what is the plastic behind my drywall?

Question

I have been trying to hang a mirror but when i drill the hole there is some sort of plastic behind the drywall preventing me from drilling all the way. Not sure what it is

Answer 1

was the dry wall placed over an existing wall? If so it could be melimine but should be able to drill through it...If it is on an outside wall, could be insulation

Answer 2

Having seen just about every cheap trick ever used to "flip" a house, it would be easy to imagine some "flipping" jerk to put up drywall straight over old 1950's .....plastic tile.
If that's what's hiding under your drywall, the stuff is backed with high density Masonite. Get a little higher grade drill bit and push a little harder.
That said, If what your running into is some sort of plastic sheeting (that's binding your drill bit) or is hard black or white plastic...your missing the stud anyway, in which case the hole needs to be somewhere else. Now, since I know that the anchor your using has to be where your drilling to have the mirror in the right place....Do this: Put in two anchors about 8 inches apart. That is, 4 inches to either side of where your currently trying to put in the 'original' one. Your mirrors back wire will now hang from two points instead of just one. Unbeknown'st to most, this is the correct way to hang a painting or a mirror, It's stronger and eliminates endless 'picture straightening'....and you've gone past any pipe (if that's what it is) in the process. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

My first thought was vapor barrier but that would not stop a drill. Same response to a pipe. Are you sure it is plastic and not metal? Like a nail plate (
which is to protect electrical and you do NOT want to drill through that. If you don't know what it is, I would cut out a piece of the dry wall and take a look or find a different place for the mirror. If there is something stopping your drill that is usually a warning that you are about to get into home owner trouble.

Answer 4

If it is plastic then it is a moisture barrier.. It should not stop you from drilling.. IF it is thicker than a clear film and is black, then it could be a plastic pipe,.. With no water (white pipe) or gas (metal or yellow pipe) escaping and being black it is a vent stack to one of your sinks that you are trying to hang it above. There is no real issue with drilling into it as it is just to server as an air release so the water flows down the drain.. Otherwise it is time to get a utility knife and cut the drywall to take a better look.

Answer 5

Like everyone said, if its a light weight plastic (clear normally) then its a vapor barrier. This keeps moisture from reaching through to your drywall and making mold and mildew. If its really thick plastic (usually white or black) then youre drilling into plumbing. You need to find out before you make a big mess.

Answer 6

I've seen insulation used between the drywall and foundation in a finished basement. They install it on plastic "spikes" attached right to the cinderblock. It's optional though. I imagine it would make matters worse if there were any problems with moisture (mold, etc...).

Answer 7

You may be drilling into a plastic pipe (plumbing vent, furnace exhaust, electrical conduit). Have you penetrated the plastic you are hitting? If so you should open a small hole in the wall to see what you it.

Answer 8

Just move the stinkin mirror before you wreck something..hahah just kiddin! Whatever it is....it isn't plastic unless your drill bit is made from paper

Answer 9

Moisture/Vapor barrier.

Answer 10

it is a vapor barrier don't remove it,it stops water from destroying your insulation