How to Drill a Hole in Ceramic Tile

Hubby and I recently conquered a major DIY phobia: drilling holes in tile.  In the townhouse bathroom we skipped it altogether by purchasing a tension shower curtain rod and suction-fit soap dish for our freshly tile tub surround.  With the lakehouse bath reno, we asked the tilers to drill the holes for the handheld shower bar and wriggled out of that task.  We were two for two!  You can imagine our dismay when we opened the box for our new toilet, only to realize that it required drilling THREE holes into our brand new tile floor.

Womp womp woooomp.  (Also, why?)

Spoiler alert: we did it, without cracking or damaging the tile!  Here's what we used + instructions for how to safely drill into ceramic tile, plus a couple of tips we learned the hard way (is there another way?)

Supplies:

• Drill with variable-speed trigger (comfy grip is a bonus!)
• Eye protection
• Spray bottle filled with cool water
• Old towel
• Brand new glass and tile carbide-tipped drill bit (3/16" to get our hole started)*
• Brand new glass and tile carbide-tipped drill bit (3/8" the size we ultimately needed)
• Painter's tape 
• Knee pads (optional)

*Purchase a brand new drill bit because the sharpness will reduce the risk of chipping or cracking the tile.  Because these bits are drilling into such a hard material, they do wear out quickly.  Ours was purchased from The Home Depot and was labelled clearly for ceramic tile.  Porcelain tile requires a different bit - ideally a diamond-tipped bit.  Again, at the hardware store these bits should be labelled clearly so you can find the right one for the job.

Step One:
If you're drilling into a wall, you'll want to protect the surface below - just in case you drop a drill bit (or the drill, thanks to a serious hand cramp).  We drilled into our floor tile, but we still put down an old towel to kneel on (knee pads would have been awesome) and kept another towel nearby to wipe up water and gunk.

Step Two:
We marked where we needed the holes and then applied a piece of painter's tape, marking again (measure twice!) where the holes should go on the tape.

Step Three (Optional):
We didn't do this but wish we had: apply a tiny bit of grease to your drill tip before using, because the water will cause some rust spots to form.  You need a brand new drill bit for drilling tile, so it's likely we won't use this much anyway.

Step Four:
We filled a spray bottle from the buck store with cool water and sprayed the end of the bit with a couple blasts of water.

Step Five:
Applying constant pressure and using a low speed (we did about 400rpm, you can even start at 100 or 200 rpm), we started drilling with the smaller carbide-tipped bit.  The tape helped keep the drill from skipping - and protected the floor in case it did.  With the hole started, we removed the tape and kept drilling.

You might be wondering why we did this miserable job twice?  Drilling a pilot hole helps guide the bigger bit.  The bigger bit on its own would probably run away more easily - you can see in the photo above its tip isn't as sharp.  Drilling a pilot hole also reduces the amount of work the larger bit has to do, which reduces heat and stress in the bit.  Ultimately, we wanted to avoid the bit breaking and applied the same practice from metal and wood working to our tile drilling job: start with a smaller bit to create a pilot hole.

Step Six:
This was a two person job: Hubby drilled and I continually sprayed the tip of the drill bit/hole (not the drill).  The water helps remove some of the dust and debris as well as keep the tile and bit cool, which prevents the bit from overheating and breaking.  Every now and then we'd pause, and I'd wipe up the water and mortar that oozed out, and then give it a fresh blast of water before we started drilling again.

Steps Seven (to a Million):
Drill, drill, drill.  Drilling into ceramic tile requires persistence because you have to work very slowly, being careful not to apply too much pressure on the drill.  We really had to clear our schedules for drilling these holes because the low speed meant this task took a long time, with a few breaks in between.  On one break, we quite literally watched an episode of 2 Broke Girls, on another, we made dinner.  I'm certain we were too cautious, because when the tilers drilled the holes they certainly didn't fanny about with them for an entire weekend (on the other hand, they probably had a better, more expensive drill bit).  Hubby says this really created some major pain in his hands from holding the drill for so long - just a head's up!

Step Eight:
More drilling!  When we were through with the smaller bit and had successfully drilled a hole, we switched to the larger bit and repeated the process to actually make the hole size we needed to install the toilet.

And, voila, a hole in our brand new tile floor (weep).  Please take some time to marvel at it, because a lot of energy went into making this one hole:

Rockwell Tools generously offered to send us a tool to get projects done around the lakehouse faster, and although I wanted a mini table saw, Hubby was pumped for this cordless drill and driver (our other drill is corded).

It was a good choice because we gave our new drill a spin during this project and there were some great features that helped make the task easier, like a comfier rubber grip (major plus) and a light, which helped us a lot because we were working in a dark corner of the bathroom. 

The shorter length made it easier to use in cramped quarters and the two-speed drive was just what we needed for drilling tile.  The handle is closer to the axis (the line of the drill bit), which makes it easier to put even, linear pressure on the drill when drilling - ie. downward pressure.  For future projects, like driving screws into drywall, the adjustable clutch is a plus (and something our corded drill didn't have), because an adjustable clutch stops the drill from over-driving screws.  The battery level indicator is nice so we don't run out of juice, mid-task. 

I'm so excited because the stone counter tops and aqua sinks are getting installed today!

Bathroom Update: the Tile is DONE and I'm Livid...

I'm really peeved at the owner of the tile shop we hired to tile the tub surround and floor.  A bunch of careless mistakes were made, plus he gave us incorrect instructions for prepping the space.  I'll flesh out all of the problems another day because there are definitely lessons to be learned from my experience.  Right now I'm too crabby because when I washed out the tub and started to wash off the hazing from the tile, I noticed the worst thing: not only did the he gouge our brand new, perfect acrylic tub, he shoved some grout in there to hide the damage and didn't utter a peep about the damage to us.  Can you believe the dishonesty?!?

This tub was not easy to acquire.  After getting two damaged tubs delivered, we finally drove 3 hours to Duluth, MN to pick up a tub in person and drove it the 3 hours home.  When we got it home, we saw its flange was busted so the next day we drove back to the States for another 6 hour round trip and got a new tub - but not before we spent an hour inspecting every inch of it with four anxious salespeople.  We inspected it again when we got it home, and once again when we installed it because we wanted to be certain it was absolutely perfect.  Mid-way through the tiling, I cleaned the drop cloths and cardboard I had provided for the tilers to cover the tub (they showed up with nothing so I had to scramble to find them something).  I also cleaned out the tub, worried they'd grind in chunks of mortar with their boots, and inspected it again then - still no damage. Whew.

In the final two days of the project, the owner showed up to finish up the job and that's when the damage happened.  Instead of fessing up, he and/or his employee tried to hide the damage and then they scooted out of here like their pants were on fire.  Not sure what I'm going to do (and he's certainly not returning my calls).  While I sort it out, here's a look at how the installation progressed and what my tile choices look like installed.

After day one, about half of the tub surround was tiled - the prep work had eaten up much of the day.  I'm  thrilled about the shower cubby - we definitely longed for a cubby in the townhouse.

Day two was a stressful day!   One of the tilers sliced into his arm with a chop saw and because he was working here alone, I drove him and his truck to the hospital (which is about an hour away).  I was worried that he might feel faint or pass out on the road.  Then I was stuck in town, so my Dad drove me home and had to turn around and drive the hour back into town in the dark, through deer and moose country.  The next day, the tiler showed up to try to finish the job on day three.  Seriously - even with a big gash!  I was thankful he came back to work because he is a fabulous tile setter.  He was so careful about the tile placement and making sure that the pattern looked good.  He worked tirelessly to avoid any tiny strips of tile and he double checked every decision with me - he's the one who even thought to cover the tub!  Unfortunately, his last day with the company fell on day three of the job, so he couldn't finish the work.

Here was the progress after day three:

I always wondered how ceilings were tiled, what with gravity and all...



If I'm being honest, early on in the installation I had some doubts about my tile choice for the tub surround.  It was reading really beige and dull, especially when the naked florescent bulb in the shower was turned on, or the light was really dim.

It turns out it was reflecting some of the orange Ditra left in the tub - which I realized when I stood in front in a bright aqua sweater and the tile looked turquoise!  Now that the bathroom is devoid of junk and everything is grouted it looks like what I envisioned.  I love how it catches the light and just gleams!  Here's a look at the bathtub and surround now:

As hoped, the tile has an organic quality, with a nod to mid-century modern mosaic tile - which is what drew me to it.  I still ogle turquoise tile, but this is subtle enough that down the road I could update and refresh this space easily with some accessories and artwork.  Plus - so little grout!!  Even the tilers admitted that the fewer grout lines the better.  We might be in this house for the long haul (which is why the damaged bathtub bothers me so much), so I wanted the most expensive elements to be neutral - but not boring!  I think this tile fits the bill.

Plus it makes an excellent post-it note, apparently:

Days four and five (both half days) consisted of the owner and one employee replacing a flawed tile I pointed out (but not the chipped one I also requested be replaced), finishing up tiling the last few rows of floor tile, and then caulking/grouting everything.

The floor is very simple and I'm so happy that I went with a matching charcoal grey grout because it just makes it look so modern.  There are a few small chips on the floor tile too (argh!) and it's still looking a little washed out and dull because it needs a few more washes before all of the hazing is removed.  I'm hoping the grout just has some dust in it because right now it looks a little uneven.  Le sigh.  But I love the size and colour - it ties in nicely with the fireplace and it will look amazing with the walnut cabinetry. 

I should be feeling excited about how everything is coming together, but I'm at a loss because I really don't want to live with a damaged bathtub but I don't really know what my options are here... 

On the bright side, Hubs and I bathed inside the house for the first time in a long time and it felt amazing.  Also, our Kohler fixtures are too gorgeous for words...details soon!

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Bathroom Plans: The Slightly More Difficult Choices

Tuesday I showed you some of the elements I've already chosen for our impending bathroom reno: walnut cabinetry, modern fixtures, a toilet with a skirted trap - easy decisions!  The tile and counter-top choices proved to be more difficult, mostly because I struggled with availability and affordability.

I fell in love with Fireclay Tile and was convinced that I was going to order some - until I priced it out.  A rough estimate for what we'd need saw our eyes bugging out over a lot of zeros (about $4,000+ just for the tub surround).  I don't have that kind of money for tile and, if I did, I don't even think I'd want to sink $4000 into something that will get covered by a shower curtain anyway.  (This is my poor loser pep talk.  Of course I would!  Their tile is gorgeous and mod and I want it.) 

Fireclay Tile

Fireclay Tile

Fireclay Tile

Although I'd happily take any style, I wanted to order the Diamond Contour (below), but in all-white.

Fireclay

Although I ultimately had to pass on Fireclay Tile, pining for the styles above altered my plan.  I originally had my eye on some beach-glass inspired tiles, but I realized that I was really gravitating toward organic shapes with more texture than colour.  Yes, although I drooled over beautiful, bold spaces like the bathroom below, ultimately I chickened out.

Apartment Therapy

After I vetoed Fireclay, I had a hard time finding something I liked locally.  (Nothing compares, to you...)  When I found a tile I sorta liked, it would compete with a counter I also sorta liked, and vice versa.  I finally decided to just find a starting point - stop worrying about matching and pairing and just find either a tile or counter that I absolutely loved, and then let that dictate the other choices.  I spent days shuffling from place to place, dejectedly flipping through tile samples and lugging home chunks of rock and porcelain.  Living in a small city can have it's drawbacks because the options are really limited (and some of what is available is kind of dated).  After all of my laborious effort, finally - I found it.  A beautiful piece of quartzite:

The sample called to me from across the room.  Actually a friend (Jazmyn, that's you!), had talked to me about this gorgeous stone awhile ago but I didn't think to search for it.  It's White Fantasy, just one variation of quartzite, which is supposedly as hardy as granite but with a similar look as marble (my nemesis).  If you read Yellow Brick Home, you might have spotted another variety of quartzite.  At a local stone yard, I found a huge piece for sale and I am thinking of already putting a down payment on it so no one else can nab it.  

It looks a bit flat (and cold) in my photos, but in real life there are these incredible veins and layers - it has a lot of depth to it with varying shades of warm and cool grey, balanced by some white.  Some of the veins have a really striking glint to them.  I managed to capture a hint of an elusive glint in this photo:

Hubby likes it because it reminds him of when the ice cracks and breaks on Lake Superior.  To me it looks like a map.  I actually would have loved to find the Aquias Blue quartzite below, but no luck (I think the grey will serve us well, anyway):

Design Manifest

Design Manifest

Because everything is going to be neutral, I am thinking about ordering a pair of soft aqua sinks:

Kohler

Below is a kitchen that, although a really different style, boasts quartzite counters with aqua Kohler sinks. (I really like seeing photos of something similar to what I like.  In my mind I cobble all of these images together and picture my bathroom, all renovated.)

Home Bunch

I like the look of a really tall stone backsplash, but because it really should be a thin piece to look right (I don't want the same thickness as my counters, glued to the wall), I've been told by local installers that it's not doable.  They can't get the quartzite thin enough.  Which is a big bummer. 

Clockewise: Cocolapinedesign; Decorpad; JacquelynClark; ApartmentTherapy

I am thinking of just going without a backsplash, because it can easily be added later and we didn't seem to need one in the townhouse.  Hubby is adamant we at least get a little stone backsplash.  Not sure what to do there because I don't know if I like that stubby little backsplash, but I think tile will be busy above the stone.

Once I settled on a counter, picking tile was easier.  A bit.  I originally envisioned grey tile, but with a stone counter that reads very grey, it seemed a little blah.  I considered a white porcelain, but it just didn't "click" for me, even though it bounced a lot of light around and made the room feel bigger and brighter.

In the end, while pondering various shades of grey tile, I found the perfect floor tile by accident.

The soft black on the right stood out.

It's a really nice black: not too dark or too blue, and it has a nice warmth and softness to it.  It has a subtle variation in colour, like slate.  It seems more matte in photos - in real life it has a perfect not-too-shiny, not-too-flat finish.  The contrast between it and the light grey counters elevates the plan from "everything is grey" land.  I'd love it with a matching grout - the picture below has a similar tile, but with lighter grout.

Plastolux

I actually considered a large black hex (which I would also do with black grout), but I just don't think I love hex enough to commit to it, plus it competes with the tub surround tile I love.

French Fancy

This one was a contender too, because I love the striations and the sutbtle sheen - it's like it was shot with silver - but ultimately I'd love a bigger tile for as few grout lines as possible.

For the tub surround tile, this white tile with a great sheen and a square pattern is my favorite.  When the little irregular squares catch the light, they almost look like square mosaic - which is such a classic tile option - but without the myriad of grout lines. 
     

I really like mosaic tile but I don't like grout, so the tile above will give me the best of both words.

Freshhome

Better Homes & Gardens

WHEW!  And that's how I mostly arrived at decisions about tile and counter.  I really thought I'd have a long short-list today, but yesterday I really focused and narrowed down the many samples I had brought home.  This post feels ginormous.  If you feel like this post was way too wordy, you'll get no sympathy from Hubs, for whom this is just a sampling of the endless chatter about tiles, counters, and cabinets to which he's been subjected.  These feel like huge (expensive) decisions, so I've been agonizing over each one.  In the end, I'm going with my gut: the gleaming small square tile just kept calling to me and I plucked it out of displays in four different tile stores.  I knew I wanted the quartzite the moment I saw it - the rock collector in me won't be happy with a man-made solid surface.  The soft black floor tile just looked so right and stood out to me from an impossibly deep sea of sample tiles. 

We're placing order for the cabinetry and likely the counter soon - but nothing is written in stone yet!  Feel free to chime in - especially if you've had any experience with quartzite or porcelain tile, which are both new to me!  If you're curious about the bevy of inspiring bathrooms I've been digitally hoarding, take a look at my Bathroom Reno Plans board on Pinterest.  You can also follow me on Instagram, where I recently shared a beautiful teal tile (that, sadly, didn't make the cut), and other sneak peeks.

Here's a look at the samples all together - you'll have to envision a pair of soft aqua sinks. 

Now, time to lug 100 pounds of tile samples back into town...

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