The Ultimate Guide for Plasterboard Fixings

You’ve just finished plaster boarding your room, and you now want to hang some objects on the wall. Whether you are looking to install a wall-mounted television, or simply to hang a mirror or painting, you will need the right fixings for the job.

Plasterboard, although it is a pretty sturdy material, is actually just a layer compressed plaster dust between two sheets paper. This means that even a single screw (or nail), can cause the board to crumble. It’s not ideal. Plasterboard fixings are essential to avoid the worry that your wall could be destroyed by your decoration at any time.

We will look at the different types of plasterboard fixing in Auckland and their uses, along with which ones work best in certain situations.

What are plasterboard fixations?
Plasterboard fixings can be inserted into a wall before any other material. They hold a screw, which allows you to screw an item into the wall using the fixing. The object that is hanging from the plasterboard will increase the amount of plasterboard under stress. This will give it a better hold than a single screw.

How to use plasterboard fixations?
We will describe how different plasterboard fixings operate. In general, however, you will need to first drill a hole large enough to allow the body of the fix to pass through. The drill bit size is indicated on the fixing package. Before drilling and screwing in the object, make sure there are no pipes or wires on the chosen area of plasterboard. You’re ready to go.

What are the best fixings for plasterboard?
Plasterboard fixings come in many different types, and each is suitable for a variety of scenarios. Use plastic anchors or spring toggles to fix lighter items, metal spring toggles or plastic screws for medium loads and metal spring screw for heavy objects. These are the most common plasterboard fixings.

Self-drive screws

Self-drive fixings do not require drilling in place. This is true even though we just mentioned it. These metal screws are designed for light objects and have a tapered tip. They can also make their own holes. You can install the screws directly into the plasterboard using a screwdriver. Then, insert a small Screw for a more secure fix.

Wall Plugs

wall plugs can be used to fix a variety of objects. They are easy and cheap to use. These do need to be drilled, but the hole must be slightly smaller than that of the plug. The plasterboard plug is a similar product, but it is usually shorter and wider.

Plastic toggles
This type of plasterboard fix is also known as a spring toggle or nylon toggle. It’s best for light-to-medium loads. The triangular, collapsible plastic toggle is inserted into a pre-drilled plasterboard hole. The toggle bounces up and back towards the plasterboard. This ensures a solid fix and spreads the weight. You can then screw a screw in the body to attach the objects as needed.

Wall anchors

wall anchors look very similar to plastic toggles but are made from metal. They can therefore hold more weight, and are better suited for heavier objects like radiators.

Spring toggles

springs toggles are ideal for hanging shelves. They work in exactly the same way as wall anchors and plastic toggles. They are metal, but have a different shape toggle. The toggle flattens vertically back against the plasterboard.

Rubber anchor nut

Sometimes, less is more. A rubber, cylindrical anchor nut is simply a rubber nut that fits easily into the hole you have drilled. These can take a great deal of weight, and they are corrosion-resistant.

Grip It fixing

The Grip It is one of the newest products available on the market. It was created by the youngest ever person to be able to secure investment in BBC’s Dragons’ Den. It’s pretty cool. Grip It works the same as other fixings in that you need to insert it into a hole pre-drilled in plasterboard. It looks like a fidget-spinner and requires a screwdriver to be inserted into the colored plastic on the front. The metal wings are then turned to fix the fixing in place. This is a great fix for larger objects, and usually requires wall openings greater than 18mm.