Hey everyone! I was trying to install a floating shelf for some small plushies and, admittedly, I skipped checking for studs first. I started drilling slowly but hit something hard after going in about 2cm. The drill began squeaking and wouldn't go any further. I only pulled out drywall dust, so it seems like I might've hit metal. I'm about to grab a stud detector, but I'm worried about a few things:
1. Should I be concerned about possibly hitting electrical wiring? The spot is over a meter away from an outlet.
2. Can I still mount the shelf if I've only drilled 2cm into the wall? What would be the best way to do that?
3. Any guesses on what I might have hit if it's not metal?
Thanks a lot for your help! I'm a bit freaked out but relieved I stopped drilling when I did.
3 Answers
Hold up! Before you drill any further, it might just be a random nail or something benign, but you could also have hit a metal plate designed to protect electrical wires or pipes. Definitely a good idea to check with your stud finder for that.
1. It might be alright, but don’t drill more than an inch if you’re worried about hitting electrical lines.
2. Unfortunately, mounting on just drywall isn’t a good idea, no matter the weight of what you're putting up.
3. You probably hit a metal screw or a protective plate meant to prevent drilling into something like electrical or plumbing. I’d suggest moving your shelf location up or down a bit to find a safer area to drill.
If you've hit metal, it could be a pipe or conduit. It's great that you didn't shock yourself, but make sure your stud finder can pick up on pipes as well. Just because you’re over a meter from an outlet doesn’t guarantee there’s no wiring in the wall. If you did hit something, consider getting a professional to take a look at it. For mounting your shelf, it's best to find a new spot that hits a stud or use wall anchors since 2cm into drywall isn't safe for weight support.