How to Cut Holes in Ceramic Tile
Marking and cutting holes in tile is fundamental to complete many tiling projects, particularly in bathrooms where pipes and spouts must pass through tile walls. The ideal tool for cutting holes in tile is a carbide hole drill, which enables cuts to be made in the center of the tile. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Marker
- Combination square
- Washer
- Tile
- Center punch
- Hammer
- Clamp
- Carbide hole drill
- Abrasive stone
Instructions
-
-
1
Mark the hole by holding the tile over the last tile set and sliding it forward to butt against the pipe. Mark the pipe's center on the tile edge with a marker.
-
2
Make a second mark by sliding the tile sideways against the pipe and marking the pipe's center on the tile's vertical edge.
-
-
3
Mark the hole center by transferring edge marks to the face of the tile with a combination square. The intersection marks the center of the pipe where the hole must be cut.
-
4
Trace the hole on the tile face using a washer that is the size of the hole. A washer works well because you can see the marked intersection.
-
5
Break through the surface glaze with a center punch to create a dimple to keep the drill bit from wandering.
-
6
Clamp the tile firmly to the table of a drill press or workbench, or fasten wood cleats around the tile to keep it from moving.
-
7
Place the center of the drill at the center of the hole being cut. Drill slowly with the carbide hole drill. Exert light pressure to avoid breaking the tile.
-
8
Use an abrasive stone to smooth out any rough or sharp edges after the tile is cut.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you have a lot of irregular cuts, consider purchasing a carpenter's contour gauge---a set of small pins which slide in and out to record any shape. The gauge is then placed on the tile and the shape is transferred with a marker.
According to the experts at Lowe's, when cutting a hole in tile let the saw do the work. Forcing the cut too rapidly can break the tile.
