I'm planning to drill a bit in the ceiling (concrete) of my apartment from the 1920s: two hooks for lamps, two smoke detectors, and brackets to hold the poles for an IKEA shelf ("Broder") in place (two holes per pole).
Do I need to worry about drilling into water or electrical lines? How deep are these usually located?
Most of the holes will be roughly in the middle of the rooms, but one of the shelf poles will be right against the wall that leads to the bathroom, is that something to worry about?
If I need to buy a detector, what kind do I need? Can you rent one instead?
Do I need to worry about drilling into water or electrical lines? How deep are these usually located?
Most of the holes will be roughly in the middle of the rooms, but one of the shelf poles will be right against the wall that leads to the bathroom, is that something to worry about?
If I need to buy a detector, what kind do I need? Can you rent one instead?
To be completely sure, you need to check with a metal/electric detector. There are cheap ones to buy, otherwise, it's probably possible to rent one.
Since your apartment is from the 20s, it is not certain that it is concrete; it could be plastered on a wooden frame. In some cases, there is a thick layer of plaster on reed mat. Then it's important to have really long screws to reach up to the wood. You drill a hole in the plaster and then drive the screw up into the wooden frame.
Since your apartment is from the 20s, it is not certain that it is concrete; it could be plastered on a wooden frame. In some cases, there is a thick layer of plaster on reed mat. Then it's important to have really long screws to reach up to the wood. You drill a hole in the plaster and then drive the screw up into the wooden frame.
Of course you're right. For some reason, I just assumed it would be concrete. It seems to be concrete where the shelf is supposed to stand (in a closet) and soft elsewhere.
I've never drilled into something like that before. It should work with a regular drill I guess? What does the wooden frame usually look like (i.e., does it matter where I "hit")?
I've never drilled into something like that before. It should work with a regular drill I guess? What does the wooden frame usually look like (i.e., does it matter where I "hit")?
Often there is plank above the plaster/wattle mat. You might miss and end up in between, then you need to angle the screw so it hits the wood. Drilling into plaster is no problem, regular concrete drill bit. The plaster can be quite thick and it is possible to attach lighter items to it, but with some load it often goes "thwack" and a "koka" comes off.