Cutting holes in ceramic tiles

[chrisr2025]

I am currently tiling my bathroom using quite large, 8mm thick, ceramic tiles. One of these tiles needs to be cut to fit over the shower valve controls and outlet pipe for a mixer shower. I need to cut two holes in the middle of the tile, one of 130mm diameter and the other of about 60mm. The chap in the tile suppliers seemed to suggest a normal holecutter in an electric drill would do the job but I`ve tried this and it`s hardly scratched the surface. Screwfix do a jigsaw blade for cutting ceramic tles but I`m not sure how effective this would be. Alternatively I was wondering if I could take the tile somewhere to get the holes cut but I`m not sure who would do this. The tiles were quite expensive so I can`t afford to experiment with too many! Any ideas please?

 

[Al-Glasgow]

Why not use a masonry drill bit, eg 10mm and patch maybe 20 holes, then clean up inside tile edge with rough sand paper.

Al

 

[jefoss]

I am currently tiling my bathroom using quite large, 8mm thick, ceramic tiles. One of these tiles needs to be cut to fit over the shower valve controls and outlet pipe for a mixer shower. I need to cut two holes in the middle of the tile, one of 130mm diameter and the other of about 60mm. The chap in the tile suppliers seemed to suggest a normal holecutter in an electric drill would do the job but I`ve tried this and it`s hardly scratched the surface. Screwfix do a jigsaw blade for cutting ceramic tles but I`m not sure how effective this would be. Alternatively I was wondering if I could take the tile somewhere to get the holes cut but I`m not sure who would do this. The tiles were quite expensive so I can`t afford to experiment with too many! Any ideas please?

are you sure they are ceramic and not porcelain for a start?

i personally would use a diamond drill bit, (i use these for ANY tile)

tile stores should have the sizes you require

so will some nameless sheds.

 

[chrisr2025]

Thanks, I had already thought about that and started to drill the holes but after a while the bits seemed to stop cutting effectively and I assumed they weren`t up to the job. Perhaps I`ll try again.

 

[jefoss]

Thanks, I had already thought about that and started to drill the holes but after a while the bits seemed to stop cutting effectively and I assumed they weren`t up to the job. Perhaps I`ll try again.

definatly sounds like porc fella.

 

[gcol]

If you knock a tile with your knuckle, a porcelain tile has a higher pitched ring to it - of course, you need to know what you're listening for.
Turning the tile over is usually the best bet - if the bottom is a different colour to the top, then it's probably ceramic and not porcelain.

 

[GaryMo]

I managed this in ceramic by following gcols advice of using a 4 1/2" angle grinder with a ceramic disc.
It won't work for your 60mm hole though.

 

[gcol]

Looks real nice Gary - but I see you've moved you pink shower cap while you took the photo.

 

[GaryMo]

Yeah, it takes pride of place beside yours

All I need now is the plumber back to finish off the waste (a mate so I seem to hover near the back of the queue) then I'll see if it's leak free!

 

[jefoss]

Yeah, it takes pride of place beside yours

if you live together why not just let GC do the job for you?

 

[chrisr2025]

Thanks everyone, job done using masonry drill and lots of holes. Took ages but I`m happy with the result.