I'm trying to mount a TV to the wall. This is my first house and I have little experience with materials used in buildings aside from the fact that there are wood and metal studs. I know it is important to mount into the center of the stud. I have the Zircon stud finder that also scans for metal. After measuring out where I ideally want the TV to be, I scanned for studs and found the middle to be half an inch to the left of where I wanted it to be. Good enough for me! I follow the instructions on the package after this, making sure the mount is straight before marking the holes to be drilled. I drilled the holes (3 of them), got all 3 screws in with the mount and began to tighten them at intervals. That's when I realized one of the screws wouldn't go further than an inch or so in. I realized when I drilled there was no sawdust, only drywall dust. I poked my drill in the hole and listened and I heard metal on metal. Sure enough, I pulled the drill bit out and there were tiny shards of metal. According to my stud finder, the metal stud is about 4 inches wide. From what I've read online it's only supposed to be 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide.So, tell me. Is this normal? Have I screwed up? Do I need to go buy toggle bolts and plywood to mount to the wall then mount the TV to the plywood? It is 46" and weighs 26.5 lbs.If this isn't a metal stud, then what the hell is going on here? 2 inches of drywall before the firewall that my metal scanner sees?Edited to include additional information: I live in a townhouse. We have firewalls (I think that's what they are called) between our homes. I am trying to mount the TV on one of the walls I share with my neighbor. I'm not sure if/how that affects the depth of my drill bit, and/or whether or not there are pipes in these walls as opposed to an interior or perpendicular wall.Edited to add pictures: One of the holes and the wall of holes where I attempted to drill higher thinking I just needed to avoid a nail shield. The closest electrical outlet/switch is to the left approximately 50 inches. There's nothing else on this wall.This is the unfinished bathroom on the bottom floor. Same side of the house as where I am mounting the TV. Wood studs. That's my drain piping from the bathroom upstairs (PVC, not metal) and assuming the kitchen since it also branches off in that direction. There's a steel beam there but knocking on it, it's much thicker than what I drilled through. via /r/DIY https://ift.tt/2DqxEu4
