DP-07Refix the pipe clips to the wallDownpipe clips fix to the outside wall of your house, which is almost always solid brick, block or stone, not a stud wall - so timber and metal stud fixings don't apply here. Before drilling, use a cable and pipe detector to check for anything hidden, but still be cautious: detectors can miss deep cables, alarm wiring or pipes feeding outside taps and lights. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns before you start, and if you're at all unsure, turn off the relevant circuit at the consumer unit first. On solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole about 40mm deep, insert a plastic wall plug, and fix with a 50mm screw. On rendered walls, drill through the render into the masonry behind and use a slightly longer 60mm screw so it still grips the brick or block. On timber fascia boards, feather-edge cladding or a timber-framed outbuilding, skip the plug and drive a 40mm wood screw straight into solid timber, avoiding soft or rotten wood.