The walls need to make a couple of holes in order to install and fix wall lamps, hooks, shelves or bathroom accessories. During the repair process, you often have to cut tiles.
To get started, watch the video detailed process tile drilling:
The difference between tile and ceramic tiles
Many are interested in the question: what is the difference between tiles made of tiles or ceramics. The bottom line is that tile is one of the varieties of ceramic tiles. Tiles and ceramics are made of clay with additional components and do not have any significant differences. And the question arises, how to drill a tile?
What is required for work?
To make a hole in the tile on the wall, you will need:
- cordless screwdriver;
- hand drill.
Drilling Precautions
How to make the perfect hole? Drilling tiles or ceramics is not difficult, but no one guarantees that numerous cracks will not appear. If the tile cracks during operation, the damaged fragment will have to be completely replaced, and this process is dirty and laborious.
Therefore, those who are interested in how to drill a hole in a tile so that it does not crack should try by all means to keep it intact. original form. Experts recommend marking the surface so that the hole is 15-25 mm away from the edge. Then the risk of cracking or splitting is reduced to zero.
Drilling tiles and ceramics for dowels
Drilling holes in ceramic tiles for dowels implies that:
- The surface of the tile is slippery, so the drill will not be stable and will slide a lot. You can take a piece of masking tape or tape and carefully stick it to the place of the intended hole.
- Ordinary drills for concrete and brick surfaces will not work to drill tiles, as they will simply crumble it into pieces.
What kind of drill to drill tiles?
How to make a neat hole? To work, you need a drill, in which the cutting pen is harder than ceramics and tiles. Diamond tipped drills are very convenient to use, but they are expensive, so it makes no sense to buy them in order to drill 2-3 holes.
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The price of a drill with a pobedit tip is significantly lower than its counterpart with a diamond coating. Therefore the last option is suitable more, especially since Pobedit drills have good cutting abilities. Diamond-coated drills should be purchased if there is an item in the plans - to become a professional tiler.
The sequence of work when drilling under the dowel
Work algorithm:
- Glue a piece of masking tape or adhesive tape to the intended location for the hole.
- With a pencil or pen, mark the point where the hole should be.
- Insert a diamond or pobedite drill into the tool.
- Drill a hole at low speed.
- Replace the drill bit with a regular one designed for working with concrete surfaces.
- Drill a hole.
- Clean the hole from dirt and dust.
- Insert dowel.
Drilling tiles for mounting sockets or pipes
Drills for ceramic tiles:
- Perforator with diamond crown .
Diamond-coated crowns drill perfectly, but getting them is not cheap. You can use cheaper crowns with victorious teeth instead. Tiles are laid flat wooden surface, mark out the dimensions and drill a hole.
- Drill with a diamond crown.
To begin with, they mark out a place, then they begin to drill from the front side. Do not press hard on the drill. Movements should be smooth but firm. A drill with a diamond crown will drill the desired hole in 3-5 minutes.
- Drill with a tungsten crown.
If the tile has already been laid, and there is a tungsten crown with a centering drill at hand, then you can easily drill a hole with a drill. For neat cuts, it is advisable to use a special template. The template is pressed tightly to the surface, press hard with a drill. The hole is ready.
- Circular drill for tiles - "ballerina".
It is convenient to drill round holes with a “ballerina” - a special nozzle for a drill that operates on the principle of a compass. It is necessary to set the desired diameter (that is, if a hole of 4 cm is needed, then 2 cm is installed between the drills). Mark and drill a hole. During operation, do not swing the tool. You need to hold the tile firmly and work at low speed.
- Drill with a diamond-tipped drill.
If you don't have a crown at hand, you can try drilling a hole with a diamond-tipped drill. This method is more difficult and requires care and accuracy. It is necessary to mark the place, drill a hole along the contour. Knock out the middle, and carefully break off the remaining teeth, burrs and irregularities with pliers. Then the edges of the hole are carefully sanded with sandpaper.
Safety
When working with power tools, cutting tiles, safety precautions must be observed. It is advisable to wear safety glasses so that the smallest fragments of the tile do not get into your eyes. It is also better to wear gloves on your hands.
If a hole is drilled in a tile that has not yet been laid, it must be placed under it wooden board. This will make the job easier.
From useful tips: before drilling, you can soak the tiles in water for an hour, this reduces the likelihood of cracks. It is best to make a hole in the seams, it is much easier and more convenient, but it is not always possible to accurately calculate such an arrangement. Drilling a hole in a tile is real, as in other materials, and now you are also convinced of this! Now you know how to drill tile on the wall!
The question of how to drill a tile so that it does not crack during the drilling process is asked by many. After all, in order to hang a lot of shelves, cabinets and hooks in the bathroom (and not only) you need reliable fastenings in the wall.
Often people just turn to professionals and then you no longer have to rack your brains over the question of how to drill holes in the tile on the wall. But even more people do home repairs with their own hands, without resorting to the help of specialists.
The tile is strong enough, but slippery and fragile. finishing material. It is with these features that the emerging risks and errors during drilling are associated. Indeed, from an uneven load and vibration, the material can simply crack. Pro Tip: Drill holes in the tile before attaching it to the wall. Before such manipulation, it is advised to soak it in water for a day. This will make it more flexible and less brittle. But if the tile is already laid on the wall, all the required work can also be done with it.
A few tips for those interested:
- Drilling holes is best in the seams. So the risk of tile chipping is less, and the cosmetic defect of the masonry is not so noticeable.
- Due to the strength of this finishing material, it is optimal to choose diamond-coated drills. Pobedite drill bits for a drill are also suitable.
- It is better to drill at low speeds and moisten the hole with water all the time.
- In order to mark the location of the future hole, masking tape is used. On adhesive strip masking tape a marker or felt-tip pen marks for precise drilling.
Be sure to choose the right tool to do this job.
What tool is needed for drilling tiles
In order to prepare the attachment points for shelves, hooks and cabinets on tiled wall in the bathroom you must have the following tool:
- Drill with different modes of operation.
- Drill. It is better to have tungsten carbide spear drills. But the usual drill bit for these purposes is also suitable. It just needs to be sharpened well before work.
- Conductor. This is a kind of stencil for drilling holes of various diameters. Made in the form of a thick plate, which already has holes of different diameters.
- Felt pen or marker.
- Masking tape or adhesive tape.
If you need to drill a hole large diameter, then instead of a drill you need to use the so-called "ballerina". However, skill is required to use this tool. It is advisable to practice on pieces of broken tiles before drilling holes in the tile. And after that it will become quite clear how to drill tiles on the bathroom wall.
Features of performing similar work with tiles
First of all, you need to remember that you can not drill the material at the very edge. This is due to the fact that with this type of processing, the risk of splitting the tile increases. We advise you to step back from the edge by at least 1.5 cm. This will help reduce the risk of cracks and chips to zero.
We also note the features of drilling holes up to 1.5 cm:
- Fix the drill and turn the drill or screwdriver to the minimum speed.
- Having drilled the tile, change the drill to a regular one and continue drilling the wall under the cladding.
- Blow out the finished hole from dust and install a plastic dowel in it.
Most importantly, when drilling, do not forget to moisten the hole in the tile with water. In this way, you will achieve the maximum reduction in the possibility of splitting and / or cracking of the tile. Drilling tiles is difficult only the first time, each time you will get better and better.
02-08-2015
Usually after all Finishing work in the bathroom, they begin to arrange it: they hang mirrors, attach shelves, install a heated towel rail, etc. To perform all these works, it is necessary to carefully and correctly drill a hole in the tile. The main thing in this process is to prevent it from splitting and cracking.
To work on drilling tiles, you need: a cordless screwdriver, a corded screwdriver or a hand drill.
It is advisable to make a hole in the tile joint to minimize possible damage to the finishing material.
However, this option is not always suitable.
How to drill tiles
So, for drilling work you will need:
- electric and hand drill;
- perforator with shockless drilling mode;
- cordless and mains screwdriver;
- marker, masking tape;
- sandpaper;
- protective glasses.
To prevent the tile from cracking when drilling, you need to select certain drills.
You will also need special drills: diamond-coated (its price is quite high), with a victorious tip (it costs less) and designed for ceramic tiles.
Please note that in this case, drills for wood and concrete surfaces are not suitable. If you need to make a hole big size, prepare core drills.
In no case do not remove the coating from the tile, do not make marks for the future hole with a nail or other sharp object. In the future, it will be impossible to mask damage to the glaze, and the entire appearance material.
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Hole drilling procedure: instruction
Remember that tiles are not drilled at the very edge, step back at least 15 mm.
If the tile has not yet been laid, it is best to soak it for 30 minutes. This will reduce the risk of cracks. If the tile is already installed on the bathroom floor or wall, also dampen the work surface before drilling the tile.
For proper drilling, you need to work with the tool at low speeds.
When drilling, you may encounter such a problem: the drill slides over the glaze of the tile. To solve this problem, use painter's tape. Stick a piece of it in the right place and drill through it.
You need to drill tiles at low speeds. It is desirable that this be a speed of 100-200 rpm.
If during operation the drill turns red or smoke comes out of it, this indicates that you have taken high speeds. Stop and let the tool cool down. To do this, the masters are sometimes advised to moisten with clean machine oil. But be aware if you are using this method cooling, before further drilling, be sure to wipe the tool well, removing any remaining oil, otherwise, if it accidentally drops on the grout, there will be stains, and it is very difficult to remove them.
After drilling through the tile to the base, change the drill to one that is suitable for the surface material (concrete, wood, brick, etc.). But it should not be larger in diameter than the one with which the tile was drilled. Otherwise, you can ruin the tile.
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Drilling a hole in a tile
In order not to spoil the tiles in the bathroom, follow the following algorithm of actions.
If you need to make a hole for a dowel:
In order to drill holes of different diameters in the tile, you can use a drill on the bracket. It is easy and convenient to move.
- mark the location of the hole;
- stick masking tape on the tile. If it is opaque, then mark the place of the future hole with a cross on it too;
- take the right bit (diamond-coated, victorious or tile bit) and start drilling at low speed. In order not to drill too much, you can use special limiters;
- after drilling the tile, change the tool to the one suitable for the wall material. Carry out drilling until you get a hole depth suitable for mounting the dowel;
- clean the hole from dust and material residues, after which you can install the dowel into it.
In this way, you can make a hole up to 15 mm in diameter.
If you need a pipe or outlet, then in this case you need to make holes of a larger diameter. To do this, you will need a diamond-coated crown or a circular ballerina nozzle. Drilling order is as follows:
- mark the place of future drilling;
- fasten a crown of the desired size to the drill;
- start drilling from the outside of the tile.
At quality tool The whole procedure usually takes no more than 5 minutes.
If you need to make a hole custom size, it is advisable to use the so-called ballerina for tiles. Set the desired size, then drill. For example, if you need to make a hole with a diameter of 4 cm, then set the gap between the drills to 2 cm.
The ballerina needs to work at low speeds, firmly holding the tile. It is recommended to use special goggles to protect your eyes.
Please note that during operation, the drill must be held perpendicular to the surface. To avoid rocking the tool and to make work easier, use a drill stand.
If, nevertheless, chips have formed along the edges of the hole, they can be corrected with sandpaper, moreover, most likely, the edges will be hidden behind a decorative ring.
To accurately drill a hole, you need a little skill, as well as patience and care. If you are doing the work for the first time, it will be useful to first practice on the remnants of ceramics. This way you will feel more confident.
Most often, you need to drill a hole into an already laid tile, so you need to work very carefully so as not to violate the integrity of the material. It is very important to choose the right tool suitable for specific purposes.
It almost always happens that drilling tiles is fraught with certain difficulties that arise due to various obstacles.
As a rule, we are talking about pipes, sockets and other technical devices and structures that do not allow you to lay the tile completely without cutting it or drilling it. Today you will learn how to drill a hole in a tile. Tiles are an excellent and very beautiful finishing material. However, it is quite fragile. It is necessary to carry out all the work in such a way that it does not crack, since this, as you yourself understand, will lead to its damage and, as a result, to the loss of money and time. So, if you have not done such work with your own hands before, then it is advisable to strictly follow the instructions.
Let's take a quick look at the reasons why we sometimes have to drill holes in ceramic tiles. Here is just a small list of reasons:
- The need to install a heated towel rail.
- Installing an outlet.
- Plans for hanging a bathroom cabinet (in more detail about furniture and).
- The need to lay tiles in a place where there are certain obstacles.
In fact, there are not so few reasons. In any case, it is necessary to solve the problem, moreover, it must be done correctly so as not to damage the fragile tile. Of course, you can make a hole. However, just drilling a tile is not enough. You need to do it in such a way as to preserve its integrity, and for this traditional ways work without a special drill is no longer suitable.
Technology Fundamentals
So, what needs to be done so that the tile does not crack when you drill it? In fact, there are a few things to consider. Let's list the main ones:
- Alternatively, beforehand (about half an hour or an hour), you can dip the tile to be drilled in water.
- If possible, try to make a hole in the places where the seam will pass, that is, between the rows of tiles.
- It is highly desirable that the drilling site is at least 2 centimeters from the edge of the tile. This will help reduce the risk of cracking or chipping.
- Simply wetting with water can already reduce the risk of damage to the structure of the tile, which should not crack or break apart.
How to drill for mounting dowels
Let's see how best to drill a hole in a tile, if you need to hang a lamp, a shelf, etc., using dowel nails. In any case, this must be done carefully, because if the tile is carelessly drilled and damaged, you will have to replace not only it, but often a more significant fragment. Thus, the following issues need to be considered:
- You will have to buy special drills (more on them below), since ordinary ones designed for concrete or brick will not work. They can chip tiles.
- In addition, the drill will constantly slide over the surface, since it is quite slippery.
Attention! The problem of a slippery surface is solved by sticking masking tape on the tile at the drilling site. It is possible in several layers.
What drills to use
How to drill a hole in a tile and what is the best way to drill? The most common are three types of drills: victorious, diamond and special, made specifically for tiles.
Drills with a pobedite tip
They are widely represented not only in special outlets. You can buy such drills in general construction stores. If you need to drill no more than a few holes in ceramic tiles, feel free to choose the Pobedite tip. In addition, the affordable price speaks in its favor.
Diamond tipped drills
It certainly is a great tool. However, one significant drawback can be identified: the high price. On the other hand, this is a minus, first of all, for ordinary people who need to drill, relatively speaking, a couple of holes. That's why, this option is optimal, first of all, for professionals involved in the field of repair.
Special drill bits for tiles
They are originally made for this purpose. However, it is safe to say that they are very versatile as you will be able to use them for other repair tasks in the future.
Drilling Features
Different tips, as well as different drilling circumstances, require a different approach. So, let's take a quick look at the most common tasks that you will have to face.
Advice! Before you drill a tile for a pipe or socket, you need to decide exactly how, as well as using which tool and drills you will be doing the task.
Drilling instructions for dowel nails
To get started, paste masking tape where the hole will be made, and then with a pencil, put a cross at the drilling point.
- Insert the drill into a drill (you can also use a puncher) and at low speeds make a hole in the tile.
- After that, replace the drill with a drill or concrete drill and continue working.
- Do not use drills or large diameter drills.
- Blow off excess dust and material residues.
How to drill a hole in a tile
Everything is simple here. Work can be carried out using a special circular drill, which is also known as a "ballerina". This method is especially good in cases where you need to make non-standard holes. So, here is the sequence of actions:
- First of all, we set the required diameter. If you need a hole of 6 centimeters, then make a distance of 3 centimeters between one and the second drill.
- Decide where you will drill and mark the location.
- Start drilling at low RPM.
At the same time, be careful. Use safety goggles for safety reasons.
other methods
Let's look at other options for how you can drill ceramic tiles. First of all, I would like to remind you about drilling with a drill that has a tungsten crown and a centering drill. This technology is perfect for those cases when the tiles are already laid on the wall or floor. At the same time, try to pay attention not to the following circumstances:
- It is advisable to use a special template that has a certain diameter. Such a template will prevent the crown from slipping.
- After you firmly press the template against the wall, take a drill, and with light pressure, make a hole desired diameter in the place where it is needed.
You can also drill ceramic tiles with a drill, which is equipped with a diamond crown. The sequence of actions in this case will be as follows:
- Select the location where the hole will be made.
- Mark it with a cross.
- With light pressure on the drill, slowly drill the hole. You need to do this from the front side, and not from the inside.
By the way, if you don’t have a crown, or you can’t buy it for one reason or another, then you can safely use a drill or puncher equipped with a diamond-tipped drill. More about such expendable materials described a little higher. By the way, a few words about the use of a perforator. As a rule, this tool has three modes: impact, as well as impact, combined with a drill and drill mode. So, in no case do not turn on one of the modes that provide for shock actions.
How to choose a drill
Let's assume that the tiles in your bathroom or toilet (read more) are already in place. At the same time, it cannot be damaged, since this will entail huge problems in dismantling the old one in the damaged area, selecting a new one and installing it. All this is long and no one needs. Therefore, it is highly desirable to avoid all such problems. In such cases, if you do not have enough experience in carrying out such work, it is better not to think about how to drill the tile yourself, since you can easily damage it by negligence. On the other hand, if you have been similar works and feel confident, then you can take on drilling. To do this, you will need the right drill.
In this case, there are two options. The first is a hand drill. With it, you can work at minimum speed, which means, accordingly, the minimum risk of damage to the tiles. On the other hand, it is quite long and dreary. Not everyone has enough nerve to withstand. Therefore, for such cases, there is also an alternative in the form of an electric drill or a drill/driver.
Remember! It is better to buy a drill, in which the speed can be adjusted quite smoothly.
After the drill has been purchased or selected, you need to choose the right drill. About what they are and what is better to choose for drilling tiles, we have already talked a little higher. At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to something else. In any case, even if you have some experience, and even more so if you don’t have it, try to practice first on old or unnecessary fragments and pieces of tiles. Thus, you can better adapt and draw certain conclusions about the pressure force, the angle at which it is better to hold the drill, and other points. In any case, now you know exactly how and with what to drill a tile. Good luck with the repair!
In any case, we hope that it has become somewhat clearer to you than and how to drill a hole in a tile without damaging it and preventing the formation of cracks. Choosing the right drill good drill And correct technique, that's all it takes to complete this task. Although, in any case, it never hurts to heed the advice of an experienced master.
In the process of repairing a kitchen, bathroom, bathroom and other utility rooms, the question often arises of how to drill a hole in a tile. Of course, this must be done in such a way that it does not burst and does not lose its external attractiveness.
At first glance, it may seem that everything is simple, but it is not so at all. Tiles are quite slippery and brittle, so if you're not a professional builder, drilling tiles can be a real challenge. So how to drill a tile without loss?
In fact, everything is not as difficult as it might seem at first. You just need to listen to some tips:
- First of all, choose right tool. It should fit comfortably in your hand. You need to hold it firmly and confidently.
- The working speed of the selected tool should not exceed 1000, and even better 800 rpm.
- Hold the drill or screwdriver in one position, do not push or change the angle of inclination. This can lead to the appearance of a "cobweb".
- If you need to drill a hole at the junction of two tiles, use an extremely thin drill, even if it is not "tiled", but in concrete.
- If possible, retreat at least 1.5 cm from the edge of the tile, the corners and edges of the tile are very fragile.
- It is best to drill holes before laying tiles on the wall. Soak the material in water for at least 40 minutes. So the tile will become more viscous, and there will be no cracks.
- If you don't know how to drill through a tile so it doesn't crack and you've never done it, it's best to practice on the bits you don't need beforehand. So you can feel the tool and understand how hard you need to press on the drill.
Choosing a tool
So, how to drill First you need to choose the drill itself. The model should not be either high-speed or shock, because you need to work with very fragile material.
Suitable for tiling:
- a conventional electric drill turned on at the lowest speed;
- low-speed screwdriver connected to a power outlet;
- cordless screwdriver with a rotation speed of not more than 800 rpm;
- hand drill.
Some details of work
To understand how to drill a tile, you need to consider some subtleties:
- In no case do not allow the drill or the tile itself to overheat, otherwise the entire upper layer covered with a "cobweb" and the material will crack.
- To cool the work surface, regularly wet the drilling site with cold water.
- Try to correctly determine the force of pressure. If you press too lightly on the drill, the hole will not work. If squeezed, the tile will crack.
- When in a tile, never use the reverse mode. Only slow clockwise rotation of the drill is allowed.
- Be especially careful at the joints. There, the tile does not have a protective coating and crumbles easily.
Choosing drills
The science of how to drill a hole in a tile is not too complicated, but it has its own peculiarities. For example, the right drill.
If you are even slightly familiar with construction work, then you know that drills are different: for wood, concrete, metal, and so on. So "tiled" drills have their own characteristics. The process here is based on the friction of abrasives. So for drilling tile or porcelain tiles, you will need a victorious or diamond drill. Most often they are in the form of a crown or an arrowhead.
If you are not too tight on funds, then it is better to give preference to diamond-coated consumables. They are, of course, more expensive, but they do better with ceramics. Pobedite spear drills are also designed to work with tiles. Due to the shape of the tip and the special angle of the cutting edge, the contact surface is significantly reduced. You will have to make less effort, which means that the tile will not crack.
Drilling all the way
- Before drilling into the tile, seal the intended work area with several layers. This will prevent the tool from slipping and slightly strengthen the edges of the potential hole. You can also use electrical tape or regular medical plaster.
- Mark with a bright marker.
- Insert a special "tiled" drill and set the drill to the lowest number of revolutions.
- If the device has an impact mode, be sure to turn it off. Failure to comply with this condition will necessarily lead to a split of the tile.
In cases where it is necessary to drill a deep hole in the wall along with the tile, the work is carried out in two stages. First drill the tile itself. Then they change the drill to a thinner one and continue to “gnaw” the wall itself to the desired depth. This is done in order not to damage the fragile edges of the tile during the drilling of concrete.
How to make a large hole
And or a tile, if you need to start a pipe or insert a socket? For such work, there are also special devices:
- circular drill - "ballerina";
- crown with abrasive edge.
The ideal option in this case is a special diamond-coated bit on the cutting edge. It is quite expensive, and if you are not a professional builder, it does not make much sense to buy one. In order to make just a few holes, more a budget option- crown with victorious teeth. This consumable has several disadvantages:
- one piece is enough to drill about 20 holes, after which the fixture can be safely thrown away;
- no matter how carefully you try to act, the edges of the hole will never be perfectly even, they will definitely remain chipped.
There are also advantages to the victorious crown:
- low cost;
- there are many diameter options, up to 15 cm.
There is another option, how to drill a tile, if you need to cut a hole of a significant diameter. This is the so-called ballerina drill. It is a construction in the form of a spear, in the tail section of which there is a special bracket. Another one is inserted into the latter - a “tiled” drill. If you have ever seen a compass, you will easily understand what's what. Such a device is inexpensive and quite suitable for home work. However, there is a slight nuance here. To work with tiles, try to choose such a “ballerina”, the central drill of which has the shape of a hexagon, and not a spear. This design is more stable.
Drilling tiles with a drill bit
- Determine the location of the future hole and seal the surface with masking tape.
- If you are not too confident in your abilities, you can make a plywood stencil and press it firmly against the wall in the right place.
- Install the hole saw of the required diameter and start drilling at the lowest possible speed.
- Try to keep the tool perpendicular to the wall. So the crown can evenly “bite” into the tile along the entire circumference of the cut.
- If you are using a diamond-tipped bit, the RPM can be slightly increased. And to avoid excessive heating of the surface, pour water over it while drilling.
The "wet" method of drilling is generally much more preferable. Especially if the tile has a glossy glass coating. In this case, any drill will last much longer, and the risk of overheating and splitting the tile is minimized.
Working as a ballerina
In order to use the ballerina drill, you need to correctly set the dimensions. Please note that between the side and central drills, you need to set not the diameter, but the radius of the future hole.
Set the main hex drill to the center and start work at low speed. Try to hold the drill firmly and evenly, otherwise it will come off and you will not be able to achieve the desired result. One of the advantages of the "ballerina" is that it can be used to drill a hole with a diameter much larger than 15 cm. But crowns bigger size just doesn't exist.
Conclusion
At the end of our conversation, let's remember once again how to drill a tile so that it does not crack and spoil the impression of a brand new repair:
- Be sure to wet the work area with water, for example, from a spray bottle. This way you can avoid overheating.
- Try not to place holes along the edge of the tile, this creates an additional load.
- If necessary, obtain deep holes change the drill to a thinner one after you have gone through the thickness of the tile. This will protect the edges of the hole from damage.
- When drilling, be sure to use only low speed and do not push the drill too hard.
- Try to use only special drills for work. Believe me, they are much cheaper than replacing a cracked tile.