How to drill through porcelain tiles on the floor

Porcelain stoneware is a unique material for decorating both floors and walls. Drilling it is quite difficult, since the material is very hard and resistant to any impact. Read on to learn about what tools are needed and how to properly make a hole in a tile made of this material.

How to drill porcelain tiles in the floor?

To quickly make a hole, you need to prepare a specific tool. A drill without impact mode is better suited for this task. If there is such a function, then it should be disabled if possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of surface damage. You will need special tools:

1. Diamond drill. It makes a hole in one minute, which is its undoubted advantage. They can also drill tiles with it. It also has a long service life and the ability to work dry, that is, without constant addition of water.
2. Diamond plated crown. This is the most budget and affordable option. In addition, it reduces pressure and makes it possible to increase speed and speed. One of the disadvantages is their short service life. For example, drill a tile measuring 8 mm. maybe about five times. Suitable for wet cutting only.
3. An annular diamond drill made by sintering. Makes a hole in 3-5 minutes, at a low speed.Creates a large end pressure, which affects the quality, especially for inexperienced craftsmen.

ATTENTION! On an industrial scale, waterjet cutting technology is used. Therefore, if you need to make a large number of excavations, it is better to find a specialized organization.

How to make holes correctly

Once the device is selected, you can begin the drilling process. First of all, it is important to know that drilling is performed only two-thirds of the thickness of the product. The rest of the element is knocked out with a rapid movement of the rod. Follow these guidelines:

• The tool must be kept strictly in a vertical position and without strong pressure.
• The work is done only from the front side so that there are no chips or cracks on the surface. After all, the reverse side does not need beauty, and all flaws will be hidden by cement mortar.
• Using a substrate. To avoid damaging the work surface, place a sheet of plywood, chipboard or other wooden material under the porcelain stoneware.
• The drill should be brought in already turned on, so that the drill will already work at maximum speed.
• To prevent the tool from slipping out of place, you can stick tape on the surface of the tile.
• For simplicity, you should draw the guidelines for the planned hole. For these purposes, you can prepare a template and secure it in advance. It is easy to make a template from an unnecessary cut of wood by drilling holes in it with the same nozzle that will be used for tiles.
• To cool the drill, use ordinary water. It can be poured either onto a work surface or into a special container.

IMPORTANT! During work, safety precautions should be observed.In particular, do not point the tip of the drill at your face, as hot oil tends to expand and may spill out.

Features of porcelain tiles

The main difficulty in drilling porcelain stoneware is that, along with exceptional hardness, the material is extremely fragile. The following features of the material can be identified that have a direct impact on the procedure:

1. exceptional strength;
2. resistance to mechanical damage;
3. abrasion resistance;
4. variety of colors and textures;
5. low water absorption coefficient;
6. uniformity;
7. easily tolerate temperature changes;
8. Slip resistant.

REFERENCE! Different types of porcelain tiles can range in hardness from 6 to 8 on the Mohs scale.

Thanks to its unique features and wear resistance, porcelain stoneware coatings have gained great popularity. To work effectively with it, you must have special equipment and specific knowledge. We hope that the recommendations in this article will help you get the job done efficiently and quickly.