Drilling into a brick wall can help you mount outdoor lighting, artwork, and other wall fixtures. You’ll need a masonry drill bit, some basic tools, and a little patience to drill into a brick wall.
If you want to hang something on a brick wall, you must drill a hole into a brick first. Brick walls are very durable but may incur damage over time. As a rule of thumb, you should drill into the brick itself instead of the mortar to secure the item you will mount and prevent the brick wall from cracking.
In four steps, you can drill into your brick wall using a lot of patience and a few basic tools:
Tools needed:
- Pencil
- Masking tape
- Ladder (optional)
- Tape measure (optional)
- Power drill
- Masonry drill bit
- Vacuum cleaner
Safety measures: Wear safety glasses, a dust or face mask, ear muffs, and work gloves to protect yourself from dust, debris, and loud noises when drilling into a brick wall.
Step 1: Prepare the Mounting Location
Identify where you will mount the object on your brick wall. The mounting location should be at least an inch away from the edges of the brick to prevent cracking.
If you’re mounting on a high, hard-to-reach area of your wall, use a ladder to reach the mounting location. As a safety precaution, ensure the ladder is placed on level ground, and ask a friend to hold it steady while you work. Your assistant can also hand you any tools you’ll need and help hold up the heavy object you’re planning to mount.
Mark the hole’s location on the brick with a pencil. Use a tape measure for precise placement.
Step 2: Mark Your Desired Depth on the Drill Bit
The depth you’ll drill into your brick wall will depend on the length of the screw. Check the screw’s packaging to determine its length. Alternatively, you can measure the screw’s length with a tape measure.
Use a drill bit slightly smaller than the size of the screw to ensure it can grip the wall. Afterward, place a piece of masking tape on your masonry drill bit to mark your desired depth to guide you when to stop drilling into the brick wall.
Step 3: Drill into the Brick Wall
Insert the masonry drill bit into your power drill. Set your power drill to the lowest setting and slowly drill into the center of the mounting location. Brick is difficult to penetrate so patience is a great tool for this step.
Pro Tip: While drilling into the brick wall, keep your power drill perpendicular to the wall. You can use your free hand to support the drill.
Once in a while, stop and check if the drill bit is getting bent or becoming blunt. If this happens, replace the drill bit before drilling into the brick wall again. Whenever you stop drilling, check your drill to see if it’s overheating. Feel free to take a break while waiting for it to cool down.
If the brick starts to crack while you’re drilling into it, stop drilling and find another brick on the wall. Don’t worry, it’s fairly easy to repair and fill the hole in your brick wall.
Step 4: Clean the Hole on the Brick Wall
Remove the accumulated dust and debris from the hole using a vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment. Additionally, vacuum the floor to clean the surrounding area thoroughly.
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Main Image Credit: gorvik / Adobe Stock
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