Hole 160 mm for steel support in terrace slab and minimum edge width

Hello everyone,

We want to lay our terrace with porcelain stoneware tiles 60x60 cm, 20 mm thick, on pedestals and are currently planning the ideal laying pattern. This raises two questions:
1. We have a steel column on the terrace that supports the overhanging upper floor. Does the cutout for this column have to be exactly on a tile joint, or is there a way to drill the hole more in the middle and then glue back the cut-out piece used for fitting the tile later, see attached sketch? What options are there for making the cut from the edge to the hole as thin as possible so that the fitting piece can be reinserted as seamlessly as possible?



Or drill the hole and then break the tile along the axis to the hole (instead of sawing, to avoid "material loss") and reassemble it after insertion? Is that possible with 20 mm thick tiles?

Who could make such holes or cuts?

2. How wide should the tile pieces at the edge be at minimum? For example, if I start with whole tiles on one side, there will be 8 cm wide pieces left at the other end. Will that work with pedestals or is it better to simply glue the narrow pieces?

Looking forward to your tips,
Ertmann

The sketch is a bit misleading because the hole will become twice as large… I would lay the tiles so that the hole is each divided in half onto two, so 2 semicircles. These then also in the middle area.

Is the classic cross joint planned here?

If I start on one side with whole tiles, 8 cm wide pieces remain at the other end.

Then you have to start with 34 cm. The last one would also be 34 cm.

For the depth of the terrace, you then have to align yourself with the column.

First step. Determine the exact measurements of the terrace, the position of the column, then draw and calculate.

I had all my plates cut with a water jet. Millimeter-accurate and for your application see photo 1 approx. 1mm cut.