How to Drill Ceramic Tile

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Ceramic tiles add a touch of elegance to a bathroom, but adding towel bars, grab bars or other accessories poses a problem. You likely will need to drill through the tiles to anchor these items in the wall. Using the proper tools makes this task easy for the home handyman.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Duct tape
Variable speed drill
Carbide tip
Cutting oil
Safety goggles

Step1

Determine the spot on the tile where you need to drill the hole.

Step2

Put a piece of duct tape over the spot and mark the spot where you need to drill the hole. The duct tape can protect the tile surface if the drill slips.

Step3

Insert a carbide-tipped masonry bit into a variable-speed drill. A masonry bit is necessary to break through the hard surface of the tile.

Step4

Begin drilling the hole with the drill set at the slowest speed possible, about 100 to 200 revolutions per minute.

Step5

Use a light pressure to gradually cut through the tile.

Step6

Dip the drill tip in oil occasionally, according to manufacturer's instructions, to keep the drill bit from overheating.

Tips & Warnings

Wear safety goggles when using power tools.
Use a variable-speed drill rather than a hammer drill. The vibrations of the hammer drill can shatter the ceramic tile.
Avoid the temptation to use heavy pressure to rush the job or to force your way through the tile. The drill can slip and gouge the surface of the tile, creating an additional job of replacing a tile.
If you are drilling a ceramic tile before it is mounted on the wall, put a block of scrap wood underneath for support.