Drilling Ceramic Tiles For Pipes

In this example we will be drilling 2 x holes in ceramic tiles to slide over the hot and cold pipework for a new shower valve 15mm copper pipes at 150mm centres.

Drilling ceramic tiles for pipes.

Ceramic tile can be drilled with a carbide bit while glass and porcelain call for a diamond tipped bit. Follow these simple st. Many common ceramic tiles are made primarily with clay but then coated with a thin glaze. This is an alternative to cutting the tile vertically splitting it into 3 parts in this example and nibbling away the tile at the 2 points where the holes would be.

Drilling holes in wall tiles is a fairly easy skill to master once you know how. A carbide drill bit or a diamond drill bit are best for drilling holes in ceramic tile. While that sounds expensive a inch diamond tipped tip costs under 20 and a carbide bit of the same size can be had for less than 10. The tile drill bits slide around on the tile making it hard to keep the drill bit in place.

Then hold the drill bit over the center of the x and use a hammer to tap it lightly until you ve made a small dent in the tile s glaze. Standard drill bits don t work on tile but not to worry. Drilling ceramic tile requires a special drill bit and a steady hand. When you re installing plumbing pipes in tile floors you may need to drill a 2 or 3 inch diameter hole and a ceramic tile hole saw is the tool for that.

Have the right bit for ceramic tile.