How to install drywall anchors

This article is about how to install drywall anchors. As a diy-er you will face many situations when you have to insert screws in drywall, like when hanging a picture. Unfortunately, the sheetrock is not a very good material if we speak about driving in screws, as they won’t be locked firmly and consequently they cannot sustain any object. Nevertheless, you can install screws in drywall, but first, you have to install a drywall anchor. Generally speaking, drywall anchors come in a large variety of types, but we recommend you to use the most recent ones, the plastic anchors which screw in drywall without having to pre-drill it.

Installing drywall anchors properly is essential for many projects, so we recommend you to read carefully our techniques, tips and warning, as to get the job done properly from the very beginning. Nevertheless, if you want to hang a heavy item, you should use a stud finder and insert a long screw directly in the wood stud. If for certain reasons this is not possible, you have to use a toggle anchor, which is able to hold heavier objects as compared to a plastic drywall anchor.

Work with patience while you take the measurements, otherwise you will have to repair the wrong holes you drill in drywall. If you have to install more than one drywall anchor and you want to make them level, you should use a laser level or a 3′ spirit level. Stick a post-it under the holes, before installing the dowels, to catch all the residues.

 

Made from this plan

Add-Image

 

Materials

  • Drywall anchors
  • Drill bits

 

Tools

 

Tips

  • For hanging heavy objects, you have to use a toggle anchor
  • Threaded drywall anchors (plastic anchors) are recommended only for average weight, up to 20 pounds/10 kg
  • Make sure you don’t install the anchor on electric wires, above an outlet or light switch

 

 

 Installing drywall anchors

Drywall anchors

Drywall anchors

 

In this article we show you how to install plastic drywall anchors (threaded anchors). They are used to support weights up to 20 pounds/10 kg. They are very efficient when needing to hang pictures, paintings or other objects which are not very heavy.

For installing heavy items, we recommend you to install toggle anchors, as they are specially designed to support higher forces. Nevertheless, even the threaded anchors come in a large variety of dimensions and forms.

 

Marking the spot before installing drywall anchors

Marking the spot before installing drywall anchors

 

The first step of this project is to mark the spot where you want to install the drywall threaded anchor. Consequently, use a pencil and mark the spot by drawing a X exactly over the place where you are about to insert the plastic anchor. Use a spirit level to align the dowels, one with another.

Smart Tip: If you want to insert the screw directly in a stud, you don’t need to install any anchor at all. In order to determine where the studs are, you could use a stud finder.

 

Install drywall anchor

Install drywall anchor

 

Threaded anchors can be installed in two ways. First, make a hole with a drill bit and then inserting the anchors with an electric screwdriver with cross screw head.

The second option (as you see in the image), is to insert the threaded anchor without making any hole, by using a special dill bit (can be found at any diy store for no more than 5 $) or by using a cross-screw head (in the case of threaded anchor which have a sharp end).

 

Installing drywall anchors

Installing drywall anchors

 

In order to drive in the threaded anchor, you have to use an electric screwdriver with variable speed. In order to perform a proper job, you have to use a low speed at first and then you have to increase it a little. Make sure the head of the plastic anchor is aligned with the drywall.

Smart Tip: Do not apply too much force, otherwise you risk damaging both the drywall and the plastic anchor. The last step is to insert the screw in the anchor, using the electric screwdriver (leave about 1/4” of the screw out, as to hang the picture).

 

 

Thank you for reading our article on how to install drywall anchors and we recommend you to read the rest of our drywall projects. Don’t forget to share our articles with your friends, by using the social media widgets.




Related Posts

Add Comment