Drilling into plasterboard is a straightforward task if you follow a few key steps to avoid damaging the wall and achieve a clean hole. It's crucial to use the correct drill bit and settings.
To drill into a plasterboard wall, you need to select the appropriate drill bit and prepare your drill.
Essential Steps for Drilling
When you're ready to drill into plasterboard, follow these simple instructions:
- Choose the Right Bit: Be sure to use a wood drill bit rather than a masonry one. Wood bits are designed to cut through softer materials cleanly, which is ideal for plasterboard. Masonry bits and hammer action can easily blow out the back of the board or create a messy, oversized hole.
- Set Your Drill: If your drill has a hammer action, be sure it is turned off. Hammer action is for drilling into hard materials like brick or concrete and will damage plasterboard.
- Mark Your Spot: Use a pencil to mark the exact location where you want to drill the hole.
- Position and Drill: Then line the bit up carefully with your pencil mark, and begin to drill. Apply gentle, steady pressure.
- Drill Time: It will only take a couple of seconds at most, because of how plasterboard is such a soft material.
Why Use a Wood Bit and No Hammer Action?
- Wood Bits: These bits have a sharp point and spurs (or just a sharp tip for smaller sizes) that cleanly slice through the plasterboard's paper layers and the gypsum core. This results in a much cleaner hole compared to a masonry bit, which pulverizes material.
- No Hammer Action: Hammer action adds a pulsating forward motion to the rotation. While effective for breaking through hard masonry, this action will simply smash the soft gypsum core of plasterboard, leading to a ragged, unstable hole.
Preparing for Drilling
Before you start, gather the necessary items:
- A drill (corded or cordless)
- A wood drill bit of the desired size
- A pencil
- Measuring tape (if needed)
- Safety glasses (always recommended)
- Dust sheet or vacuum cleaner (to catch dust)
Post-Drilling Steps
Once you have successfully drilled the hole, you can proceed with installing a suitable plasterboard fixing (like a wall plug or anchor) if you plan to hang something heavy. For small holes not requiring a fixing, you're done!
Drilling into plasterboard is quick and easy when using the correct technique.
