Drilling through backsplash tiles

16 years ago

I'm putting in a new kitchen and I want to place a small 19" LCD TV on the wall in the kitchen over the bar area. To keep the TV at the height my wife wants it, I'll need to put it over the new backsplash. Being fearfull of damaging the backsplash I have a plan to suspend the support just in front of the tiles. Assuming there is a proper bit to use, my plan is to drill two holes in the backsplash about 1/4" larger than I need. I then will need to find 2 furniture screws like they use for legs on a table. The wood screw end I would screw into the stud behind the drywall. On the machine bolt end I would place a nut with a washer. These would stick out from the tiles by about 1/8", and then I would secure the mount to these two bolts that are directly in the studes, but floating infront of the tiles because I drilled the tile hole larger than the bolts diameter, so as not to put any pressure on them. My real question however is this, can I skip the furniture bolts, still drill the hole large enough to not contact the tile, yet place my mounting plate against the tiles. Trying to shape the tiles around the mounting plate is not an option, so we can't go there.

Thanks

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Comments (7)

User
16 years ago
Use a bit like in the link below. You will have to hit center on a wall stud to do what you mentioned. That will mean vertical holes unless the mount holes are 16" (actually 14%1/2") apart.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ceramic tile bits
tfrazier
Original Author
16 years ago
All that sounds like you know how to do this, now my final question is this. Do I have to go to the trouble of making the bracket "float" in front of the tiles, or can they stand the pressure of the arm trying to pull out. The top end of the bracket is not the problem because it is trying to pull away from the tile. I'm concerned that the bottom part of the arm will be digging in to the tile. Not a lot of weight, probably 25 lbs. for the arm and the LCD.
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User
16 years ago
Most ceramic tile can handle having a cabinet hung so it rests against the tile. That is often more that 25#. However, that weight is spread out over a large area. It seems to me the weight of a 19" LCD TV and mount would be concentrated in a much smaller area(specifically along the bottom edge of the mount).

That concentrates the weight on a much smaller area and increases the weight per square inch a lot. That might not be a problem if the arm/TV were never moved or there were no movement in the wall, but some kind of movement(settling/earthquake/heavy thunder/etc.) could cause the tile to crack.

Also, if the tile were not securely installed, the weight could cause a crack.

One way to minimize the danger would be to use the wall anchors to install a wooden panel to the wall(decorative kind of a plaque) and bolt the mount to the wood.

Basically, I(nor anyone else) can say positively what you should do since we cannot see the wall/mount/etc. We can give general advice.
homebound
16 years ago
Ceramic tile? For 25# I think this would work:
Mark the holes, tap a masontry bit with a hammer (to start the holes), then drill the tile. (Optional: Add a spacer behind the bracket, such as a paint stick or something a bit thicker.) Then secure the bracket to the wall with cabinet screws into the studs.
brickeyee
16 years ago
If the bracket hole spacing is not correct (16 inches) but the bracket is large enough (over 16 inches) drill some new holes in the bracket to align with the studs.

Even drywall behind the tile would hold 25 pounds using a pair of molly bolts (that is only 12.5 pounds per fastener).

Weight and force by themselves are not a real hazard to ceramic tile if the substrate is solid.
Toilets way a lot more than 25 pounds (especially with a full tank) and do not crack floors.
dickross
16 years ago
Masonary bits work on some wall tile. most floor tile and floor tile used on walls is too hard for the masonary bit. Buy a diamond bit (lowes carries them).

TV mounts generaly have a faily small "footprint" so spanning two studs is probably not an option. A tv on an arm mount will put a lot more load on the wall than a 25 lb picture. I would not consider mounting this with anchor bolts onto a tile over sheetrock wall. Find a stud or hang it from the ceiling. Or the strongest option is to mount a 1 x 6 board across two studs, and mount the tv to the board. (strong, not decorative).
brickeyee
16 years ago
"Buy a diamond bit (lowes carries them)."

The correct 'spear point' tile carbide bit goes through the tile like butter with minimal skating around when starting.