Tiling how to - drilling tiles

The last thing you want to see as a home renovator is your expensive tiles destroyed or wasted because your tiler uses the wrong tools.  What you see below is a typical example of a job where the tiler is either too lazy to use the right tools or simply just doesn't know what they are doing.  This is what happens when a masonry drill bit is used to try and drill porcelain wall tiles.  Typically tilers are engaged by the ID as a subcontractor and more often than not these guys are there not because they are the best but because they are cheap which means more money in the pocket of the ID.

So what can you do?  Ask to see some previous work examples of the tilers.  If you see anything like the above example, be worried.  

Make sure they are using the correct drill bits for the job.  Anything but diamond tips or specialty tile drill bits should not be used.   

Proper tile drill bits will see a much better job done.  Make sure your tiler uses the correct bits.