Plasterboard anchors are important to ensure that your wall-hanging items, including pictures, shelves, and other home décor, won’t be pulled out of the wall. Plasterboards are made to be resilient and strong enough to handle objects.
However, it can still be prone to structural damage due to improper handling or any other reason. That is why it is important to use anchors that can tolerate carrying different weight ranges.
Experts recommend using plastic screws for hanging lighter items, spring toggles for medium items, and metal spring toggles for heavier items. In choosing the right drywall anchor, it is important to consider which items you will use the anchor with.
Also, you should be familiar with the different drywall anchor types and how to install and remove them when needed. There are also types of anchors that need special tools to install it. Likewise, there are other anchor types that have special needs and conditions before installing it.
Here are some things you need to know about different types of drywall anchors and how to use them.
Types of drywall anchor
Here are some commonly-used wall anchors and ways on how to install them correctly.
1. Sleeve anchors
It is commonly used with concrete or masonry foundations and fixtures. This type of anchor can handle heavier items, including those made from metal and other heavy material. To install a sleeve anchor, you should drill a hole that matches the anchor’s size, and will expand as it goes through the wall.
2. Adhesive anchors
It is used in high-traffic structures and is strong enough to handle heavier loads as well. The adhesive material in these anchors is made from epoxy and can tolerate different environmental conditions while maintaining its durability.
3. Winged plastic anchor
This type of wall anchor needs holes to be installed and is commonly used for hanging medium-weighted items. It needs the use of a special tool to expand the anchor wings once the screw is already inserted. Unlike regular plastic anchors, winged plastic anchors promise twice the strength and durability.
4. Toggle bolt
This is considered a traditional anchor method and has two major parts — the machine bolt and the toggle. The longer the toggle bolt is, the more wall thickness it can accommodate. It can also handle heavy items.
5. Threaded anchors
One distinct feature of this type of anchor is that it is removable and reusable. It is easy to install and can handle medium-duty applications.
6. Expansion anchors
These are also called wedge anchors and are commonly used in concrete and masonry projects. There are three types of expansion anchors: full-bodied, partially threaded, and fully threaded anchors. The ones with a ribbed structure can provide stable grip strength no matter the wall material is.
The above-mentioned list should serve as a guide the next time you look for wall anchors. These anchors can tolerate different items depending on their weight and the anchor material. More importantly, you should choose the right type of anchor, depending on your wall application needs.
