Hey all, Jeremy here. I just finished hanging shelf brackets on our tile backsplash in the kitchen, and I thought I'd share the process! Hope this is helpful for any of you DIYers out there looking to spruce up your tiled wall space!
Let me begin by saying this - after spending the better part of 3 days putting up the tile backsplash, I was a little apprehensive to take the drill to my hard work. After all, it's not like if you make a mistake you can just patch it up...it's kind of a one-and-done deal. So that being said, just know that the process isn't that complicated. Move forward with confidence and remember the phrase my dad always said - "measure twice, cut (or drill) once."
Materials Needed
Tape Measure
Drill
5/16" Glass/Porcelain Tile Bit
Cobra Triple Grip #10 Wall Anchors/Screws
Sharpie
Painters Tape
Hammer
Level
Brackets
Step 1 - Measure and Tape Your Spot
Measure out where you want your bracket to be and use painters tape to tape this spot. The painters tape helps the tile not crack while drilling (very important). It is also a good idea to mark your center line all the way down this blue tape - this ensures that you are hanging your bracket level vertically.
Step 2 - Mark Your Bracket Holes
Place your bracket over the tape, lining up the center of the holes in the bracket with the center line you drew on the blue tape. Make sure the height of the bracket is where you want it. Once you like where you have the bracket, use a sharpie to mark where you want to drill your holes.
Step 3 - Drill the Holes
Make sure that you check the packaging of your drill bit to ensure that the particular bit can be used on your particular tile material. Some bits are glass/porcelain, others cannot be used on porcelain. Just be sure you're using the right bit. I bought this Bosch kit of tile bits and they worked great! I used the 5/16" size.
Now it's time to start drilling. If you don't read anything else in this post carefully, read this - TAKE THE DRILLING VERY SLOWLY. Apply consistent pressure and drill at a low speed. The bit will catch and begin scraping away at tile. Taking this slowly will make a perfectly round and smooth hole in your tile, which is what you're shooting for. Once you're done drilling you can take the tape off.
Step 4 - Install Anchors
Time to put the anchors in. It's a pretty simple process - push the anchors in, hammer them flush. Be very careful while hammering - you definitely don't want to miss the anchor or hit the tile in any way. Just tap it in lightly. I used the Cobra Triple Grip anchors, and they did pretty well.
I've got a couple caveats for this step:
Caveat 1 - the 5/16" tile bit was a little tight to fit these wall anchors. Luckily, the Cobra Triple Grip anchors come with a masonry bit. I very carefully used the masonry bit to open the holes up ever so slightly. It isn't as clean as the tile bit, but it opened it up just enough to get the anchors in.
Caveat 2 - the anchors themselves are a little 'squaty,' but you can squeeze them to straighten them up. You'll need to do this for them to fit into the tile. Don't try to force the anchor in or it will bend.
Step 5 - Hang the Bracket
You're in the home stretch! Simply put your bracket up and screw it in. Voila! Wipe your hands and pop the champagne.
Although intimidating at first, this process really was pretty simple. As long as you are very careful and take your time, this project shouldn't cause you any heartache. In fact, in a pretty short amount of time you can really give your tile wall great facelift. I hope this is helpful...comment with questions or other tips you've found!