Before you put up a shelf - how do you check that it's OK to drill? (Electrical wires etc..)?

Answer 1

Buy a stud finder at your local hardware store that can also check for electricity. It's also probably a good idea to shut the electricity off just in case you do accidentally hit a wire. If you are trying to locate studs you can also use the tapping method. It will sound different when you tap over a stud or a part of the wall that has something solid behind it. Here in the US, studs are normally 16" on center. Although with some old houses, that is not always the case and that's why it's good to have a good stud finder. If the shelf is going to hold light items, you can just anchor the shelf into the drywall. If it is meant to hold heave items you definitely need to mount it directly into the studs for more support.

Answer 2

Don't use a drill bit that is 10 inches long. If you are drilling into sheetrock for anchors, you only need to go in 1/2 inch or so. If you are drilling into studs, you still only need to go in maybe 2 inches or so. Depending on how old your house is, it may have metal plates on the studs over the area where wires and plumbing lines run. They have been doing this for the past 10 years or so.

Answer 3

RE: How do I put wiring through a stud from an electrical outlet to a new light fixture? I've drilled a hole in the wall where I am installing a new light fixture, and pulled out the wiring from the outlet below, but there is a stud between the wiring and the new hole. What's the easiest way to send the wire to the new location? I don't have access to the wall in front of...

Answer 4

There is a tool you can buy from Home depot that you can place over where your drilling to detect any wires. But a good rule of thumb is to drill on the beam. there is no wires on it so you cant go wrong. If its on the wall your drilling the beams are 16 1/2 inches apart from each other.

Answer 5

Use a device called a stud finder. They are inexpensive and you can buy them at any hardware store. You run them over the wall and they make a beep to show you where the studs in the walls are. That way you make sure you're drilling directly into a stud and not into any wires etc.

Answer 6

HomeDeopt and Lowe's sell a small yellow item that is called a "stud finder". It emits a high pitch beeping and lights up when it finds a "stud" (two by four or any other internal wall supporting piece of wood).

Usually wires are NOT attatched to the studs, so upon finding the stud it should be safe to drill.

Answer 7

They have things out there that will tell you where wires are but your best bet is to just knock on the wall around where you want it if it sounds like you hit something then put it there more than likely its a stud for the house and no wires are near it

Answer 8

Get a stud finder. Once you have found the left and right side bounderies of the stud, find the center of the stud and drill there. There will be no wires there.

Answer 9

odds are, you're not going to hit anything. wires are setback from the drywall and really only run up and down the sides of studs. there's usually nothing behind walls at eye level where you'd put a shelf, like water lines, etc.

Answer 10

um
i always go trial and error
I've not died yet, so give me an A+ for effort!


electrical wiring is ran in a straight line from outlets to switches...be sure they are clear of your way, and you need to drill into a STUD, so use a stud finder....i doubt there will be a wire inside of a stud that is clear from all circuit lines!