Fixing a mirror on to wall tiles

Tess

I want to fix a mirror onto my bathroom wall which is fully tiled. Do I need any special drill or tool for this so that I don't break the tiles? Any tips would be appreciated.

moonbeam682

Tess I'm not an expert but DH has successfully drilled through tiles without breaking them by sticking tape over the place he was drilling - hope this helps

windym_2

moonbeam682 wrote:

Tess I'm not an expert but DH has successfully drilled through tiles without breaking them by sticking tape over the place he was drilling - hope this helps

This is exactly what I did and it worked a treat. Also use the right drill bit. I don't know the ins and outs of drill bits :eek: thank goodness, but I used one for masonary. I know that the ones for wood have a very sharp point on the end of the bit so make sure its not that one.

Put electrical tape or that paper tape rather than sellotape on the tile and drill slowly.

innovate

Am also not an expert driller (if such a profession exists ) but have drilled through tiles successfully many times.

Definitely agree about the tape and drilling sloooowly, and using masonary drill! Also, use a smaller drill first to drill a pilot hole through the glazed layer of the tile, or even all through it.

Drill the hole deep enough to hold the plug/screw PLUS a couple (but only a couple) of millimeters spare - to avoid any stress on the tiles from the screw, it could crack the tile if there's stress on it.

Lastly - and don't take this the wrong way please, not saying you haven't already done this, I am only mentioning it because I mucked up once myself :wall: : be absolutely certain where you want the holes before drilling!

Queenie

I second the final paragraph of innovate's post ... being absolutely certain is most definately worth remembering :rotfl:

Actually, my dh (who, as a DIY'ist makes a very good ... er .... er ... gardener ) had no idea about fixing the spot with tape *before* drilling, until I educated him - to be fair though, it's the only thing I really knew

Make a X with tape is the only advice missing from the above - two short strips

Mr_Proctalgia

Everyone has made good suggestions but please do NOT use hammer action :eek: or you will have a smashing time of it.

The heart shaped glass drills are good too

Tess

Thanks for all the advice - much more reassuring when you know what you are supposed to be doing - and I will make sure that I know where I want the holes drilling before starting because if anything goes wrong it is bound to be my fault!

innovate

Queenie wrote:

Actually, my dh (who, as a DIY'ist makes a very good ... er .... er ... gardener ) had no idea about fixing the spot

SIGH. always the same with the boys and the spot :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Queenie

innovate ... yuppers - boys will always regard the "spot" as a mythical creature

Peter-Pan_5

If you don`t fancy drilling holes in the mirror you can get mirror adhesive at Screwfix.com and lots of advice from tradesmen in their talk section on the site.