Posted Sep 24, 2008 12:01 PM While trying to install new bathroom mirrors, the self-drilling anchors hit something solid. Screws would not penetrate either.
Building is a first floor condo on a slab about 20 years old. There is a second floor. No wiring in that wall that I know of. I believe pipes come up from the slab, but don't know if they go to the second floor through this wall. Ducts in the ceilings.
Question: 1. What might the screw have hit? 2. If I can't use screws to install the brackets to hold the mirrors, what can I use?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jancarnation,
Without knowing more it is difficult to say what you hit. It may be a water pipe, a vent pipe, a steel stud, etc. What is the age of you home? What type of home is it, single storey, 1 1/2 storey, 2 storey, condominium, etc? Are there other floors above or below this bathroom? Are there heat or cooling ducts in that wall? Do pipes pass through that wall? You will need to do some investigating. If this washroom is on the main floor and you have a basement or crawl space below go down and locate the bathroom area and approximately where the wall would be located and examine the area for pipes, heating ducts etc that may be in the wall. If none, you may need to go into the attic and do the same? If you find nothing, it may be a steel stud depending on the age of your home. The only other way to know would be to open up an opening in the drywall and use a flashlight to examine the cavity. Once you know what it is you can then determine what to do. Unfortunately it is a lot of work just to hang a mirror. But it may be better to check than create another problem which must be fixed. Just try and make the opening in the wall such that it falls behind where the mirror is located.
Good Luck!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Simply Me,
by the building and the plumbing code. i the [plumber] am required to install what is cakked a nail plate and stud shoes. these are a strip of metal protecting my pipes from sheetrock screwws i am not saying this is what you hit. but it is a good possibilty. they are 4-6 inch long, a revent height is typically 42-45 inch off the floor, so if your in that range, or height. that is exactly what your hitting HEY YEA they work!!! i you might want to move your screw
This message has been edited. Last edited by: frodo,
Posts: 1285 | Location: i i live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008
Get a stud finder..... could very well be a nail plate as frodo says. COuld be a lot of things. Try the old fashion knocking on the walls and listen for the hollow sounds. You can also get a clue where your studs might be in the wall, by measuring from your electrical outlets as these boxes are typically attached to studs. If you have doubts, take off the plates and look in, you should see which side the stud is on. Studs are 16 oc. So you should be able to find them in your wall.
You won't know if you can do something if you don't try.
you are going to install a mirror cut a hole in the sheetrock behind the proposed location of the mirror the mirror will cover it, and see whats messing with you
Posts: 1285 | Location: i i live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008
