Do You Drill into the Brick or the Mortar?

From the @buildingsheriff comes the definitive answer to the question: do you drill into the brick or the mortar when you need to screw into a wall. Drilling into a brick wall is easy if you have the right tools and do so in the correct way.

And the correct way to drill into a brick wall is to drill into the brick, NOT the mortar!

This channel is about helping the average DIYer to work like a pro with professional level tips and tricks.

[BillLaBrie]

One of my first jobs out of high school involved installing electronics behind the line at fast food restaurants. The control box had to be mounted in a specific location on the wall. Oftentimes that meant I had one fastener in brick, another in mortar, one in a stud, and the last in drywall. So the answer to the question posed in the thumbnail for me has always been “yes.”

[Honeycrumblesmum]

as someone without a dad to show them how to do these basic things, i find videos like this so helpful. Thank you

[petesmith]

I always fit temporary/moveable stuff to mortar as to not damage a brick, hangin baskets, light, plaque, side tv aerial.
Downpipe, fence dividing timber, front door canopy etc bricks.

[vumba]

In architecture the specifications for mortar were that it must always be weaker than the brick or block it was bonding. This was done on the premise that if there was movement that would result in a crack, the crack would follow the mortar joint which is much easier to repair compared to a brick or block.

[Anakinuk]

Personally I’d use a 6.5mm bit for brown plugs, 5.5mm for red. Generally speaking. All is situational on the type of plugs your using of which there are numerous, and the thickness of screws being used. So often bricks/walls just crumble, better to start with smaller hole and use bigger bit if necessary.

[salty_flightdeck_cpo]

Protect your eyes while drilling, especially into masonry, so that you can carryon with your excellent advice.

[HistoricHomePlans]

Excellent video! This gentleman knows a lot more about it than me. But I wanted to offer a small tip that may be helpful. Sometimes I find the drill wants to bounce around a bit at the start and it's hard to get the hole started exactly where I want it. So I use a much smaller bit, like a 3 or 4, NOT on the hammer setting, just to create a small starter hole, not even 1/8" deep. Then I'll switch to the larger bit. Takes more time, of course, but it's a handy tip to have in the back pocket when needed.

[flyonwall]

Okay, I'm knew on this channel but... it depends on what you are trying to secure on a wall. Yes, securing to brick is stronger. However, it is less expensive to replace motar than it is to replace brick. Since 1983 I've been working in the telecommunications industry an for the past ten years I have been installing copper and fiber service. A light plastic copper or transition box and conduit is secured to the mortar to avoid any costly damage to a customer's house.

[jimmclean]

If, however you are using Lag and Shield fasteners for larger attachments, it is preferable to place them along the mortarline where possible. Because they expand more than plastic plugs they are apt to crack the brick. When placed in the mortar they will expand up to the brick giving a tight solid hold.

[huejanus]

I always use lead shields in the mortar, wedged between 2 bricks, never had a problem. You can remove them from the mortar when changing things around and just patch the mortar. I have seen many cracked bricks and brick walls full of defunct plugs over the years though. Bricks also have a lot of voids in them, not the best place for anchoring.

[Phil-Higginson]

Never had to fix something to brick before, did a You tube search, this pops up.. Straight Forward Clear and Concise instruction, saved me a lot of time and unnecessary blue language. Great Job, deserves the multi-million views

[ryk]

Love the down pipe bracket secured into the Mortar 🤣

[darylefleming]

Thanks m8. I notice the screw on the black bracket for the rain spout is in the mortar. 4:27

[jayraza]

My dad's black and decker hammer drill is still going strong after 20+ years! Amazing engineering! Obviously it's not as powerful as current drills, but for DIY projects at home, it's perfect and reliable.

[bimble]

0:46 We're going to use a 6mm Masonry bit, shows image of HSS drill bits !

[Dirthauler]

I remember my Father mixing mortar, he would use the proper amount of sand to mortar ratio, and then he would toss in about a quarter of a shovel of concrete mix too. We've never had to go back and fix loose mortar between bricks or blocks ever. I'm talking about jobs we did together when I was a kid, some 40-45 years ago and the mortar looks like it was just put in a month ago, no crumbling, or cracking and no repairs needed.

[deeliciousplum]

Thank you! While looking at installing a patio light which charges with the sun, I did not know whether to drill into the brick or mortar. Your ideas are clear and accessible to my non-skillful sides. Thank you!

[timcoolican]

Depending on what it is you're trying to hang / mount on the brick-faced wall, the weight bearing down on the screw, as well as the force pulling on the screw, will have to be considered. Drilling entirely through the brick, or even the mortared joint, anchoring a screw or lag bolt into the wall behind the brick face will provide a stronger anchor point. Just be sure not to crush the brick / mortar when snugging the screw / lag. In addition, find out what type of wall is behind the brick face. Concrete or block walls will require plugs or shields as well.

[lea-rwcb]

Door swings open "why have you drilled a random hole in the front of my

[gfh]

Great tip. Never knew about drilling into the brick, I always did so in the mortar. Thanks.