Why cannot drill into wall when mounting a flat screen tv?

Question

I'm trying to drill with my 9.5v drill set. But after about 1.5 inches, I cannot drill into the wall anymore. This is a 2005 house at the place right above the fire place. stud sensor said it's the right place. I wonder if stud sensor found a steel beam. But even if it's steel I should be able to drill into it with max drill setting. I'm not sure if anyone have good advice for me.

Answer 1

With all the answers you received everyone seems to have forgotten one important thing, do you really want to install your expensive flat screen TV above the fireplace mantle where the heat, some of it I'm sure, come up. your going to cook you T.V.

Answer 2

That can happen if you hit a knot in the wood in the correct way. In that case you need to push through it or drill a starter hole with a small bit.

More than likely you found the masonry for the fireplace if there is any in that wall. In which case, if the fireplace in being use, be careful not to damage the masonry. You could burn the house down if you leave an open hole or crack that you don't know about.

Answer 3

If its above the fireplace...its either a steel lintel or the masonary for the fireplace. If its a gas fireplace and there is no masonary work becareful that you are not drilling into a nail plate. They are small steel plates that are used over areas where wires and pipes pass thru framing to protect them from nails etc. It may be in your best interest to cut a hole in the drywall to see what you are drilling into. Spackle and paint are cheap!

Answer 4

You may be hitting a bolt, or other hardware, related to the fireplace.  There is a chimney flue that runs up behind the wall there....and depending on how it was constructed, it may be made of stone, brick, or cement block (or it may just be a steel double wall pipe mounted with brackets to the structure)

I'd suggest a couple of options... shine a light into the hole and try to determine what you are hitting, or drill some test pilot holes with a very small diameter drill bit, on either side of the obstruction (to see if it continues past where you want to drill) or to tear out the wall just a bit, to see what it is.

If your tv is very heavy, you may want to tear out the wall just a bit anyway, so you can install a 2x6, or 2x8, horizontally, across the wall space, securing it to the studs.  This would give you some room to move the anchors left or right, as necessary.

Have Fun

Answer 5

I think the drill is too weak

Answer 6

Nope you found the fireplace chimney , you may have to get longer bouts and drill with a masonry bit and use anchors to fasten the mount.

Did build masonary fireplaces for 30 years.

Answer 7

If your drill has already gone in 1-1/2 inches, it is NOT a nail plate.  Nail plates are attached to the surface of the stud, so you would hit that after going through the drywall.  This would only be 1/2" deep.

I would not force the drill through.  You are likely hitting pipes that run through the wall horizontally.  Open the wall up and see what is in there.  While you are in there, add some blocking for the TV.  It's the best way to mount it (you don't want to buy a new TV when the bracket falls off of the wall), and you will get to see what actually is in the wall.  The TV will hide the patch.  Hope this helps.

Answer 8

There is most likely a steel nail plate in the wall, put there to prevent you from drilling through electrical wires.

Answer 9

Have someone who knows what they are doing to finish the job.