Tried drilling internal stud/plasterboard wall near ceiling, but met something hard around 20mm deep

aidancoughlan

I am installing an aluminium picture rail close to the ceiling. I've done this upstairs in a couple of locations - it requires drilling 6mm holes for 30mmRawl plugs+35mm screws securing plastic "clips" that hold the rail in place when it is pressed onto it.

However, when I tried it downstairs (hallway), I've hit something hard about 20mm deep in each location I've drilled - about 18mm down from the ceiling, 6 holes over about two metres. It doesn't feel soft like a wooden stud. It's hard, but I'm unsure if it's metal or what. I haven't drilled too much just in case. I doubt if its concrete (1980's estate, internal stud/plaster wall). Any idea what it could be . Someone suggested it could be a metal trim of some sort. Is it common for plasterers to use a metal "bead" on ceiling/wall joints like they do on external corners ?

I bought a Magnusson stud/pipe detector in B&Q, but it is absolutely useless. I should have read the reviews first - it thinks there are live wires in the spindles on the staircase!!. I'll return it and purchase a decent one elsewhere.

Any thoughts from someone familiar with construction techniques - any ideas what should I do next.

* Drill with a HSS bit on the assumption its a metal plastering trim of some sort?.

* Try locate 20mm rawlplugs and go with shorter screws, fitting more of them?.

* Try "no-nails" type glue in addition to shorter screws ?

Doolittle51

Are you sure it's a stud wall? Downstairs walls are usually brick. Could it be plasterboard dot and dabbed to a brick wall?

If it is a stud wall, then the top 2 inches would be the wooden wall plate.

Plasterers mesh/bead would be closer to the surface and easy to drill through.

redlough

It's a block wall.