Drywall has many desirable properties that make it the most popular choice for interior wall construction, including ease of installation, sound dampening, thermal insulation and more. Being a material that readily holds nails, screws or hooks for hanging pictures or other interior decorations has never been drywall’s strong point.
The fact that we can push tacks into plasterboard with our thumbs shows just how soft it is, and how easily nails or screws can be ripped out of place with very little force. But interior walls are meant to be decorated – people do it all the time with drywall anchors, and we’re here to teach you how to use drywall anchors the easy way.
BetaBoard is Brisbane’s leading source for building and plastering supplies for the do-it-yourself handyman or for the professional contractor. We have various styles of drywall anchors available in whatever size is needed. Visit us today at one of our fully stocked stores or get in touch online with any questions.
How to Use Drywall Anchors – The Basics
Different Types of Anchors and Installation
There are many kinds of drywall anchors. Some are made of nylon that are suitable for most uses around a house, but there also metal anchors designed for heavy duty and commercial applications. Wall anchors can be further separated by the type of mechanism that holds them in place and provides secure fastening in soft plasterboard.
Screw Type Anchors
These drywall anchors consist of a metal screw that is part-way threaded into a nylon or metal threaded sleeve. How to install wall anchors of this kind is easy and involves screwing them into place with a screwdriver, as the threaded sleeve will penetrate and dig into the drywall. Once the sleeve is flush with the wall it will stop turning and only the inside screw will be driven in. This causes the sleeve to expand or split depending on the exact type of anchor and increases the holding power of the anchor-screw system as the sleeve digs into the inside of the drywall or grabs onto the back of the plasterboard.
Friction Style Anchors
At a glance, these look like the screw type anchors. There’s an inner screw with an outer sleeve that is usually made of nylon. The sleeves are not threaded, but instead have ridges. The first step in installing a friction anchor is to drill a small hole in the drywall – the size of the hole depends on the size of the anchor and will be specified on the anchor’s packaging. Next, the anchor is gently hammered into the hole until the sleeve head is flush with the wall surface. Finally, the inner screw is driven into the sleeve, causing it to expand for a strong friction hold against the inside of the plasterboard.
Some Tips for How to Use Drywall Anchors
Do Not Overtighten – No Power Drills
Most DIYers have a cordless power drill somewhere in their home or workshop. They’re fun to use and convenient. But they are too powerful for use with drywall anchors, especially the screw types which need to be screwed into place until they are exactly flush with the drywall surface, and you start to feel just a bit of resistance – even a quarter of a twist too much is enough to strip out the soft drywall. It’s tough to have the right amount of finesse with a power drill, and using one is not how to install wall anchors in a way that is secure and will last. Put away the power tools and use a standard screwdriver – plasterboard is soft and easily accepts anchors, so you’re not going to wear out your wrist.
Use the Screws That Come with the Anchors
Drywall anchors consist of a simple design – but don’t let their simplicity fool you. These are precision designed to be an elegant solution to a common problem – acting as a secure fastener that can be used with soft drywall. The screw and sleeve that make up the anchor system are made to work together. If an inner screw is ever lost, it can be tempting to use another screw you have on hand. This can result in mechanical stresses that the sleeve was not designed for, which can compromise the integrity of the anchor and lead to failure, causing the anchor to rip out of the wall as whatever it was supporting falls to the ground.
BetaBoard for Your Drywall Anchors
How to use drywall anchors is easy and installation can be a rewarding DIY project. When you need dependable high-quality plasterboard anchors for your interior design, call on BetaBoard. We love to talk DIY and we are always available for advice or to answer any of your questions. Come down and see at one of our great stores or contact us online.
