How To Drill Screw Into Wall？- With Many Details

For your upcoming DIY project, if you are completely prepared to begin drilling into the wall, put the brakes on. It may seem simple enough to hang a few pictures in frames or even mount a TV, but each year thousands of unfortunate homeowners discover the following lesson the hard way: Never, and we mean never, drill into a wall if you don’t know what’s behind it. Because how else would you know where to drill into a wall? Should you drill into studs? How are electrical cables run through walls?

If you don’t know where to look for hidden pipes and wires in your house, you run the risk of hurting yourself, seriously harming your house or both.

Here are some tips on where to drill in a wall as well as safety precautions to prevent a DIY nightmare before you fire up the drill.

What Is A Drill?

A powered hand tool called a drill is used to drill holes and drive screws into surfaces and other objects. To create holes in the surface, drill bits will be fixed to the drill’s front portion, which can alternately rotate in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Additionally, driver bits can be attached to the drill to perform the function of a manual screwdriver. The drill’s source of power can be either cordless, which requires you to plug it into a socket, or corded, which uses a rechargeable battery.

Powerful drills come in a wide range of variations, and each one has advantages of its own. But the ones that are widely used at home and for DIYers are these two

Power Drill

The power drill is frequently used for routine household tasks like drilling into wood frames and attaching furniture with screws. Power drills are typically cordless and have either removable rechargeable batteries or built-in batteries.

A typical power drill is lightweight and always shaped like a gun, making it simple to use with only one hand. Heavy drilling is not the intended use of power drills.

Hammer Drill

The hammer drill is the stronger of the two, performing the same task as a power drill in addition to hammering. On the hardwood, drywall, bricks, masonry, and even metal, the hammering mode when combined with a little bit of pressure can break the particle and make holes.

Given that they are designed for heavy-duty work, hammer drills are typically corded. However, some manufacturers charge significantly more for their cordless hammer drills on the market.

What Do I Need Before I Can Begin Drilling?

Let’s take a look at the other things you need to pick up from the hardware store before you start getting excited about drilling the wall.

Drill

First and foremost, you must choose whether to purchase a power drill for light to medium use or a hammer drill for projects requiring more effort. Unlike homes in the west, which frequently use wood and drywall, houses in Malaysia are typically constructed with bricks and mortar.

You require a strong drill that can actually pierce the material if you are considering drilling the wall to hang pictures, lighting fixtures, or floating shelves.

Drill Bits

To create holes on the work surface, drill bits are the cutting tool that you must attach to the drill’s front portion. Depending on the size of the screw you intend to use, there are different drill bits available in different sizes (in diameter). In addition, drill bits come in a variety of variations for various types of materials. For example:

1. Drywall bit is for materials that are smooth and hollow such as plasterboards, gypsum walls, and drywalls. You can use any universal bit with these materials as they are not particularly tough.
2. The spur point bit has a very sharp point that ensures clean and straight entry when drilling into wood.
3. Masonry bit is made of tungsten carbide and provides better penetration against harder materials such as concrete, stones, and bricks.
4. Tile bit can be recognized with its spear-shaped tip that is specially made to drill on strong but fragile surfaces like tiles, ceramic, and glass. The spear-shaped bit makes it easier to carefully and precisely drill a hole.

What Must I Check Before I Can Begin Drilling?

Remember to consider the safety aspects in addition to getting a power tool and the accessories ready. The following items need to be taken care of before, during, and after using the drill.

1. Personal safety

Wear form-fitting clothing, gloves if your hands tend to perspire, a mask, and safety goggles. You will be able to move more freely and experience greater comfort throughout the process if you are wearing the proper clothing and equipment.

2. Assess the area to be drilled

You must inspect the wall where you intend to drill once you have chosen the location for the item that needs to be drilled in. Watch out for any electrical wires that typically run close to power outlets, switches, and wall lighting so you don’t inadvertently drill on them. Make sure there are no hidden pipes in the wall before drilling into the bathroom wall to hang any accessories.

Also, keep in mind what is on the opposite side of the wall. Longer screws run the risk of penetrating the other side and damaging any hidden wiring or piping. As an alternative, you can use a stud sensor, a very useful electrical device that can find any pipes, wiring, or studs concealed in the wall.

3. Identify the surface material

Knowing the surface material you are drilling into is important because different materials call for different kinds of drill bits.

4. Measure and mark

In order to precisely mark the location of the hole, use a measuring tape and a leveler. Directly draw an X on the surface with a pencil or marker, or you can tape a piece of paper over the designated spot and draw the mark there instead. Simply remove the tape after drilling.

5. Switch off the plug

Remember to turn off the plug every time you want to finish drilling or change the drill bit. Don’t take any chances because even the smallest trigger press will start the drill and may result in mishaps. Most importantly, keep the power tool out of the way after use and never leave it unattended.

How Can I Begin Drilling?

After going over every important do and don’t, it’s time to turn on the drill. What you must do is as follows:

1. Attach the right drill bit

Find the appropriate drill bit after determining the surface material. Likewise, confirm that the screw you’ll be using later fits the drill bit. Once that is done, screw the bit into the drill’s front.

2. Mark the depth of the hole

Typically, a removable marker in the shape of a ruler is included with hammer drills. On the marker, you can adjust the hole’s depth. Drilling requires you to stop applying pressure and withdraw as soon as the marker touches the wall. Additional options include using paper tape or a marker to mark the drill bit itself to indicate how far the drill bit should penetrate the surface.

3. Hold the drill at a 90-degree angle and start drilling!

As a starting point, drill a “pilot hole” to identify your marked location and serve as a convenient reference point for further drilling. For this, you will need to use a bit with a smaller width than your screw’s shank

Hold the drill steady while standing still, and firmly place the bit against the wall at the marked point at a 90-degree angle. After that, slowly depress the trigger with your finger.

You could make an L-shaped jig out of wood scraps (as shown below) to maintain a straight 90-degree angle while drilling into your wall. By doing this, the bit will remain perpendicular while boring the hole.

4. Insert the wall plug

Pick up the wall plug and lightly hammer it into the wall until it is snug against the hole and screw size.

5. Drive the screws in

Drive the screw in according to what the hole is intended for. Leave about 5mm of the screw protruding from the wall when hanging a picture frame, wall clock, or vanity mirror. Conversely, if you’re attaching furniture to a wall, be sure to fully enclose the screw head to ensure a secure fit.

How Much Of A Stud Should A Screw Penetrate?

Simple: It depends on how heavy the object is that you’re trying to hang. The general rule of thumb is that the screw should be longer the heavier the item. If you’re hanging something light, like a picture frame, you don’t need to worry too much about this; almost any screw longer than an inch and a half will work. The bracket set will come with screws to use if you’re trying to mount something heavy to the wall, like a TV.

When hanging a picture directly from a screw, leave about a quarter inch sticking out so you can attach your frame. Avoid screwing the picture all the way into the stud. On the other hand, if you’re drilling a screw into a bracket, you should drill it in as deeply as you can to ensure that it is snug and prevents the bracket from moving.

How To Screw Into Drywall Without A Stud？

In general, drilling into drywall is probably unnecessary if you’re just going to hang something on it. The majority of the time, you can hang something on drywall by simply hammering a nail into the wall; however, only incredibly light objects should be hung on drywall without a stud.

Really, don’t worry about it, and just try it. Not a tooth, just a brick wall. It won’t hurt a bit.