Drill Screw Above Radiator

TheRealM

Hi, I've recently moved into a new build property and want to hang a clock. The clock isn't very heavy and was held up in my previous house with one plug and screw. I've got a stud detector and its finding a stud exactly where I want to hang the clock but its also detecting metal in the same place. Radiator pipes are directly below about a meter and half down. Is it likely to be ok to hang the clock with a small screw or best to not risk it?

buglawton

If it's one of those plastic clocks you can just make a small shallow hole in the plasterboard. Push a screwdriver through the hole to check for pipes etc and if nothing there, just put a plasterboard plug and screw in.

What kind of stud detector do you have? I have one metal detector type that detects pipes and cables but it's too approximate. And I have a second magnetic detector that pinpoints stud wall nails. The stud nail detector even locates on Kingspan (aluminium foil backed) insulated stud walls where pipe detectors are useless. With a stud detector you can trace the exact position of the nails in stud wall support beams (look for 40cm gaps between nails). Once you have located the beam you can confidently put a half inch screw into it.

TheRealM

buglawton said:

If it's one of those plastic clocks you can just make a small shallow hole in the plasterboard. Push a screwdriver through the hole to check for pipes etc and if nothing there, just put a plasterboard plug and screw in.

What kind of stud detector do you have? I have one metal detector type that detects pipes and cables but it's too approximate. And I have a second magnetic detector that pinpoints stud wall nails. The stud nail detector even locates on Kingspan (aluminium foil backed) insulated stud walls where pipe detectors are useless. With a stud detector you can trace the exact position of the nails in stud wall support beams (look for 40cm gaps between nails). Once you have located the beam you can confidently put a half inch screw into it.

Its this one (sorry I can't post the link)

Stud Finder Wood Metal Detector - 5 in 1 Electronic Stud Sensor Wall Scaner Beam Joist Finders Wall Detector Edge Center Finding with Battery LCD Display for Wood Live AC Wire Metal Studs Detection

buglawton

From the description I'd say yours is the 'pipe detector' type. Actually you should be able to detect the overall path of the pipe with it so long as there's no Kingspan in the stud wall.

TELLIT01

For a lightweight clock, one of the hooks held by an adhesive pad should be sufficient so no need for any hole.

TheRealM

buglawton said:

From the description I'd say yours is the 'pipe detector' type. Actually you should be able to detect the overall path of the pipe with it so long as there's no Kingspan in the stud wall.

If there is a pipe detected exactly where I want to put the clock up, should I try and put it up somewhere else or the pipe likely to be deep enough to not be impacted by the screw?

Le_Kirk

Is this ground floor or first floor?  Where do the radiator pipes go when they leave the lock-shield valves?  Is the place you want to put the screw right in the centre of the radiator?  It is unusual for a pipe feeding a radiator to go vertically down and then split to go each way to feed the valve.

Jonesya

Le_Kirk said:

It is unusual for a pipe feeding a radiator to go vertically down and then split to go each way to feed the valve.

It must vary according to the plumber, all the radiators in my house are connected exactly like this, pipes emerge in the centre behind the radiator and go outward either side to the valves.

Carrot007

TELLIT01 said:

For a lightweight clock, one of the hooks held by an adhesive pad should be sufficient so no need for any hole.

Hey some of those pads can hold adecent weight. Even more so if you use multiple. I put up a mirror with one. It has not budged in years.

TheRealM

Le_Kirk said:

Is this ground floor or first floor?  Where do the radiator pipes go when they leave the lock-shield valves?  Is the place you want to put the screw right in the centre of the radiator?  It is unusual for a pipe feeding a radiator to go vertically down and then split to go each way to feed the valve.

Its ground floor, the pipes for both lockshield valves go into a hole behind the middle of the radiator

buglawton

TheRealM said:

buglawton said:

From the description I'd say yours is the 'pipe detector' type. Actually you should be able to detect the overall path of the pipe with it so long as there's no Kingspan in the stud wall.

If there is a pipe detected exactly where I want to put the clock up, should I try and put it up somewhere else or the pipe likely to be deep enough to not be impacted by the screw?

It is likely to be deeper in, but that's easy to check if you do find a pipe just there (which I doubt).

As I mentioned, make a small hole just deep enough to to thru the plasterboard then put a screwdriver thru the hole to check the depth of the pipe.