Hi All,

I want to install a wine holder on a wall, and I was trying to drill holes for the anchors. I could drill one hole easily, but for the other hole, I ran into something hard inside the wall. It is not a stud, but I do not know what it might be. It looks like a gray sheet of some material. I'm sure if I drill harder, I will be able to penetrate it, but I dont want to do that until I know for sure what it is. The spot is about 3-4 inches from a corner. Maybe they install something behind the walls around the corner of the rooms?

Please see the attached pictures.

Any suggestions are very much appreciated.



Thank you so much,
Nish

 

It looks like you have steel studs... and hit one. Easiest would be to move over a bit to miss the stud or your can drill through the sheet metal of the stud.

 

Hi Nish, I have some horrible stories about people who drilled through things they shouldn't have, so know before you drill. If you pull off a switch plate or receptacle cover you might be able to see what that box is attached to, if wood or steel. Also, most homes are built with studs on either 16" or 24" centers. Exceptions are doors, corners and windows, and maybe some others. But, to attach the exterior sheathing they done skip having a stud every 16 or 24 inches. That said, I have used post-its to mark the studs I can find and then identify the pattern.

I also use a very small drill bit to test locations. Or, if you have a good ear, the old tap, tap approach can work well, but experience helps.

Bud

 

IMO you need to relocate your holes. I can't tell you what's in the wall, whatever it is you don't want to drill through it.

I would either patch the holes and find other spots, or mount the rack to a panel and then mount the panel to the wall.

 

I agree with the others, don't drill through it. It could be a pipe, a mending plate or electrical conduit. If you must use that spot, open it up and look at it. If it's just a joist plate then you may be OK. Patch the hole and move on.

 

You can take an old screwdriver and a hammer and try tapping on it. That will give you an idea of what it is. Without knowing what it is for sure..... you definitely don't want to drill thru it