Walls crumble when drilling

PeteW

Hiya,

I'm trying to mount a mirror on the wall, but when I drill the holes for the rawl plugs, the wall just crumbles to bits.

You can see in the photo below, the first one went in, albeit making a bit of a mess when I hammered the last of the plug in. Then when I started doing the second hole just below it, the bit of wall between the two holes just crumbled out.



Now I remember that I had the same problem when I tried fitting a stair gates ages ago.

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong? I'm using an 8mm masonry bit on a fairy low speed on a hammer action. The wall is brick and presumably is from when the house was build in the 1930s. Does this just mean the brick is too old and knackered or is there something else I can try?

Thanks

Pete

dave82_2

Might just be the render or plaster that is crumbling. Try drilling through the first layer without the hammer action then when you hit solid brick use the hammer action. hope that makes sense!

Jonesya

From the photo, it appears it is the plaster which is coming away. If there's a good thick layer of plaster, are you drilling deep enough and are the rawl plugs long enough so you are fixing securely into the brick or is the bulk of the fixing into the plaster?

PeteW

Thanks guys. I did wonder if it was just plaster, but didn't think plaster would go that deep - it's over half an inch! I could try and find some deeper plugs, but would they be OK if the last half inch wasn't touching anything?

Also it's really hard to keep drilling in the right place as the plaster crumbles away as you drill moving the drill bit around - any thoughts on how to resolve that?

muskoka

Try not using the hammer at all............(is the drill bill straight?)

ormus

you need to drill deeper than that. into the brick (if it is brick).
plaster will not hold any heavy items.

mchale

Try using a 5mm drill bit and yellow plug, that will hold the weight of the mirror, thats the size I use when hanging pics etc, a 8mm will be to big

C_Mababejive

The wall plug doesnt look to be of good quality.

PeteW

andrew-b wrote: »

Why are you drilling the second hole so close to the first?

Because that's where the screw holes in the bracket I need to put up are.


The mirror weights about 9kg, do I don't think smaller plugs will help.

I'll try starting with a small bit and working up to the 8mm.

diable

Put a screw in the rawl plug then hammer it in once you have drilled the appropriated hole.

montrose5

Try a longer rawplug to get purchase in the brick and then pack in the plaster portion of the plug with polyfilla or similar.Leave overnight to set and it should be solid (can't guarantee but it has worked in the past for me)