Drilling wall tiles: bit, marking and anti-chipping technique

Hanging a shelf or a shower bar on tiles requires precision: a cracked tile is impossible to repair discreetly. With the right bit and a few simple gestures, you will drill without any chips.

The bit suited to tiles

You need a carbide-tipped bit, designed for tiles and ceramic. Standard bits for wood or metal slip and break the tile. Glass and tile bits with a spear-shaped tip are ideal for starting the hole.

Marking without slipping

1. Stick a piece of adhesive tape (or a self-adhesive marker) on the point to drill
2. Mark the location with a pencil line
3. Start drilling at very low speed to start the hole
4. Increase the speed once the surface is breached

The drilling technique

1. Use the drill without hammer mode to go through the glaze
2. Press lightly and regularly, without jerking
3. Wet the area to cool and limit the dust
4. As soon as the tile is through, switch to hammer mode with a masonry bit
5. Drill the wall underneath to the desired depth

Choosing the right spot

• Avoid drilling in the grout lines: less solid and visible
• Avoid the edges of the tile: a fragile zone
• Avoid the tubular zones of the wall (locate the pipes beforehand)
• Check there is no electricity behind with a detector

With a carbide bit, an adhesive marking and controlled speed, your holes in the tiles will be clean, chip-free, and ready to receive an anchor suited to the load.