How To Drill Into Brick
How To Drill Into Brick
Drilling into brick is a job that both professionals and DIY enthusiasts can do. If you need to fit a gate or a hanging basket to an outside wall or some shelves or a TV bracket to an inside wall, this is a job you can do without too much difficulty.
In this article, we’ll give you a guide on how to drill into brick. Perfect for people who are new to the job, or for professionals or DIYers who need a quick recap. We’ll cover everything from safety, preparation and tool selection through to troubleshooting problems that might come up while you’re drilling a hole.
- First, we’ll go through the important things you need to think about before you start.
- After that, we’ll give you a detailed step by step guide you can follow to drill a hole.
Make sure you don’t skip past safety preparations and tool selection. Safety is critical when you’re drilling a hole through brick. The right tool selection can also make the difference between success and failure.
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Drilling into brick for beginners
The first thing you should know is that you can’t drill a screw directly into brick. If you need to attach something like a TV mount or a shelf bracket to a wall, this means using specialist masonry fixings. Most of the time, these work by being placed inside a hole that is pre-drilled in the wall.
Wall plugs, commonly known as rawlplugs, are the most common example of a masonry fixing. Other examples are sleeve anchors and anchor bolts.
Check what material you are drilling into
The instructions in this article apply to walls that are made of brick or breezeblock bonded together by mortar. Some of the process will be similar or may even be the same with other materials like stone or concrete, but this isn’t guaranteed. In other materials, you might need different tools, fixings or working methods.
The instructions here also apply to brick and breezeblock walls that have been plastered. Please note, however, that if you are placing fixings in a plastered wall, you should drill deep enough to place them in brick, breezeblock or masonry. Plaster can be weak and unsuitable for securing fixings.
Essential things to consider
Here are the essential things to do when drilling a hole in brick:
- Use the right safety equipment, check for pipes and electrical cables with a wall scanner.
- Make sure you know what material you’re drilling into.
- If you’re going to place fixings in the wall, make sure they’re the right type.
- Ensure you have the right tools and equipment for the job.
- Make sure hole locations are measured and marked correctly.
What tools do I need to drill into brick?
It’s essential to make sure you have the right tools and safety equipment before you start doing any work.
Essential safety gear
Safety is important when you’re drilling through brick. Doing this job presents a risk of eye injury, hearing damage, dust inhalation and injury to your hands.
The recommended safety gear is:
- Protective glasses - to prevent fragments of brick, mortar or breezeblock from hitting your eyes.
- Ear defenders - to protect your ears from noise created by the drill.
- A dust mask - to stop you inhaling dangerous dust from bricks, plaster and mortar.
- Gloves - to protect your hands from cuts from tools and equipment.
Another important safety consideration is making sure there are no electrical cables or pipes in the wall you’re drilling into. Hidden pipes, cables and other metalwork can be found with a wall scanner.
Essential tools to drill into brick
The two most important tools you should consider are:
- Your power drill
- Your drill bit
It’s important to pick the right type of power drill and the right type of drill bit. We’ll discuss how to make the right choice of drill and drill bit types in the next two sections. DEWALT and Milwaukee are both good brands to look at for drills.
As well as having the right power drill and drill bit, you might also need:
- Wall plugs and matching screws - for your wall fixing.
- Measuring tape - measure out your hole locations accurately with a measuring tape.
- Marking pencil - mark your holes with a pencil.
- Masking tape - cover over your hole to prevent drill bit slippage and mark depth on your drill bit with masking tape.
- Vacuum or dustpan and brush - for clearing up.
- A hammer - use a hammer to tap your wall fixing into the hole.
- Some water - stopping to dip your drill bit in water will reduce dust and keep your drill bit in good condition.
What drill bit should be used for drilling into brick?
The best drill bit to use for drilling into brick is a masonry drill bit.
Masonry drill bits have a wide, arrow shaped head that’s perfectly shaped for grinding away at bricks and other types of masonry.
Masonry drill bits normally come with either a tungsten carbide tip or a diamond tip. In most cases, tungsten carbide tipped bits will work fine on brickwork. Diamond tipped drill bits are harder but they’re more expensive because of their diamond tip. They’re normally only needed for harder materials, like some types of stone, or ceramic.
Choose the right size drill bit
Masonry drill bits come in a variety of widths and lengths. You’ll need to pick the right size for the hole you’re drilling. If you’re going to fit a wall plug into the hole you drill, the drill bit you use should be the same width as the wall plug.
In some cases, it will be okay to use a drill bit that is slightly larger than the wall plug.
Can I use a regular drill for drilling into brick?
Normally, the best drill to use when you’re drilling into brick is a drill with a hammer action.
In some cases, it will be okay to use a less powerful drill driver with no hammer action. If you’re only drilling into mortar or if you’re drilling into soft brick, a drill driver might be okay. Otherwise, a drill with a hammer action, such as a combi or percussion drill is best. SDS drills can also be used on very hard bricks or when you need to drill a hole with a large diameter and you need more power.
Combi drills are less powerful but usually more affordable than the other drills suitable for bricks and masonry. Many combi-drills from brands like Bosch and Makita come with special masonry settings that make them perfect for drilling into brick.
Do not use a drill that’s too powerful
You shouldn’t use an overly powerful drill that damages the structural integrity of the wall you are drilling into or cracks the brickwork as it drills.
You should always check the wall for damage as you are drilling your hole.
How to use a hammer drill to drill into brick safely
Hammer drills are normally perfect for drilling into brick. These drills are fitted with a mechanism that moves the chuck back and forward as it drills, giving the tool a powerful drilling action. This action is more powerful than the hammer action on a combi-drill but less powerful than the action on an SDS drill or a percussion drill.
In some cases, SDS drills and percussion drills can be too powerful and can damage the brickwork in the wall.
How do you drill into a brick wall?
Before you start, ensure you have all the safety gear you need. Make sure you’ve also matched your drill bit to the wall plug, other fixing or hole you’re going to drill in the wall.
What might also be a good idea at this stage is to set your drill’s depth gauge against the fixing to make sure you don’t drill a hole that’s too deep. If your drill doesn’t have a depth gauge, you can mark the length of the fixing onto your drill bit with masking tape.
Here’s how to drill into a brick wall:
Step 1: Mark the point where you plan to drill
First of all, you’ll need to mark the point on the wall where you want to drill your hole(s). It’s a good idea to triple check your measurements to make sure you don’t make a mistake.
Should you drill into brick or mortar?
It’s normally best to drill into brick rather than mortar. Mortar is less strong than brick, meaning that anchors in mortar might not be able to hold as much weight. Holes drilled in mortar are also more prone to being worn away and widened over time.
Don’t drill a hole near the edge of a brick
You should not drill holes near the edge of a brick because the brick may break away. It’s usually not a good idea to drill any closer than one inch from the edge of a brick.
Step 2: Check for wiring or pipes
If you haven’t done so already, you should make sure there are no pipes or electrical wires close to where you’ll be drilling. There is usually an electrical safety zone horizontally and vertically from any electrical outlets on a wall, so avoid drilling above or to the side of any sockets or light switches.
If you were present when the wall was constructed, you might know where pipes and wires are located. Otherwise, you can use a wall scanner or another suitable detector to see if there are any there.
Step 3: Begin drilling your hole
Before you start drilling, hold your drill and press the drill bit firmly against your marking for the hole. This will create an indent that will help stop the drill bit from slipping.
After this:
- Hold the drill against the marking.
- Make sure it is upright and level, so you drill a straight hole rather than an angled hole.
- Begin drilling, applying slow speed and gentle pressure.
- Continue drilling, stopping to take note of whether the drill is cracking the brickwork or damaging the wall.
- You should also stop occasionally to dip your drill bit in water. This will prevent damage to it by cooling it down, and it will also help prevent dust.
- If you need to, you can increase the speed and apply more pressure to the drill.
- You may need to stop to clear dust out of the hole if your drill is struggling.
- Continue until your hole is the correct depth.
Do you need to drill a pilot hole?
It’s a good idea to drill a pilot hole if you are drilling into very hard masonry or if you need a high degree of accuracy. Having a pilot hole will help loosen hard materials and ensure the drill bit does not move as you drill.
Otherwise, pilot holes usually aren’t necessary.
Step 4: Insert the wall plug and screw
When you’ve reached the right depth, remove any dust or debris in the hole. This is best done with a vacuum or compressed air. Otherwise, it may be possible by blowing into the hole or using a dustpan and brush.
Next, you should place your wall plug or other fixing in the hole. Sometimes, you’ll be able to just push the fixing in. Other times, you may need to give it a gentle tap with a hammer.
You’re now ready to hang your picture, shelves, TV unit or whatever else it is your fixing is there for!
Step 5: Clear up
Last of all, you’ll need to have a quick clear up. If you’ve got a vacuum, that’s best. Otherwise, a dustpan and brush should be okay.
Tips and tricks for drilling into brick or mortar
If you run into difficulty while you’re drilling your hole, it might be caused by one of the following problems.
You’re using the wrong equipment
If you’re not using a powerful enough drill (you probably need one with a hammer action) then you might find that your drill is unable to drill into the brick. Using the wrong drill bit will also mean you’re unable to drill a hole.
Similarly, using a blunt masonry drill bit or a drill with a low battery may mean your equipment struggles. Use a sharp drill bit, and always charge power tool batteries before you use them.
Your drill isn’t set up correctly
Some people who are new to DIY also make mistakes like failing to engage the hammer action on a combi drill or accidentally putting the drill in reverse. Take the time to read the instructions that come with your drill and make sure all settings are correct.
You’ve hit something in the wall
You may also find that you’re able to drill a certain distance, but then the drill stops making any progress. This might mean you’ve hit metalwork in the wall. If this is the case, stop drilling immediately, recheck the wall for pipes and electric cables and reposition your hole.