Tasker Nick C. has a whole lot to say about pilot holes!
Not sure what a pilot hole is? It’s a pre-drilled hole made where you’ll be placing your item. It helps to ensure a smooth entrance for the screw, prevents any cracking of the wall, and in some cases, helps the mounter actually see into the wall to understand the stud and wall type.
According to Nick, pilot holes should be considered for most hard surfaces, and the pilot hole should be as large as the screw’s minor diameter. For softer wood, the pilot hole may not be mandatory. Drilling a pilot hole is, in some cases, one of the first steps to securely mounting an item to a wall’s surface.
Drilling into walls
Knowing your wall type is essential in understanding what kind of tools will help you successfully complete a Mounting task and for knowing what to expect throughout the drilling experience. See the Mounting 105: know your wall types article for more info before you start drilling pilot holes. Here are Nick’s pilot hole tips for each wall type:
- Plasterboard: The initial drilling should go straight through and the wall won’t be too flaky.
- Lath & plaster: Will be flaky when drilled into and creates more dust.
- Concrete: You’ll need a hammer drill and special drill bits.
- Want more info? Check out this helpful guide on drilling into concrete.
- Brick and masonry: If you come across brick behind another surface, your pilot hole will tell you instantly. In order to mount on brick and masonry, Nick recommends having a concrete drill bit.
- Breeze block: Falls into the masonry category, and in some cases, a heavy duty wall plug can be used for this.
If you are ever in doubt about the wall type before drilling, ask your client. If the client isn’t sure, you can suggest that they ask the building manager, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. It’s always helpful to be fully confident of the wall type before mounting. It also makes prepping your tools more accurate, so don’t be shy about scoping it out!
