A Plasterboard Fixings Guide – What to use and what not to use
If you have hollow plasterboard or dryboard walls within your premises and you’re unsure which fixings you should be using, this blog post is designed to give you the confidence to carry out the fittings and applications you want to create your wonderful, bespoke interiors.
Standard plasterboard hollow wall fixings
Available for a matter of pennies per fixing, standard hollow wall fixings work perfectly as a lightweight solution for tasks such as hanging up picture frames, canvas paintings and most other small cosmetic applications such as mirrors.
Heavy duty plasterboard hollow wall fixings
If you’re judging them solely by their name, you would be forgiven for thinking that heavy duty plasterboard fixings would be significantly more reliable than standard fixings. Wrong!
What many people tend to find is that the fixings buckle or snap under pressure once the screw enters the fitting within the plasterboard. Subsequently, we’d be inclined to recommend you steer clear and select a sturdier fixing alternative for your plasterboard or dryboard.
Universal wall plugs
Another cost-effective lightweight fixing, universal wall plugs offer equally effective performance to a standard plasterboard fixing. Simply drill the required size hole into your plasterboard, push in the universal plug and insert and tighten the screw. Universal wall plugs tend to hold well against the plasterboard, ensuring a strong, reliable fixing.
Ready driver
If time is of the essence and you don’t have any power tools to hand, ready driver fixings are a suitable choice. The initial fixing can be screwed directly into plasterboard using only a screw driver and the application of sufficient pressure. Once the fixing is into the plasterboard it can be used to fit all manner of brackets and other lightweight applications to the wall. The only thing you need to be conscious of is ensuring you only use a small self-topping screw that can fit flush and provide a firm, reliable fixing.
Rosett cavity fixings
Plastic rosett cavity plasterboard fixings are the real deal when it comes to heavy-duty fixing, unlike the heavy duty hollow wall fixings we discussed earlier. Available for single and double skin plasterboard, they are designed to take heavy loads and can be fitted and removed with ease, without sustaining any damage to the wall itself.
Snaptoggles
Arguably one of the most effective and reliable plasterboard fixings, Snaptoggles require a slightly larger hole than most other fixings – normally 12 inches. The snaptoggle is then pushed through the hole and pulled back into place. Slide down the plastic connectors and snap off when flush to the wall – you can then screw in normally for an extremely professional fixing.
Hollow wall anchors
If you’re fixing into plasterboard that hasn’t been skimmed you’ll need a setting tool, but in other instances that may not be required. The setting tool does however make it easy to pull back the screw and fix the anchor firmly into the wall, creating a permanent fixing capable of holding up to 10kgs.
Spring toggles
Another common plasterboard and dryboard wall fixing, when screwed in place they too will give you a very reliable fixing that holds a considerable amount of weight. The one disadvantage of these is that when you unscrew your fixing, the spring toggle will more than likely fall down into the wall cavity, so they’re often only useable once.
Grip It fixings
One of the newest additions to the plasterboard fixings industry, Grip It fixings require relatively sizeable openings in order to work – usually 18mm. Simply push and tap in your Grip It fixing, use a screwdriver to turn the slot and then tap through to tighten. These are some of the sturdiest fixings you’ll find today and are great for fixing larger items to a plasterboard or dryboard wall.
Whether you’re a homeowner, architect, designer or contractor requiring reliable plasterboard or drywall for your next project, discover our innovative range of plasterboard profiles.
