Brick is stronger than mortar, so this is ideal if you’re mounting a TV or something like that. Unfortunately, you can’t patch brick the same way you can patch mortar, so just make sure you’re ready to hang the item if you’re drilling straight into the brick. If you’re drilling directly into brick, use a wall anchor. [2] X Expert Source Jason PhillipHandyman Expert Interview. 2 July 2020. A screw may come loose or cause the brick to degrade over time. [3] X Research source Wall anchors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they list the weight they can hold and the materials they’re for on the packaging.
As bricks age, they tend to become softer. If the bricks aren’t in the best shape, drilling into a brick may cause structural damage to the wall. If you’re going into the mortar and you aren’t hanging anything heavy, you can just use a drywall or masonry screw. You don’t need a wall anchor.
If you’re going into the brick directly, you may need a power drill if the brick is especially new or strong. [9] X Expert Source Jason PhillipHandyman Expert Interview. 2 July 2020. Luckily, you can rent one of these from any big box home improvement store. [10] X Research source
If you have a drill stop, feel free to use that instead. The tape trick is totally fine and will keep you from spending money on a bit of gear you’ll likely never use again.
If you’re doing this outside and you’re only drilling one hole, feel free to wear a regular dust mask.
The torque setting is often referred to as the power setting. If your drill has one of these, it’s probably the sliding tab on the top of the drill. The “1” is usually the high torque setting. [15] X Research source
Really take your time to make sure the drill is perpendicular. There’s going to be a fair bit of resistance once you start drilling, so it’s key you know where you have to hold the drill while you pull the trigger.
If the drill bit skirts off of the wall, release the trigger and try again. You have to hold the drill totally steady for the bit to catch.
This is the ideal time to vacuum up any brick or mortar dust on the ground as well!
If you’re drilling directly into the brick or you’re drilling into the mortar and hanging something heavier than 1–2 pounds (0. 45–0. 91 kg), you must use a wall anchor. Continue pushing or tapping your anchor into the hole until it’s flush with the surface of the brick. Install the screw into the anchor using a regular screwdriver.
If you have a hex anchor, use a socket wrench to install it in the wall instead of a drill or screwdriver. Install your screw in the anchor with a standard screwdriver.
You may be able to use a screwdriver, but it’s probably going to be pretty tough. If you’re hanging something, keep in mind that you’ll need an extra 1⁄4–1 in (0. 64–2. 54 cm) of the screw sticking out of the wall!
