Types of Drywall Anchors

Even though all of us need it in our daily lives, we aren't very sure about the variety of drywall anchors that is available to us. Drywall anchors are also known as screw anchors and are defined as fasteners used to attach objects to the wall surface through a nail, screw or adhesive.

They are called anchors because they function as one, and hold the weaker objects by using the support of the stronger surfaces. In this case, when you need to hang something from the wall, or install a wall shelf, you use a wall anchor that supports the screw inserted in the drywall.

However, the anchors are available in a variety depending on the weight of the object that needs to be hung. In the paragraphs below, you will read about the types of drywall anchors that will help you in choosing which ones you need and when. Keep reading.

The most commonly used and easily available are the plastic drywall anchors which are mainly of two sub types, viz; plug or expansion and winged types. The plastic expansion drywall anchors are hollow inside and ribbed from the outside, along with a vertical slit at both the sides.

It is conical in shape and has a round tip for efficient insertion purposes as well. The ribbed side has to be pushed in first, so that the screw is held tightly and the round end should be at the upper side of the drywall.

It is the easiest to be used, because all you have to do is drill a hole in the wall, which measures about the base of the anchor and push the anchor through this hole. The winged plastic anchors have the same mechanism but a different body. They have a small hole and wing like extensions.

They need a pre-drilled hole, where you insert the wings and then a screw through the hole. When the screws are inserted through them, both the plastic anchors expands up in order to provide a stronger grip to the load.

Threaded drywall anchors are basically a large threaded nut with an open pointed end. These threads when inserted inside the wall, can hold smaller sized screws, used to hold medium weights. In order to install these anchors, you will need to drill a small hole in the wall, even though they are designed with a self-drilling point.

With a Philip's head screwdriver, screw the anchor till it is flat against the wall and then place the screw into the anchor. When the screw reaches the other end of the anchor, the pointed ended of the anchor spreads out securing the screw inside the wall.

These are the most reliable drywall anchors for heavy objects. The toggle anchors are nuts which possess wings that can be moved over the body of the nut. These wings are placed to close the passage after the nut is passed through the pre-drilled hole, and they spring open after this passage, to secure the position of the nut in the wall.

To install these anchors, you need a pre-drilled hole that is the same size of the toggle. Then place the toggle and turn it clockwise in order to tighten the anchor, after which it will expand inside the wall, securing the screw, so you can hang heavy objects. There are various types of toggles such as; strap, pop (wing plastic), poly and toggle bolt.

The last one in these anchors is the expansion anchors which are usually made of steel and meant for anchoring in stronger walls such as concrete or stone. They can hold heavier loads than toggle anchors as they are circular in structures and are available as covers to the screws that need to be anchored.

When the anchors are inserted in the pre-drilled holes, the sides of the anchor expands and are pushed against the surface inside the drywall. This holds the anchor in place and in turn the screws, so that they can hold heavier loads on the wall. These are therefore usually used in case of holding fans and chandeliers from the ceilings.

With these types of drywall anchors, hope you have learned something new. So, with such a variety, you can surely try hanging shelves, paintings, or even beautiful chandeliers in your home.