Best way to drill holes into two layers of bathroom tiles??

ImranQ

Hi,
My father had extensive work done on the house a quite a few years ago and contracted the work to a builder. One of the works
involved redoing the whole bathroom. It seems that the builder decided to lay a new set of tiles over the old ones.
The old layer were small mosaic type tiles which have been overlaid by a new top layer which are standard ceramic wall 20cmX25cm tiles.

I need to drill some holes for a wall cabinet. I haven't done bathroom drilling so after looking at some youtube videos (as you do!), I tried drilling a hole. The drill went through the upper layer fine without any problems but when the drill got to the second layer, it started wobbling a little at which point I stopped in case it got worse!

So what's the best way to do this? Any pointers please?
Thanks for any help.

Regards,
Imran

Shaun_of_the_Dead

Try rotating the drill by hand to break the glaze on the second layer.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

You'll probably find it easier to drill tiles with something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Material-YAASO-Concrete-Ceramic-Plastic/dp/B07FPGSCZ7

rather than a standard drill bit.

ImranQ

Many thanks for the tips.
If anyone else has any more tips, would be much appreciated!

-taff

I used these before
https://www.abrasivesworld.co.uk/ceramic-glass-tile-drills.html


I would also push the rawlplug past the top layer tile if you can because when you screw the screw in, it might crack the tile.

d0nkeyk0ng

I've had the displeasure of drilling through tiles. The arrowhead shaped ones were rubbish. The diamond tipped drill bits are far better.

Ganga

Once you have drilled thru the top layer of tile switch to a smaller drill bit to go thru the second layer,when right thru use the larger drill.

Rodders53

My method would be a smaller drill first as a pilot hole, followed by the correct wall-plug-size drill. Slow through the glaze(s), then faster (variable speed non hammer drill until through to a brick and only if absolutely required use hammer).

What is beyond the two tile layers? Plasterboard and brick. Dot/dab plasterboard? Dry lined plasterboard? Fixings to choose would depend and may need to be longer than usual to hold properly.

sol2017

I've found Bosch CYL-9 MultiConstruction Drill Bits (with blue tips) fantastic and go through everything I've tried so far. As said before, need to start slowly to get through the glaze (so the drill bit doesn't slip). From then it should be easy.

stator

Use this type of drill bit:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-diamond-tile-drill-bit-6-x-67mm/51908?_requestid=486343


They are expensive, and you only get about 10 - 20 holes from each one (when drilling tiles), but they are well worth it when drilling through tiles as it takes less time and reduces the chances of cracking a tile.

ANDY597

Plus one for a tile drill bit.

Diamond tipped breaks the glaze nicely