How To Drill into Brick and Mortar (5 Expert Tips)
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Jana Blagojevic
- Last updated:
Brick is an incredibly strong yet brittle material that can be penetrated with the right tools and equipment. If you have brickwork done around your home, you know how difficult it can be to drill through this material. While it may be more challenging than drilling through wood, vinyl, or drywall, it is still possible. Continue reading this helpful article to reveal how to drill into brick and mortar without causing any damage or hurting yourself.
The 5 Tips on How To Drill into Brick and Mortar
1. Gather All the Tools and Supplies
Before starting any project, we recommend gathering all the necessary tools and supplies.
- Tape measure
- Marker or pencil
- Safety equipment
- Broom
- Mop
- Level
- Power drill
- Masonry drill bits
2. Plan Ahead
Your second step after acquiring the materials is to think about the perfect spot to do the drilling. You’ll need to consider several factors, from the type of hole you want to drill and its diameter to the state of the brick-and-mortar work. Another thing that will affect your decision is the weight you will implement on the intended hole and fasteners. If your bricks are quite old and unsafe, drill into the mortar where it will be safe. If you drill too deep into the brick, you risk weakening and cracking its structure. Also, remember that mortar cannot hold on to weight as much as a brick can and is unsuitable for holding larger objects.
3. Follow All the Safety Measures
Whenever you use power tools for a particular project, wearing all the protective gear is an absolute must. Even when you think you’re only doing a short job and don’t feel like there is a need for safety equipment, it is always recommended to follow safety measures when using any tool.
- Safety goggles
- Gloves
- Dust mask
- Protective earmuffs or earplugs
4. Be Careful of How Deep You Drill
Drilling too deep is always an issue, no matter the material. While concrete walls can handle drilling at a particular depth, brick and mortar are pretty sensitive to it. Drilling too deep may impact the integrity of the brick and cause the structure to crack. If you make a mistake—which is a real possibility if you’re doing this the first time—then correcting one would be much easier if you drill shallowly.
5. Drill Slowly and Patiently
Drilling through brick and mortar may seem challenging, but it is quite a simple project that you can finish in just a few minutes. While the project itself is easy, the preparation before the drill is an essential step that needs to be taken seriously. Make sure to pick out the perfect location and think it through several times because it will take a lot of work to correct mistakes after drilling.
Conclusion
Drilling through brick and mortar may seem like a challenging task but is actually a quite simple process that you can finish in just a few minutes. While the project itself is easy and undemanding, the preparation before the drill is an essential step that needs to be taken seriously. Make sure to pick out the perfect location and think it through several times because it will be hard to correct mistakes after drilling.
Featured Image Credit: Olxa, Shutterstock
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