With such wide varieties of drywall anchors available at the hardware store, do-it-yourselfers may be tempted to abandon the project.
However, if your home’s walls are made of drywall (also known as Sheetrock, plasterboard, or wallboard), you cannot simply grab a hammer and some nails and hope for the best. You’ll need wall anchors with high shear strength to secure your new mirror or artwork to your wall material.
Read through this article to learn more about drywall anchors before purchasing one.
What Are Drywall Anchors Anyway?
As their name suggests, drywall anchors are devices that “anchor” objects to the wall. Although you can hammer a nail into drywall and hang something small like a calendar, the wallboard is thin (usually only a half-inch thick) and made of comparatively soft materials like gypsum and paper.
It is easily damaged and forms strong walls when pushed together in factories (as anyone who knocked a divot in the wall during a scuffle with a sibling can attest).
What are the Types of Drywall Anchors?
1. Toggle Bolt
Toggle bolts are drywall anchors when you need to hang extremely bulky items. If you want to hang heavy-duty shelves, you’ll need strong bolts to keep them in place.
Various toggle bolt drywall anchors on the market can support up to 300 pounds. Higher limits may be found on toggle bolts, although this depends on the bolt.
2. Expansion Anchors
Most homeowners envision this as a drywall anchor that comes free with most towel rods and toilet paper hangers.
These anchors, essentially thin plastic sleeves, sit in the drywall hole and expand slightly when a screw is driven into them, applying pressure on the side of the hole and holding it solid. They are incredibly inexpensive and have a lower holding weight than other anchors.
3. Anchors with a Pull-Toggle Mechanism
These are a relatively new entrant in the drywall anchor market, combining toggle bolts and plastic anchors. The metal toggle, like a toggle bolt, is put into the wall. Instead of a metal bolt, a plastic strap (similar to a zip tie) pulls the toggle tight against the wall, connecting it to a threaded plastic retainer.
This installation technique allows for a single-piece toggle, which provides a stronger hold while requiring a smaller entry hole. This combines a toggle bolt’s durability with a plastic anchor’s reusability.
4. Metal Fasteners (Molly bolts)
Molly bolts have been used for nearly a century. They have the appearance of metal expansion anchors. Instead of pressing against the entry hole’s sides, they flare the anchor barrel, generating a larger hold pattern behind the wall.
The term “Molly Bolt” was originally a brand name, but it is now used to describe any metal drywall anchors of this type.
5. Self-Drilling Anchors
Self-drilling anchors are exactly what they sound like: An anchor with a drill tip that can be placed with a standard screwdriver. These anchors include large screw fins behind the drill tip to achieve a firm grip on the drywall.
Conclusion
Drywall Anchors offer a great way to safely and securely hang items on your walls. Considering the correct type of wall anchor for the job is essential, as not all anchors will work in any situation.
Assess your wall carefully before purchasing drywall anchors and ensure they are intended for use with specific load weights. You can confidently buy the suitable anchor for your wall needs by learning what we have outlined.
If you experience damage while installing drywall anchors and need drywall repair in Colorado Springs, Patch Doctors Drywall is here for you! We can assess the damage and provide an estimate for repair services to ensure that your walls are repaired quickly and correctly. Contact us now!
