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The need to make a hole in ceramic tiles often arises. During the overhaul of premises in the process of finishing with ceramics, one cannot do without cutting and drilling various holes in the tile for sockets, switches, faucets and pipes.
In everyday use of the premises, it may also be necessary to fix additional items and accessories on the wall. Depending on the shape and size of the holes, the location and material of the tile, various technologies and tools are used. Let's consider the most common situations.
Hole for a snipe in a wall tile
To drill a tile, special so-called feather drills are used with a hard-alloy plate fixed in the form of a sharp tip. Drills with two crosswise fixed inserts are impractical, as they cannot be sharpened.
It is convenient to make markings for cutting or drilling on a smooth surface of ceramics with an alcohol marker in a contrasting color, traces of which are easily removed with an alcohol solution.
The material of the tip is harder than the glaze and does not slip on it. To securely fix the drill, a piece of masking tape or adhesive tape is glued to the tile, a place for the snipe is marked and drilling is performed. After passing through a layer of ceramic tiles, the pen drill must be replaced with a concrete drill with a pobedit tip.
You can also drill holes with a diameter of 3-12 mm with a concrete drill, which is more common among home craftsmen. We make a mark on the tile with a marker, apply a dowel or tap to it, and with a light blow of a hammer we make a gap on the ceramic glaze in order to fix the drill in it before starting drilling. Drilling is performed at low speeds, the chiselling mode is applied only after the drill has passed through the clay layer.
Smaller round holes in ceramic tiles can be made by screwing in self-tapping screws with a self-drilling tip. The consumption of self-tapping screws for one such hole is 2-3 pieces.
Holes in tiles for faucets, sockets and pipes
Diamond-coated core drills are used to drill socket holes in a ceramic-tiled wall. Crowns are also available for drilling metal and wood, so it is important to use a crown specifically for tiles. Core drills can be either with a center drill, which facilitates drilling, or without it. In the first case, the center of the cut circle is punched, the centering drill is set in place, and drilling is performed.
As the centering drill deepens, drilling with a crown is performed. If the crown is not centered, then a circle contour is applied to the ceramic tile, a drill with a crown is applied to the contour, low speeds are turned on and, pressing alternately on the opposite edges of the crown, a groove is made along the contour, and then drilling. It is possible to make a jig out of plywood, which is a cut-out stencil of a circle of the same diameter with a crown. The stencil is applied to the wall, a crown is placed in a circle, and drilling is performed, in which the stencil will not allow the crown to move.
When drilling, the crown must be periodically cooled in water to prevent overheating and damage. Core drills are also suitable for drilling porcelain stoneware.
The cost of high-quality crowns is significant, so cutting holes in the tile on the wall for sockets, pipes or a mixer can also be done with a concrete tool. According to the outlined contour, without going beyond it, along the punched points to the desired depth with a concrete drill, you need to drill holes with a small step with a diameter of 4-5 mm. Then, with side cutters or nippers, you need to crumble the partitions between these holes, after which you can knock the tile circle off the wall with a chisel, drill additional holes in the concrete and also crumble the concrete from the socket for the outlet.
Around the mounting box for the socket in such a hole there should be a place for a cement-sand mortar. This is necessary to firmly fix the box and socket.
Drilling tiles while laying on the wall
If you need to cut holes in the tile for mounting boxes, pipes or a mixer while laying ceramics on the wall, then you can also drill them in various ways.
On the front side of the ceramic tile, a circle of the required diameter is drawn with an alcohol marker and along its contour, also without going beyond the boundaries, holes with a diameter of 3-4 mm are drilled with a small step with a concrete drill. Then, with a grinder (grinder) with a disk with a diameter of 115 mm, designed for cutting stone, 2-3 through cuts are made inside the contour and unnecessary fragments are crumbled from the tile with pliers. The edges are treated with coarse sandpaper, put on a round blank of a suitable diameter, until smooth and without chips.
In the following way, a circle in a tile is cut out by cutting a groove with a grinder along the contour of the circle applied to the glaze, after which through cuts are made crosswise inside the contour and small fragments are removed with wire cutters. Chips along the edges of the hole are removed with coarse sandpaper or a file.
A round hole in the tile before laying can also be made with a special device called a “ballerina”. The nozzle is a movable cutter mounted on a rod, which rotates with the help of a power tool around the axis of the centering drill. The drilling process with a ballerina consists of the following parts:
- marking the center of the circle;
- setting the cutter to the desired diameter of the circle to be cut;
- glaze cut;
- drawing a groove on the back of the tile;
- cutting the circle from the front side.
Due to the ability to move the cutter along the rod, the tool can be adjusted to cut a hole of the required diameter within the length of the rod. This eliminates the need to buy crowns of different diameters.
Ballerina - tile drill
You can also make a hole for a socket in a tile by knocking it out. On the tile, a circle outline is applied with a marker and 2-3 holes located close to each other are drilled in its middle, after which the partitions between them are crumbled with wire cutters. Then, using a hammer laid on the floor as an anvil, with light blows of the blunt end of the chisel, the edge of the hole is crushed in a circle, expanding it to the desired diameter.
Mounting boxes for sockets and switches are square, and if you need to cut not a circle, but a square, use a different tool and technology. To make a hole for a rectangular socket box, a contour is applied to the glaze with an alcohol marker.
To prevent the formation of cracks during subsequent cutting, through holes with a diameter of 8-10 mm must be drilled at the corners of the square. Then, having fixed the tile on the board, a grinder with a disk for concrete makes through cuts around the perimeter. The edges and corners of the square for the socket are treated with coarse sandpaper or a bastard file.
Figures of complex shape are cut out with a diamond-coated string inserted into a hacksaw.
On large-format ceramic tiles, in addition to porcelain stoneware, complex cuts are made with an electric jigsaw with a diamond-coated file. Cutting in porcelain stoneware is performed using a grinder with a diamond-coated disc.
In order not to break the tile when drilling, the distance from the edge of the hole to the edge of the product must be at least 20 mm.
During the repair process, the need repeatedly arises to make a hole in the tile for an outlet or, for example, a pipe. Moreover, such a need may arise both during the installation process and after installation. Consider how to act in both situations and what tools to use.
During facing work, you can not do without drilling tiles
Most often, making a hole in the tile is required at the laying stage. Until the tile is fixed on the surface, the easiest way to do this is with a grinder. This tool will come in handy more than once during the lining of the floor and walls. It is suitable for curly cutting along the edge of the tile.
How to make a hole in a tile with a grinder:
- Mark the outlines.
- Take a diamond blade for dry cutting.
- Start cutting from a comfortable edge. Move the instrument smoothly away from you. Hold the tile with your hand, do not forget to protect your fingers.
- If the work area is not too comfortable, stop in the middle and bring the grinder from the other end. However, there is a risk of divergence of cut lines.
You need to work on the front side of the tile to avoid chipping.
A diamond blade is used to cut tiles.
Using a jigsaw
This tool allows you to cut out any shape both from the edge and in the center of the tile. True, in the latter case, you need a drill to make the initial hole.
How to cut ceramic tiles with a jigsaw:
- On the front side, draw the outlines.
- If the processing area is adjacent to the edge, start cutting.
- To make a hole in the center, use a drill to pre-drill a small hole. Thread the cutting thread through it and place the jigsaw on the border of the cutout.
- Slowly guide the tool according to the markup. Step back from the line a little inward so as not to cut out the excess.
The necessary holes are made in the tile in advance - before laying
Handmade
If you need to make a small cut on the edge, and there is no jigsaw available, there is an alternative way. You will need a glass cutter and tongs or pliers. What is the essence of the process:
- Mark the contours of the future hole on the tile.
- To soften the material, soak it briefly in warm water.
- Take the glass cutter and, without lifting the roller from the surface, draw a line according to the marked markings. Apply sufficient pressure to create a furrow, but do not damage the tile, especially if it is a glossy one.
- Tap along the cut line to deepen the furrow.
- Using tongs, break off in small pieces until all excess is removed and an even outline remains.
- If there are small nicks, sand the edges with fine grit sandpaper.
Hole drilling
If the tile is already laid, you will need a drill. When working with ceramic tiles, special cone-shaped drills or ordinary spiral drills are used.
Exit for engineering communications
How to make a hole with a simple drill:
- Since the surface of ceramic tiles is rather slippery and it is very difficult to keep the tool in one position, cover the area being worked out with masking tape. It will protect the tile from scratches, prevent chips and slipping of the nozzle.
- Mark with a dot the place to drill the hole.
- Start work slowly.
- To prevent the drill from overheating, periodically moisten it with water. Spray the tile itself as well, but only after you are deep enough so that the tool does not slip off.
If you want to make a large hole, after drilling a small hole, use a thicker drill. Increase the diameter gradually, so the risk of chipping is minimized.
Another way: make several holes along the inner contour of the future hole with a thin drill. Then carefully knock out the center and grind the teeth with sandpaper.
Special drill bits
There are specialized tools designed to work with tiles that allow you to cut a hole of large diameter. One of them is a ballerina. It is a drill with an additional cutting element.
Special nozzle for a drill
How to cut a round hole in a tile using a ballerina:
- Make a small indentation exactly in the middle in any way.
- Install the ballerina on the drill and fix it in the hole with the central drill.
- Begin to deepen slowly. The side elements will begin to scratch the tile, outlining a circle, like a compass.
- When half the work is done, turn the tile over and do the same on the back until the center falls out.
Another type of nozzle is a diamond-coated crown. Its diameter is selected for a specific size.
How to make a hole in a tile with a crown:
- Apply masking tape to ceramic tiles.
- Outline the hole.
- Attach a drill and start to go deep at slow speeds.
- Moisten the nozzle with water to prevent overheating.
When purchasing drills for a drill, pay attention to their price and quality. A good job can only be done with a good tool.
Sooner or later, almost every homeowner has to deal with the need to make holes in the tiles that can be laid on the walls and floor, for example, in the bathroom or in the kitchen. At the same time, of course, everyone would like to do this with minimal time and loss of finishing material, which is easily destroyed during cutting and drilling. And even better - make holes in the tile with your own hands, saving also on paying the master.
Features of drilling holes in tiles
Due to the fact that clay is the main component of the tile, and the glass that is part of the coating, you will need cutting tools that can cut or drill both of these materials without any problems. This requires one of the following tools:
- a drill with various nozzles (a special crown and a drill with a spear-shaped tip);
- with the option of shockless mode;
- screwdriver.
Accessories for drilling holes in tiles with your own hands:
- masking tape;
- vacuum cleaner.
Drills with a spear-shaped tip will be useful for drilling holes with your own hands, having a diameter of up to 12 mm, crowns will be more appropriate for all other holes in the tile. It is not recommended to carry out work without them, since it is better to immediately spend money on the purchase of nozzles than to lose damaged tiles.
Tile drilling options
There are two types of drilling a hole in a tile with your own hands:
- after the tile has already been laid on the surface of the wall or floor, and the adhesive solution that binds it has long frozen;
- until installation.
How to properly drill a tile before laying it
In some cases, holes in the tile can be made in advance, knowing that it will be designed to install a faucet, install a heated towel rail, or drain the sewer. Oddly enough, but drilling tiles before laying is much more difficult than in the case of already laid tiles. This is due to the fact that the material is not fixed and can be damaged.
Among the advantages of this technique it is worth mentioning:
- very high accuracy of work on making holes;
- the ability to cut out almost any shape from a tile.
Standard round holes in tiles are made as follows:
- tiles with hole markings, laid on a hard surface;
- a point for drilling is punched. You can use masking tape;
- the tile is drilled using a special tile drill (everything also depends on the diameter of the hole) at a speed of no more than a thousand rpm;
- the edges of the holes obtained are processed with a file or needle file to remove minor defects;
- the tile is applied to the place where it will be laid, and checked for compliance with the drilled hole.
How to make a hole in a tile - video
With more complex holes, a special masking tape is glued to the tile, which acts as an element that restrains the destruction of the tile. Further, the perforator turned on in shockless mode is drilled, first at low speeds, then with a slight increase in the number of revolutions. The dust that is formed in this case is removed with a vacuum cleaner, otherwise it can ruin the edges of the holes.
Drilling already laid tiles
In cases where holes in the tile are already created on the laid material, the technique changes slightly. Indeed, at the same time, it is somewhat more difficult to destroy the tile, but the work itself will take much more time.
Work begins with the marking on the tile. This is done with a pencil or marker.
After that follows:
- choose a drill or nozzle that matches the size of the hole;
- put the drill at the desired point and hammer this place with a hammer;
- insert the drill into the tool.
Now you can, by setting the drill perpendicular to the tile, drill, making sure not to scratch the tile with the drill. And, when the layers of clay and glaze are passed, the drill should be replaced with one that would better drill the wall, and not the tile. Thus, more expensive tile drill bits do not wear out very quickly. Upon reaching the required depth, the hole is cleaned of debris and residual materials, then fasteners are installed in it.
How to drill a hole in a tile with your own hands - video
Often, such work is also performed to create additional electrical outlets on tiled surfaces. Special stencils can help in them, which should be installed on top of the tile and held by hand during the drilling process. They are easy enough to find in the nearest stores selling repair materials.
Work safety
Any of the methods for making holes in the tile requires compliance with certain safety requirements. Such as the use of goggles to protect the eyes from dust when drilling. Or laying a piece of wood or metal under the tile (only in the case of creating holes in the tile before laying it), ensuring the safety of the table or floor at the work site.
Laying tiles rarely occurs on a flat, smooth surface. Often you have to deal with the fact that there is a socket, a switch on the wall, pipes are laid under the mixer or toilet, so you need to make a hole in the tile. Today we will tell you in detail how to drill a tile to the desired diameter.
Basic drilling methods
There are five main ways to drill holes, which we will discuss in more detail. So, drilling is performed using:
- special drill bits for tiles. Designed for small holes. These drills do not have a thread, the tip has a pointed soldering. The tips are tetrahedral, but certain difficulties arise when sharpening. These drills work great with mosaics and glass;
- drill for concrete with a pobedite tip. Available in almost every owner, you can save on the purchase. If it does not have a carbide soldering, then it will do, you just need to regrind the end, giving it the shape of a regular drill;
- self-tapping screws with LM tip (fleas). They are used to make holes in wall tiles, which are characterized by a certain softness. A self-tapping screw with an LM tip is simply screwed into it. To get one hole, you need to use 2-3 of these screws;
- bits for tiles with diamond coating. Suitable for large and small diameters, for pipes, sockets, switches. They differ in a strictly fixed diameter, at least 5 mm. The price is from 300 to 1500 rubles, but they are worth it, because they have a fairly long service life. Very often used for.
- circular drills - ballerinas. The pilot drill has a sharp tip in the center, and the rod is equipped with a movable cutter. Thanks to this, any diameter is adjusted and there is no need to purchase crowns for different sizes. It costs from 300 to 500 rubles. With the help of a ballerina, it is easy to make a hole in the central part of the tile.
Regardless of which method you use, the main thing is not to forget about turning off the shock mode on the power tool and setting the minimum speed for operation, otherwise you are guaranteed chips.
Applying a diamond crown
Making markup
Let's consider a typical case. We need to bring out the pipes for the faucet in the bathroom, and for this we need to drill a hole in the ceramic tile.
It is better, of course, to think about this more and make sure that the holes for the pipes fall exactly on the center of the tile. To do this, you can shift the layout or start laying from the right place. If, nevertheless, you were unable to complete the installation of the crane in the center, then it is advisable not to focus on this place and not to lay decor or borders nearby that will catch your eye.
Both tap holes are at the same level, so first we measure the distance from the floor. For both pipes, it must be identical, for this you will have to use a plumb or level, any that is available.
Then measurements are taken horizontally between the center of each point and appropriate marks are applied. We got two points, from the center of each we measure the radius of the desired hole in order to outline the cut line.
Drilling
The drill must be switched to drilling mode with minimum speed. For this work, a diamond-coated crown is used, which is inserted into the cartridge. When buying a crown, be sure to make sure that it is designed specifically for tiles, because its analogues for concrete, wood or metal do not suit you at all. It is desirable that the working surface of the crown be covered with diamond grit as much as possible. Ideally, use a hole saw with a center drill to minimize the risk of dislodging the hole.
We drill carefully, slightly pressing on the drill. After cutting through the glaze, increase the pressure and speed.
During the drilling process, the working surface of the crown needs to be cooled. Bosch crowns have a coolant inside, so additional moisture is not required.
If a crown of small diameter is used for work, which does not have a centering drill, then displacement is obtained quite often. To prevent this trouble, you can use the conductor. To make it yourself, you need a piece of board or plywood and one minute of time. In it, you need to cut a hole of the appropriate diameter and use it as a conductor, pressing it with your hand.
We fix the tile
Before laying, you need to check whether the holes in the tile match the location of the pipes. If everything is fine, then proceed to the installation. The wall is covered with a layer of glue, which is then evenly distributed with a comb. The tile is pressed into place.
We work as a ballerina
Making a hole with a ballerina is not difficult, the main thing is to accurately follow all the steps, namely:
- mark the center of the future circle;
- set the required drilling diameter;
- cut through a layer of glaze;
- make a groove on the back of the tile;
- cut a hole on the front side.
One ballerina can make from 20 to 30 holes, this is quite enough for a home. The work must be carried out in compliance with safety regulations: the minimum speed and the perpendicular position of the drill relative to the tile are set.
Cutting big holes
There are situations when it is necessary to cut a large hole, but there are no necessary devices for this.
- Mark the center of the future hole and draw a circle around the required diameter with a compass or pencil.
- Take a drill on a tile of small diameter and make a series of holes inside the circle, and place them as close to each other as possible. To prevent the drill from slipping over the surface of the glaze, it is best to cover it with masking tape. A great option for working together - making notes on paper is easy and you can see them very well.
- Remove the drilled part, and remove all irregularities with wire cutters. Parrot cutters will do the job best.
- sand the cut with sandpaper.
Summing up
It is possible to drill a hole in a tile both in the process of preparation and even after it has already been glued. When working with glued tiles, care must be taken so that both the tiles remain intact and the drill is not damaged.