Materials and finishes
Fixing accessories into tiled walls without cracking them
The short answer
Drilling tile is straightforward with the right bit and technique, and unforgiving with the wrong one.
Worth checking on site
Fixings must reach solid backing, a towel rail in board alone will pull out with a wet towel on it.
Questions we get asked
Can I use adhesive fittings instead?
For light items yes; anything load-bearing needs a mechanical fixing.
What if I hit a pipe?
Use a detector, and know where services were routed, this is why first-fix photographs are valuable.
What to weigh up
- Drilling in the grout line where possible
- reduces the risk and makes future removal tidier.
- Fixings must reach solid backing
- a towel rail in board alone will pull out with a wet towel on it.
Planning fixing accessories?
Tell us the town or postcode and roughly what stage you are at. We'll tell you honestly whether it is a job we can take on.