How to Drill Kitchen Wall Tile Like Porcelain

Man drilling porcelain tile.

Porcelain wall tile is a hard tile, often with a nice glaze on it. Porcelain tiles are often installed in kitchens and bathrooms where fixtures like towel rods are later installed. If you drill through the grout between the tiles you still might damage an adjoining tile. You can avoid tile damage by using the proper tool.

Things You'll Need

• Variable speed drill
• Diamond core bit rated for porcelain
• Eye protection (indirect type)
• Face mask
• Pants, long sleeved shirts and work boots
• Water filled spray bottle
• Sponge
• Tape
• Plastic Sheeting
• an assistant

Instructions

Drilling Porcelain Wall Tile

1. Remove or cover everything close to the drill site; drilling tile often produces a lot of dust and granules. Tape, use plastic sheeting and open a window. In a bathroom turn on the vent.

2. Wear goggles and a mask. As you drill, the assistant will spray water on the area being drilled, so should also wear goggles and a mask.

3. Use the diamond bit and the variable speed drill flat on the tile and drill at a slow RPM. (Fast RPM will glaze the bit, making it less effective. A glazed bit can be deglazed by running the bit into concrete or a soft brick.) Apply steady even pressure and keep the bit straight.

4. Keep the drill bit and porcelain being drilled wet to cool the bit, improving the cut, increasing the life of the bit, and reducing dangerous particles in the air.

5. Wipe the drilled porcelain with the wet sponge to remove all loose tile dust and fragments. Clean the area well.

Tips & Warnings

• Vacuum before tracking tile shards and dust through the house. Remove all of the dust and keep small animals and children away from the work site until it is completely clean.

• Restrain long hair and dangling clothing so they don't get caught in the drill. Each hole should take less than a minute to drill. Cleaning and prepping will take much more time.

References

• Armeg
• John Bridge