ideal drill bit size for 15mm pipes

[Frank13]

I am tiling a shower wall and need to drill holes for 15mm pipes that will go to a thermostatic valve, what size of drill bit for the holes is best?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Depends on how spot on with your measurements you are 16mm but most use a 18-20mm

 

[SimonG]

I have a 19mm one that works a treat, but as above, depends if you're accurate.

 

[Dave Moore]

Depends on how spot on with your measurements you are 16mm but most use a 18-20mm

Hi,
I use a 16mm but use a piece of wood as a template. Drilling a 16mm hole in a piece of wood and holding it in position makes a perfect hole,
Regards,
Dave

 

[fowlerboi]

16mm?! Hope you're all doing your own second fix.

There really is no excuse to tile it so tight when easy fix kit cover plates are 65mm and the talon pipe shrouds are 55mm. There's nothing worse than having to chip the tiles out because the tiler moved the pipe to fit his hole that has zero tolerance and in the incorrect spot

Also a 16mm hole won't go over a soldered cap end

 

[Dave Moore]

16mm?! Hope you're all doing your own second fix.

There really is no excuse to tile it so tight when easy fix kit cover plates are 65mm and the talon pipe shrouds are 55mm. There's nothing worse than having to chip the tiles out because the tiler moved the pipe to fit his hole that has zero tolerance and in the incorrect spot

Also a 16mm hole won't go over a soldered cap end

No actually a cowboy builder tiled my daughters wall and left the radiator pipes hidden in the stud wall. I had to cut the board from the other side to find the pipes and drill the tiles to mount the radiator as he boxed everything in and no sign of the pipes.
Regards,
Dave

 

[Ben-gee]

It’s better to have 2mm clearance all around a pipe. You can then silicone this to ensure the wall is water tight.
So 19 or 20mm, whichever you have, is ideal.

 

[Ric2013]

There really is no excuse to tile it so tight when easy fix kit cover plates are 65mm and the talon pipe shrouds are 55mm. There's nothing worse than having to chip the tiles out because the tiler moved the pipe to fit his hole that has zero tolerance and in the incorrect spot

While I generally agree with your comment, I would say that having half a tile missing and a hole all around the pipe you can stick your finger through and having to patch in a new tile is also pretty bad. lol