Bricks are great if you’re looking for something durable that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. They’re also good if you want to add a bit more texture to your home.

Drilling into brick isn’t as tough as one would expect. You can use the drill directly on the brick or mortar, just make sure to use the right equipment!

The problem comes in deciding whether to drill it into the mortar or the brick itself. It depends on a lot of factors such as the age of the brick and how heavy the item you’re planning to hang is.

Brick vs Mortar

There’s a long debate over which method is best when drilling but it actually depends on numerous factors such as the type of brick you have, its age, depth of the hole, type of anchor that you’ll use, and how heavy the item is.

It’s easier to drill into a mortar than brick but don’t let that entice you! Mortars are for lightweight items and plastic expansions but with a few exceptions.

Bricks can generally support more weight but it’s a different story when it’s old and you’re planning to hang a heavy item.

If you’ll be needing deep holes and/or expansion-style anchors then you’re better off drilling into the mortar. Deep holes can weaken your old brick and expansion anchors will just create enough stress to the point of cracking.

You also need to take note of the fact that mortars are easier to cover up when you’ve made a mistake. When it comes to bricks, it’ll be hard to fill them up since you’ll be needing the right color and texture to replace them.

Step-by-step process on how to drill into a brick

Hanging pictures on the wall may seem like an easy task but a single mistake can ruin the project, especially if you’re dealing with a dense material like bricks.

Bricks, while dense, can easily crack and break. That’s why, if you’re a beginner, you should seek advice or follow a step-by-step process that can clearly guide you into brick drilling.

Step 1: Measuring and marking the holes

If you’re drilling directly into the brick, you won’t be able to patch the hole up, unlike the mortar. So, if you don’t want to end up with a random hole in your wall then be prepared to do a lot of meticulous measuring before drilling.

First, you’ll need to figure out the center, the proper height required, and the amount of space you want to put when hanging multiple objects.

Try to use a permanent marker and be as accurate as possible when marking the positions. Leave more than an inch of space from the edges, drilling too near will cause the brick to crumble.

If you need to drill more than one hole, make sure to use a bubble level. After all, you don’t want to end up with an unevenly hung painting. This is especially true if you’re not that confident with your measures.

Step 2: Know your depth beforehand

In some cases, you wouldn’t need to drill that deep. If you’re using masonry screws or concrete anchor kits, the packaging comes with suggested depth and instructions so make sure to check that out.

Just make sure that you have the right type of brick for the size and depth of your hole. Some bricks, especially thin ones, wouldn’t be able to handle it.

When it comes to your drill, some hammer drills will have stops in them that would prevent you from going past the set depth. Check if your drill has a stop so that you can set it to your desired depth.

If you need a guide, you can wrap some painter’s tape so you would know when to stop.

Step 3: The drilling

Get right into your drilling suit, it’s better if you have all the equipment such as the safety glasses, mask, and earplugs.

Place the tip right into the brick before tapping the back to let it slightly dig into the brick. This will make it easier for you to be steady and stay centered while drilling.

Once you’re prepped and good to go, squeeze the trigger slowly. You can increase the pressure once you feel it start to penetrate the brick.

Make sure to remove the spinning drill slightly every few seconds so you can remove any dust that clogs the brick. After all, it will just make it harder for you to go deeper once the dust starts piling.

Continue with this process until you’ve reached your desired depth. Do not wiggle the drill, it’ll make the hole larger than intended and will make the screw fit loosely.

Step 4: Cleaning

While cleaning is often at the end of the project, it’s definitely a requirement after drilling. Since bricks aren’t hollow, you’ll end up with a lot of dust inside and outside the brick.

It’s important to remove anything inside so that you won’t be obstructed when you install an anchor or screw.

If you don’t clean the inside of a hole, it’ll be hard for your anchor to properly situate itself inside it and will be poorly attached.

Step 5: Hanging or the attachment of an item

Before hanging an item, make sure that you have your hardware, anchor, or masonry kit at the ready. You can either use a drill with a driver bit or a screwdriver.

Make sure to clean everything again, brick dust may not seem that dangerous but it’s abrasive and has the possibility of scratching hardwood/tile.

Tips on drilling through the brick

Drilling through the brick is a requirement when you want to run a water pipe, anchor, or electrical wiring. Don’t worry though, there are only a few changes that you need to adjust to!

You’ll need a larger drill bit for it and you won’t need a stop. Just make sure to start at the visible part, you might break/crack the backside when you drill through it.

To make things easier, you can start using a small masonry bit before slowly progressing into a larger one. This will help in slowly accustoming the brick and your drill to the process. Just repeat it until you’ve gone through the brick.

Do not set the drill into hammer mode when dealing with soft masonry, opt for the slowest speed setting instead. Only use the hammer mode on hard masonry.

What drill should I use?

Bricks are thick and dense, at least the ones that you would use to mount heavy items on. Because of this, it requires a special sort of drill that can sustain even the hardest of bricks.

Drills of good quality will have features that help adapt to over-heating motors but this also depends on you to maintain a good balance with your equipment and not overuse it.

Hammer Drill

Rotary Drill (Must include hammer function)

Rotary Hammer vs Impact Drivers

Impact drivers produce a rotating hammering action, mostly for turning bolts and lug nuts. On the other hand, rotary hammers break up tile or concrete the same way a jackhammer would. Both do not drill holes.

You’ll need these:

• Your chosen drill
• Mortar bit
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Painter’s tape
• Shop vacuum
• Permanent marker
• Bubble level
• Dust mask

Safety Considerations

Always make sure you have the right type of brick for the job. Some bricks, like manufactured veneer bricks, are much thinner and won’t be able to support heavy items.

In other cases, some bricks can be too thin and you’ll end up with a crumbled wall along with an accident. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Some bricks already have wiring running inside. Check for wires and make sure that the power is deactivated before drilling.

Should I call a professional?

If you’ve broken every brick you’ve drilled into then it’s probably time to pat yourself on the back for good effort and leave it to the professionals.

Additionally, attaching carports or deck ledger boards may be difficult for beginners, it’s best to call a general contractor for it.

Conclusion

Drilling into brick is not hard at all! You just need to have the right tools and know the steps to accomplish it properly.

While the process itself can be simple and short, you can easily ruin it by digging too close to the edge or messing up the measurements.

You also need to know your brick to properly assess the right methods for drilling (Brick vs Mortar). Remember, some bricks aren’t tough enough to handle large holes!