SH-02Confirm the wall and check for cables and pipesConfirm the wall is solid brick or block, not stud or dot-and-dab — a hollow sound or a stud detector reading through plasterboard means you need a different method. Before drilling, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. Use a cable/pipe detector to scan the wall, but still expect something could be there even if it reads clear — detectors miss deep cables and anything outside the safe zones near sockets and switches. If you have any doubt, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn off the water at the stopcock before drilling anywhere near kitchen or bathroom pipework.