I recently moved into a rental house built in 1972, and while trying to hang a poster with a 2-inch nail about 7-8 feet up on the living room wall, I hit something metallic. The nail went in quite hard, and when I pulled it out, it was surprisingly difficult. I suspect I might have struck a metal stud, given that the nail hole is parallel to the top of a nearby doorway. On the other side of this wall is the fridge and gas dryer, so I'm getting anxious about what I might have hit. I don't smell gas, there's no smoke, and no water is leaking that I can tell. When I look inside the hole with a flashlight, I see something silver. Is it safe to assume I just hit a stud, or could there be dangerous pipes or wires up that high?
3 Answers
Honestly, I’d say don’t stress too much yet. If you hammered pretty hard and it came out tough, it might indicate a metal stud. But since you’re right by your appliances, it’s a good idea to open the wall gently to see what’s back there. Just be cautious and keep an eye out for any leaks or moisture in that area in the upcoming days.
It sounds like you might have just hit a metal nailing plate, which is designed to protect against exactly what you did. If the nail didn’t go in very far, you’re probably in the clear! Still, it wouldn't hurt to check. Open the hole a bit more to take a peek at what’s going on behind the wall. Better safe than sorry, especially if there’s plumbing or electrical stuff back there.
Yeah, definitely check it out! If you just went through the drywall and hit the plate, you’re golden. But if you hit something like a pipe, you’ll want to get that looked at.
It could also be connected to a vent or something similar. Given the house's age, it might be a dryer vent that goes up into the attic. If you don’t want to cut a larger hole, maybe use a small inspection camera to have a look inside first. This way, you can avoid doing unnecessary damage to your wall.
Great idea about the camera! I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll definitely poke around first before making a bigger cut.
That makes sense. I’ll keep an eye on it for sure! Just want to make sure everything’s okay.