How to Use Drywall Anchors in Your Home
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Drywall Anchors
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Whether you’re getting ready to hang a picture in your living room or thinking about mounting a wall mirror in your bathroom, you will likely need to use drywall anchors at some point in your home.
These handy little devices are cheap and easy to use — as long as you know how to properly install them.
What is a Drywall Anchor?
A drywall anchor is a tool that allows you to mount objects to drywall without damaging the panel of your wall. Because drywall is soft, ordinary nails and screws tend to tear away at the material. This can be avoided by installing the nail or screw directly into a wall stud. However, wall studs are not always available in the exact place you need them — and, unfortunately, there’s no way to move them around.
Enter hollow-wall anchors. Invented in the early 1900s, these devices work by distributing the weight of your hanging or mounted object evenly across a larger surface area. This keeps the weight of your object from pulling at the wall in one concentrated location.
Hollow-wall anchors come in a variety of designs. They can be used in wood, plaster, hollow concrete, as well as drywall. Most types of drywall anchors are coupled with a screw, and all are built to grip your wall firmly.
What Type of Drywall Anchor Should I Choose?
Not all drywall anchors are created equal. To choose the right one for your project, you’ll need to know a few things about the different varieties.
Drywall anchors can usually be distinguished by size, design, and weight capacity/holding power. The three most common types of drywall anchors are expansion anchors, spiral anchors, and WallClaw anchors.
Expansion Anchors
Just as their name suggests, these gadgets work by expanding as they are driven into the wall. You may hear these referred to as molly or moly bolts. The anchor sleeve is usually made from either metal, nylon, or plastic. You can also purchase pointed-tip or flat-tip expandable metal anchors. Flat-tip anchors can be inserted into a pre-drilled hole, while pointed-tip anchors will need to be hammered.
To install, simply drill the hole or hammer the anchor sleeve into your wall. Then, thread a screw into the sleeve. As the screw tightens, it will cause the sleeve to expand. You can always remove the screw and replace it with a hook or a different sized screw, as needed.
Depending on the material you choose, an expandable anchor will typically have a weight capacity somewhere between 15-50 pounds. Use plastic expansion anchors for hanging lightweight objects, such as picture frames or curtain rods. Use metal anchors for hanging heavier objects, such as decorative floating shelves.
Spiral anchors
Also called self-drilling or threaded anchors, these anchors provide a quick solution for lightweight objects. They resemble screws and can be drilled directly into the wall. Typically, they have a max capacity somewhere between 25-75 pounds.
Make sure to choose an anchor that will hold at least a few more pounds than the object you want to hang. This will prevent damage from occurring.
WallClaw Anchors
These anchors are quick and easy to install, because there is no need to pre-drill a hole. To install it, you will need to hammer the anchor into the wall, then thread the screw into the anchor. The back end of the anchor will firmly grip the inside of your wall, sealing it in place.
If you change your mind and want to remove the anchor, it’s very simple to do, and it leaves behind a small cut in the wall that you can fill in with a bit of compound. WallClaw anchors are ideally used for quick projects, as well as rental situations where you might be concerned about leaving a hole on the wall.
How Do I Use Drywall Anchors?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using a drywall anchor.
Choose the right anchor for your project (see above).
Drill a hole, if necessary.
Hammer the anchor sleeve into the pre-drilled hole, or directly into the wall. Make sure it is flush with the wall surface.
Drive a screw into the anchor sleeve.
Hang your object.
Check out this quick video showing the install process for an expansion anchor:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can drywall anchors be used in wood?
Yes, you can use drywall anchors in wood. To do this, take a cordless drill to create holes in the wall. You should use a bit that is slightly smaller than the wall anchor, because this will ensure that the anchor stays in the wall.
Can drywall anchors hold a TV?
As long as you choose the right drywall anchors and install them properly into the wall, they are a safe way to mount your TV. However, it is at all possible it is best to mount to the wall studs as even smaller TV’s and hardware can be quite heavy. Make sure to use a stud finder to locate the studs in your walls. And, if the holes in your TV bracket don’t match with the studs on your wall, you can simply mount a horizontal bracket to span the gap between the studs.
Can drywall anchors be reused?
In most cases, no. The process of drilling a screw into the sleeve will cause the anchor to expand or flip up, depending on the type of anchor you chose. Because of that, most drywall anchors are single-use — particularly if they are plastic. Often, though, you can remove and reuse the screw.
If you’re buying a new drywall anchor and you want to be sure it is reusable, look for brands that have multi-use anchors. Typically, they are made from metal or high-quality plastic.
Drywall Anchors for Everyday Use
Taking the time to purchase the right one will save you time and money down the road. Most anchors are cost-effective, easy to install, and great to have on hand for the unexpected project.
Drywall anchors can protect your wall from costly damage and give you the peace of mind in knowing that your objects are securely fastened.
Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
