Can’t drill through walls

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Hello All
I have recently moved into a flat and tried to put some shelves up and curtain rails to make myself at home however every wall I drill into seems to have a steel backing behind the wall so I can only drill about 5mm before the drill stops.

Has anyone experienced this and what can I do ?

Thanks in advance

Are you sure it's steel and you are not just hitting brick, which is harder? Curtain poles you might be hitting the steel lintle above the window but I can't imagine why you would be hitting steel when putting shelves up.

You're using a masonry bit with a hammer drill, yes? Because hard bricks will stop pretty much anything else.

Hammer drill or is it a power driver?

Hi ladies thank you for responding

I have attached the part I am using to drill. This part is the bigger size up as the size I was using snapped when I was drilling lol

@thequeef

That looks plausible. Have you engaged the hammer function on the drill? It won't be on by default.

This is the drill I use however I have used a friend’s drill that was more powerful and again it didn’t seem to go through the wall

@ReflectentMonatomism I haven’t tried the hammer setting but I will try now

Definitely try the hammer setting. If not then you probably need an SDS drill. I live in a flat which seems to be constructed of titanium-enriched reinforced concrete and even with the hammer function on and good quality masonry bits, a normal drill won’t make a hole deeper than a centimetre.

Thank you comtesse x

@ReflectentMonatomism the size of the other masonry bit I have broke so could I use this other bit that is a similar size but I’m not sure if it’s a masonry bit ?
Just don’t want to snap another piece.

And just hypothetically; there’s no way the wall could crumble if I drill through the hard bricks is there ?

Sorry to sound daft I’m just nervous and have no ide what I’m doing lol

Here is the other piece

How old is the flat? My first flat was a 1960's build and a total bastard to drill into!

Another thing to check is that your drill is going the right way - I see it has forward and reverse. Make sure it's switched to forward! I had a hard time drilling into wood recently and it turned out the switch had been knocked into reverse without me noticing.

That isn't a masonry drill, and won't work on brick (and will probably snap with a hammer function engaged).

there’s no way the wall could crumble if I drill through the hard bricks is there ?

No.

@soupdragon
Hi
I’m not sure how old the flat is unfortunately but it’s not a new build.
It’s on the forward setting aswell but still no luck - even the drill bit stopped spinning lol
I’m going to see if I can get a handyman to help me as it’s all stressful.

Thank you dearly

@ReflectentMonatomism thank you. I realised after I saw it wouldn’t spin properly when I just tried.

I will see if I can get someone to help with mabey a more powerful drill.

Thank you dearly x

It’s not the wrong drill that you’re using. You need a drill bit for metal.

@goingtotown thank you,
Gonna pop into screwfix to see if I can find a stronger piece.

Thank you x

Get a small set of bits. The masonry ones have a flat end the metal bit is just sharp. Try hammer drill.
If you are putting the shelf on the chimney check you aren't hitting the lintel.

I can't spell today so apologies.

@thequeef

Thank you. Will do and keep you guys updated x

We had a wall re-plastered with some super duper new fangled stuff, to stop damp. It's rock solid and we can't drill into it, but the guy did tell us that before he did it. It really has got steel behind the plaster!