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New build flat - located joists to hang stuff but keep drilling into metal?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.41 PM

I'm in a modern (~10yr old) flat block and getting my head around hanging stuff on the plasterboard walls. Where I've found hollow areas I've used expanding anchor plugs without issue, but where I've located joists (using a magnet to locate several vertical screw points indicating a joist) I drill into this point expecting to hit a nice bit of timber for a good strong screw point but several times now I've hit metal and not been able to drill through. Is this metal just a thin layer that wraps the wooden joist? Should I just use a metal drill bit and power on through or am I missing something? I am confident these aren't electrical or water boxes to stop me drilling. Any advice would be great as Ive a few heavy items to hang where the fixing points have to go where I've detected a joist.

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4 Answers

D & R Property and Plumbing Maintenance

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

New Romney

no these walls are metal lathing not wooden studs, just another case of poor building standards.

Answered15 March 2022

Craftsmen Cymru

Rating: 5 out of 5

Penarth

Hi there, It sounds like your walls may be constructed using metal studwork. This is quite common now in newer built properties. You need to be certain that you're not drilling into steel cable protection channels. Toggle bolts (may also be known as spring toggles) can be used to hang on steel studs. Hope this is of use to you.

Answered15 March 2022

Neill Walker Services

Rating: 5 out of 5

Sale

Many modern partician walls are built using metal framed C studs rather than timber. If they are picked up as metal and spaced out equally where studs should be, it's a good indication with a stud detector. They normally use metal U channel horizontally at the top and bottom for fixing it to the ceiling and floor which again should be detectable on all for edges of the wall. You can fix to the stud uprights using self tapping screws or some people use toggle bolts for heavier loads but make sure you are in the centre if the metal. Be cautious when drilling as some builders run power cables in the hollow vertical studs which may not be easily detectable with your stud finder behind metal.

Answered15 March 2022

Anonymous user

What you are finding is called 'c' stud. Metal channels used in new builds instead of timber, quicker, cheaper and saves trees, you can screw into it using the correct screws but still not great. To strengthen them you need to open the walls up and fit timber inside the metal channel. Very time consuming and messy.

Answered15 March 2022