. This will help avoid overheating.
Important! The device must first be disconnected from the network.
- If for some reason the drill of the required size was not on sale, you can use a certain “artisanal method”. For example, it is quite possible to use a drill or drill of a higher professional level. The drill is clamped into the chuck, first it drills the tile in the non-shock mode, therefore this mode is switched and the wall surface itself is drilled.
- To drill tiles at low speeds, you can use a special drill for metal. But it is worth remembering that it will only be enough for one time.
Work procedure
Important! Before performing the work, it is worthwhile to lightly step on the tile, if the sound is dense, you can fearlessly start the drilling process, the tile will not crack. It is also required to first mark those areas where future holes will be located.
The question of how to drill a tile in the bathroom is solved as follows:
- In place of the hole, the enamel is chipped a little, which can be done with a file;
- After that, adhesive tape or masking tape is glued, which will hold the drill at the very beginning of work;
- To prevent slipping, you can use a jig, that is, a plate made of wood or steel. It is applied to the tile in the required place, pressed and a hole is glued through it;
- Having reached the base of the tile, the drill used must be changed to one that will correspond to the wall material, that is, concrete or wood.
Important! The second drill should not be larger than the first, as otherwise material damage is simply inevitable. The drilling process is not laborious, but it requires imperative accuracy.
Useful video on the topic: 5 easy ways to make holes in tiles
In bathrooms, the need to drill a hole in the tile occurs either when you need to hang a shelf, hanger, cabinet, mirror, or during repairs, when you need to drill large-diameter holes for pipes and socket outlets. In the first case, the tile is already glued into place, the holes are small, for a dowel Ø 4 - 12 mm. In the second version, the work is performed before gluing the cladding, since a cold water / hot water supply, sewage pipe is already sticking out of the wall / floor, or there is an air duct opening. The holes are large, usually crowns, contour drilling, figured cutting with a diamond blade angle grinder or an MFP nozzle are used.
To solve such problems, only small diameter tile drills are used, but not of the same design. You will need a drill, hammer drill or screwdriver with adjustable speeds.
The technology actually consists of two stages. First, at low speeds, a hole is created in the tile, porcelain stoneware. Then the wall or floor screed is drilled to the required depth.
Regardless of the design, before starting work, it is necessary to check the sharpening of the cutting edges of the drill. It is inconvenient to mark glazed glossy tiles with a pencil, a marker, therefore, the surface of the cladding in the desired areas is usually pasted over with adhesive plaster or masking tape.
Drill "spear"
The industry produces two types of such equipment that allow you to quickly drill a tile in a bathroom with a minimum expenditure on the repair budget:
The two-blade drill can be sharpened as the cutting edges wear. The equipment is inexpensive (diameter 6 mm from 60 rubles), drills very quickly. The four-bladed spear cannot be sharpened manually, it costs more than the previous version (diameter 5 mm from 170 rubles). In fact, it is a disposable, expensive, maintenance-free tool.
Both drill types are not suitable for penetrating concrete / brick walls. After receiving a hole in the tile, the drill will have to be replaced with a standard drill for a hammer drill or an analogue for an impact drill with a cylindrical tail.
The tip of the spear is sharp enough, so you can do without punching. It is enough to set the tool in place, lightly hit the back of the drill, screwdriver with your free hand.
Drill or drill bit with victorious tip
Drill bits for a hammer drill and drill bits are made of carbide material - pobedita, that is, the VK4 - VK10 alloy. However, the shape of the cutting part is designed for quick, accurate destruction of homogeneous construction materials - concrete, brick.
Drill & Drill Bit with Victory Alloy Tip In order not to damage the ceramic tile, drilling should be done without impact, at 800 - 900 rpm, preferably with a new, unused drill / drill. This method is suitable only for ordinary ceramics, it is not suitable for porcelain stoneware, since the drill is initially rather dull and it is problematic for them to drill porcelain stoneware in a shockless mode.
This is the only option for drilling with one tool without changing the drill. After passing through the tile, the perforator or drill switches to impact mode.
Regardless of the diameter of the drill, the tool tip always glides over the glazed tile. Several options are used to improve drilling accuracy:
In principle, it is enough to slightly damage the enamel in the place of drilling with a steel scraper, self-tapping screw, dowel, so that at low speeds it is quite accurate to drill into porcelain stoneware, tiles. A drill with a cylindrical shank costs from 30 to 50 rubles. depending on the diameter. A drill for a hammer drill is a little more expensive - from 50 - 70 rubles apiece.
There are two types of ceramic / glass special tubular drill:
The classic tubular drill is a miniature analogue of a crown without a pilot drill. The tool destroys the material along the outer ring, the middle falls out at the end of the drilling. The price of a tubular drill depends on the method of applying the diamond cutting layer - 250 - 350 rubles.
The sector drill has a much larger contact area with the tile. Rotating the tool virtually destroys all the tile material inside the cutting edge perimeter. The process takes a little longer, but the diamond particles are evenly distributed in the tip.
Unlike lance drills, small-diameter diamond tools drill equally well into tiles and porcelain stoneware with a hardened inner layer. Therefore, it is better to choose this option for installing a floor-standing toilet on a porcelain stoneware floor covering.
Sector drills are produced by a limited number of manufacturers, most often the products of the Emar brand. The rig has unique characteristics:
- drill resource 800 holes in porcelain stoneware;
- 70 holes until a noticeable decrease in the precision of drilling;
- height of the diamond tip 8 mm;
- tool length 80 mm;
- the price is 500 rubles for a drill with a diameter of 6 mm.
When working with crowns and tubular drills without a guide element, you must have the skill of correct drilling:
Since the tool is expensive, after passing through the tile, it is replaced with an ordinary drill, the wall is drilled with this budget rig.
Large diameter holes
Oversized holes are made on the tiles prior to wall mounting or flooring. They are necessary for the output of engineering systems to the outside - water sockets, sewer pipes, socket boxes, ventilation system channel.
It makes no sense to drill them on the wall, since the wiring of the electrics, pipes is made in the concrete of the wall or behind a false panel made of plasterboard. There are two types of special tools that allow you to make holes in the cladding very accurately. In the absence of such equipment, you can use a small-diameter drill, a "grinder" with a diamond disc or a multi-tool.
Crowns
Ceramic crowns for making through holes in tiles are classified according to several criteria:
Tungsten carbide bits are used to cut holes in ceramics. With the same diameter with diamond tooling, their cost is 2 - 3 times lower. However, the abrasive layer begins to fall off when trying to drill through porcelain stoneware.
The cylindrical shank tool is considered the cheapest, the hexagonal tip raises the price, but not much. Rotary hammer shank bits have the highest price. In addition to ceramics, porcelain stoneware, diamond confidently and evenly cuts glass and mirror.
Crowns are sold individually and in sets. A tool with tungsten carbide spraying Ø33 mm costs 420 rubles, a set of 4 crowns (33 mm, 53 mm, 67 mm, 83 mm) with an adapter costs 1600 rubles.
The cost of diamond core bits of domestic and foreign manufacturers starts from 700 rubles. or 1000 rubles, respectively. Depends on the type of shank (SDS +, cylindrical), diameter, shape of the cutting edge (tubular, with cuts), the presence of a centering drill, brand and other factors.
In the set, the crowns are cheaper, special devices and accessories are added to them. However, the required tool diameters are rarely present there, you have to buy them individually.
LBM with diamond disc
With a limited budget, a confident LBM user can always accurately cut a large-format hole in the tile with a diameter of 50 mm (sewer pipe branch) with a diamond disc.
To do this, use a Ø115 mm disc. Work is performed at an angle to the surface of 45 ° from the front side of the cladding.
You can partially remove tiles inside the marked hole with straight cuts. For example, criss-cross in the middle, then a square inscribed in a circle.
Then the remnants of the tile inside the circle are removed with pliers with a lateral arrangement of sponges.
LBM works can be performed from the back of the finishing material. In this case, the markings should be symmetrically applied on both sides of the tile. The tool with a diamond blade rotates evenly in a circle around its center. The tile must be secured with a soft gasket clamp.
When marking the hole, take into account the gap between the tiles to ensure a standard joint thickness. In case of insufficient experience in using angle grinders, it is recommended to use a special holder, with the help of which the required overhang of the disc relative to the sole of the device is set.
If the hole is not hidden under the ventilation grill, decorative washers of the mixer, the edges must be additionally processed with an abrasive tool - a rasp, a file, attached to a piece of the handle with sandpaper.
Multifunctional tool
A separate category of power tools has been created for particularly precise, demanding work with almost any construction and finishing materials. Different manufacturers (or in different stores) have different names:
- MFI is a multifunctional tool;
- renovator - a universal cutter, electric mesh;
- multitool - vibration cutter, multimaster, oscillating tool.
The principle of operation is similar to that of a delta sander, the dimensions are much more compact:
- the spindle of the renovator fluctuates within 3 - 4 ° relative to the central axis;
- vibration frequency is 10,000 - 25,000 min-1;
- several types of nozzles are used for wood, ceramics, metal, plastic.
There are network and battery versions of the MFI that allow you to make holes of any size, shape in the tile before and after gluing it to the wall. With the same success, the renovator connects a heated towel rail or attaches a wall shelf.
For tiles and porcelain stoneware, diamond-coated segment saw blades are used. Or hammer-shaped nozzles, teardrop-shaped.
Engraver
Another highly specialized precision tool often found in the home craftsman's arsenal is the miniature drill / engraver.
This power tool can be used independently - the tool is mounted in a collet chuck, or with a flexible shaft.
Moreover, there are flexible shafts for drills and grinding machines with emery wheels on sale.
By analogy with the MFI of nozzles for the engraver, the industry produces a huge amount. However, they cut the material through rotation, not vibration. For making holes by an engraver, it is most convenient to use a device that turns this power tool into a miniature analog of a router.
Engraver with hole milling attachment. Use a tile drill (Dremel catalog # 562) or diamond blade (# 540 DSM).
Due to the high strength of the hardened layer of porcelain stoneware, the tool life is reduced compared to drilling in ceramic tiles.
Drilling around the perimeter
When installing an electrical or water outlet in the absence of angle grinders, crowns, engravers and other special tools, you can use a drill with a spear-shaped, tubular, small-diameter winder drill:
Ballerina
The special tool for punching holes in ceramic tiles - ballerina - is available as an attachment on some manual tile cutters or sold separately as an accessory for an electric drill.
In any case, the destruction of the facing material occurs with the cutter when rotating around the central guide. The process is long, dusty, the material may crack at the exit.
Hacksaw
On sale there are special ceramic blades for ordinary hand hacksaws.
Diamond string. First, a hole is drilled in the tile with a drill, then the canvas is drawn into the hole and fixed to the seats in the hacksaw. Next, the figured hole is cut.
The good thing about this method is that you can cut a hole of any shape.
Thus, the tiles can be drilled in the bathroom before or after gluing with different tools with different types of accessories. In this case, one should take into account the repair budget, the size of the hole, the required cleanliness of the edge processing.