Drilling holes in drywall might not be that tough because it's reasonably straightforward. But you have to follow a few basic precautions and make sure to use the right tools.
First, you must pick the correct drill and the drill bit to do this job. After that, you have to choose the right spot for drilling. Don’t go for a place that is too close to the wiring of any sort.
Once you have picked up the right spot to drill and have the right tools, drilling a hole won’t be an issue.
This post will list some essential steps for drilling a hole in drywall, so keep reading till the end.
Can You Drill Directly into Drywall?
No. If you drill directly into the drywall, the screw will not hold. Therefore, you will need some hardware to keep the screw in the wall. It is especially true if you want to hang something heavy on your drywall.
You can hang something very light with a screw directly drilled into the wall. But if you want to hang a heavy frame, a television, or a bracket, then direct drilling into the drywall will not cut it. And you will end up picking your items up from the floor as they fall.
How to Drill a Hole in a Drywall? - Step-By-Step
Drilling into the drywall might be mandatory when you install wall anchors for hanging any pictures, fixtures, or mirrors.
Moreover, you will need to drill a hole into your drywall to create a hole that you can use to cut out a chunk of your wall for installing some electrical box.
No matter your reason for drilling, you can accomplish this task with just a small effort. You will be able to achieve excellent results in no time.
Step 1 - Using the right drill bit
You must choose the correct drill bit for your rolling process. It is especially true if you want to drill into plasterboard or sheetrock. Look at your wall before you begin drilling to determine the building materials.
If you have a smooth wall and you hear that hollow sound when you knock on it, you have drywall, like plasterboard or sheetrock. If you want to drill a regular-sized hole in your drywall, go for a drywall bit for the best results. Drywall bits are easily available at most home improvement and hardware stores.
If you plan to hang something in the hole, you will need a drywall anchor and a screwdriver. And if you want to drill into a stud behind your drywall, choose a wood drill bit.
Step 2 - Avoiding pipes and wiring
You must make sure you clear any outlets or light switches. Avoid accidentally drilling into something similar, or it can be a dangerous and costly mistake. Therefore it is important to use proper safety equipment.
Therefore, you have to prevent this from happening. Don’t drill directly beneath or above your drywall's outlets, switches, or other electric fixtures.
A better option here for you is to use a wire detector to find out any wiring that is present behind your drywall. The purpose here is to stay away from that and conveniently dry the hole in your drywall. You can even use a deep scan stud finder to detect electrical wires or metals within your drywall.
But if, for some reason, you have to drill a hole near electrical wires, make sure to cut the power off before your drill begins. You can consult a plumber first if you want to drill in your bathroom wall or any other wall near the plumbing or radiator. With their consultation, you will avoid drilling straight into a pipe.
Step 3 - Looking for studs
If your drywall is plasterboard or sheetrock, you must find the stud. This study will help you drill holes and provide enough support to hang anything heavy. An electronic stud finder is the most convenient way to find a stud.
You can turn on the stud finder and move it over the wall. Then, keep moving flat on the wall back and forth. It indicates the device has found the stud.
You can knock on your wall to confirm that you have located the stud on your drywall using your stud finder. The areas between a stud will produce a hollow sound. The areas over the stud will produce a solid sound.
Generally, studs are spaced around 16 inches apart. So if you can identify one stud, you can easily calculate where the other studs are on either side.
Step 4 - Marking the area
Before you begin the drilling process, you must mark the area where you are looking to drill using a pencil. First, pick a spot; once you have done that, mark the spot.
If you are marking multiple spots, ensure you have correctly lined them up using a level. You can use a pencil for this purpose but can also go for a marker or a pointer as long as it stays convenient.
And just make small marks that can be covered with the holes. Otherwise, you will have to remove them later on.
Step 5 - Drilling a hole
You must use masking tape to mark the correct depth on your drill bit. For example, if you want to drill a hole of a certain depth, measure the accurate length of your drill bit. Then, wrap a thin strip of your tape to mark the depth around your drill bit.
Some drill models also come with depth gauges to assist you in marking appropriate depths. If you plan to use an anchor or a screw, you will have to pick a drill bit with an appropriate diameter.
Not sure about the size of the drill bit? Or how deep you should go with the hole? You can always get an idea by consulting the packaging of your anchors or screws. You will most likely find all the information you need on the label.
Begin drilling at a lower speed, and increase the speed gradually as you apply pressure on the drill. As soon as the drill penetrates your drywall, squeeze that trigger slightly harder.
As you drive in the drill, keep the pressure steady and solid. After that, keep the s[eed steady and continue drilling till you get your desired hole.
Do I Need a Drill to Make a Hole in the Drywall?
Generally, an electric drill is the correct tool for drilling a hole in your drywall. But drilling into drywall is mandatory when installing heavy fixtures, like mirrors, TV, bracket, or shelves.
You might also have to drill a hole into your drywall by creating a pilot hole so you can cut a chunk out from the wall and install an electrical box.
But there is a way to drill a hole without using a drill. Instead, you can take an awl or a nail and hammer it into the drywall. After that, you can remove the nail or awl from the drywall and use the hole the way you want.
You can also go through your local hardware store and use a regular screwdriver for this purpose. Your screwdriver is another handy tool that you can use to make a hole in your drywall.
Can I Use a Regular Drill for Drywall?
You can use a standards drill with a drywall bit for this purpose. In addition, you can use a drywall screw gun to speed up your hanging purpose. And with the increase in speed, most drywall professionals prefer using drywall screw guns or those larger objects.
These screw guns are designed specifically for these projects and are better suited for this purpose than regular drills. Moreover, these guns are better suited for drilling holes in drywalls for different reasons.
When using a drywall gun, you don’t have to use more force than a standard drill. Another massive advantage of using a gun instead of a drill is that it is much quieter.
Using a drywall screw gun is just less hassle than using a drill. These guns are designed to cause less damage to your drywall. You also won’t need many drywall screws. These screws are specifically designed to work with these drywall driver guns.
Wrap-Up
You need to use a proper technique and be cautious when you want to drill a hole in your drywall. You must ensure that you pick the correct drill and drill bits for this purpose. Also, make sure you clear any electrical wiring or piping in the drywall.
If you don’t have a drill for drilling into your drywall, you can also use a drywall screw gun. This screw gun is specifically designed for drilling into your drywall.
You can also make a hole into your drywall without a drill or a screw gun. Instead, just use a screwdriver or a hammer, and then remove the awl or nail from the drywall to use the hole as you intend.
But you must remember that you can’t directly drill into the drywall. If the item you want to hang is heavy, it will fall and break immediately. So you need to be careful there.