Last week, I installed some floating shelves and while most screws went into drywall anchors, one post was centered on a stud. I felt a lot of resistance while drilling, but after going through it, I finished my pilot hole. I used a 1-1/2" wood screw to secure the shelf. Now I'm worried I might have drilled into a stud guard since there's an outlet to the right of the stud. Luckily, no breakers have tripped and everything seems fine, but since I'm on the third floor of a condo, I'm fairly certain there aren't any water pipes nearby. What should I do to check if I accidentally hit a stud guard, and should I consider using a borescope to inspect it?
3 Answers
You might have lucked out! If it was a stud guard, metal shavings would probably be a giveaway. You're on the right track with a magnet; it should help you spot if there’s any metal in the wall. Plus, since you didn’t drill too deep and there's no sign of water pipes, it’s unlikely you did much damage.
It’s pretty common to hit a stud guard without causing any issues. If you’re concerned, using a borescope will give you peace of mind. Just check the length of your drill bit to see how deep you actually went and if everything seems okay, then you should be fine! No news is good news, right?
Since you didn't notice any metal shavings or anything odd from the drill bit, it sounds like you might've just encountered a knot in the wood. If you really think you hit a stud guard, removing the outlet cover and peeking through while the power is off is a smart move to see where the wiring runs. Just make sure to turn off the power first!