How do you cut a hole in a ceramic wall-tile?

Question

This is so the tile fits 'seamlessly' round a fitting, such as a plug socket.

Answer 1

this is not just a matter of making a hole in a tile ..as a builder for forty years plus ..here's how i do it first i mark the tile very accurately ...then with my tile cutter i scribe a line all around the area i want removed ..then i have this ..thing ...its like a g clamp but with a hole in the middle .i tighten this on to the tile over the area to be removed ...then with the other bit of the kit ...a hammer with a point on it ..i knock a hole in the tile ..where the clamp grips the tile tight it does not break or crack ..have never broken one ..then once the hole is made its big enough for me to get my tile snips in and then its just a case of nibble nibble til you get to the scribed lines ..works every time ..i bought this clamp from a tile shop

Answer 2

Circular holes are no problem. You use the requisite hole cutter for the job.

Square holes are a different animal!

I mark out the rectangular shape and then score the glazed side with a miniature drill, equipped with a thin abrasive wheel.

DO NOT score right into the corners!

It takes patience, but continue until you have ground right through the tile. NOW you can carefully grind into the corners until the unwanted centre drops out!

If you do not want all this hastle, take a sheet of polystyrene, about 3mm thick, and cut it to the size of the tile! It is so much easier to manipulate! If your tiles are coloured, then experiment until you have the correct shade of gloss paint, then paint and lacquer the pseudo tile.

Answer 3

Drill a hole with an 8mm glass cutting bit. Use a carbide edged jig saw to expand the hole to the right size.

drill and saw at half speed, then you will be not need to pause for cooling.

Very easy with ceramic tiles. More difficult with porcelain.
Fortunately the majority are ceramic.

I'm sorry but Bobs approach sounds a bit "DIY".
A glass bit costs £2, a jigsaw bit another £2, job done in a minute. No scoring needed....

Pencil, drill, saw, cup of tea - 1 minute.

Answer 4

You can buy drill bits for ceramic tiles and also a drill bit like thing that will cut a tile using a power drill. Available from most big DIY shops and also you could try a tile shop.

Shouldnt cost a lot to buy, and worth having for the next time you want to do tiling

Answer 5

take the plug socket of the wall drill a large hole for the wires in the tile and 2 holes for the screws so you don't have any seams you can buy bits in any diy store put masking tape were you are going to drill the holes good luck

Answer 6

You can get a drill bit which is made for Ceramic and wall tiles. the bit is a round shape and comes in many different sizes. You can pick one up from any good hardware store ie. B&Q, Homebase, Woodies hardware etc.

Answer 7

Use an electric tile cutter like this one :-

http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?CID=18&SCID=144&MCID=1072#prodlist

mark the area to be cut on the front of the tile, then begin to cut the tile from the back of the tile.

this can be a little tricky if you have never done it before but after a couple of times it is very easy.

Answer 8

A ceramic tile router should do the job, but be very careful, tiles break very easily

Answer 9

Buy a tile saw. Takes a lot of work and time but it works well. Either that or get a diamond wet wheel cutter.

Answer 10

You can either rent or buy a tile cutter at Home Depot or a place that sells tiles.