Now that your house is finished, it is time to mount the TV onto the wall in your living room. Perhaps you can add a shelf here and a cabinet there while you’re at it. With your Saturday plan clear, you got to work.
It all seemed like a good idea until the disaster occurred. In one fell swoop, your beautiful decorations shattered on the ground. Where did I go wrong, you may think? Once you pick up the broken shards and what remains of your dignity, read on.
Summary
There are many different types of drywall & sheetrock anchor screws, but the best type is a toggle bolt. Toggle bolts are great anchor screws for drywall and can easily handle things like TV by spreading out on the opposite side of the wall. As we tested them, we found that Swpeet makes the best toggle bolt product.
Check it out below.
Pros
- They come in 3 size variants.
- They have same-day delivery.
- They’re sturdy.
Cons
- You might not read the rest of the article if these toggle bolts work for you.
Table of Contents
- Different types of drywall anchor screws
- Weight limit
- Heavy-duty for heavy items
- Plastic
- Sleeve anchors
- Metal anchors
- Self-drilling
- Strap Toggle
- Conclusion
In this article, we will tell you about all the different types of anchor screws used to hang the item to your drywall. Rather than driving your new Porsche to Home Depot, we’ll teach you everything there is to know.
Different types of drywall anchor screws
Now that you are familiar with these handy tools, you might be tempted to visit the nearest hardware store and purchase some. Before you do, you should know that they come in many different types. Some might work better than others, so read on to learn more.
Drywall anchors can be divided into two categories, based on how they work. Here are the different types of drywall anchor screws.
Expansion
Expansion anchors were originally designed to be mounted into firm materials such as brick or mortar. However, they can also be used in drywalls when you want to hang a kitchen island light object.
Since they don’t provide much support, they are only as strong as the material in which you place them. They will loosen and fall out if you hang heavy objects on them. You should only use them for an item such as light picture frames.
Most plastic fasteners are in fact expansion anchors. Despite not being very strong, they are affordable and remain a good option for hanging light items.
This type includes most plastic fasteners and self-driving plugs.
Hollow-wall
Hollow-wall anchors are manufactured with spreading that expands as you install it. Once in, they are difficult to remove precisely because of this spreading.
However, it also means they distribute the weight across a broader area. Thus, their weight limit is significantly higher.
Butterfly bolts, molly bolts, and strap toggle anchors are all types of hollow-wall fasteners.
Weight limit
Though we’ve listed the estimated maximum weight different types can hold (per one fastener), take these numbers with a grain of salt. Different factors will affect how much load your anchor can take. To know the exact amount, check the packaging for product details.
Type
Fasteners made from metal are generally sturdier than plastic ones. Also, fasteners with a spreading provide better support.
Size
As you might have guessed, bigger and longer plugs can withstand heavier loads.
Drywall thickness
Thinner panels won’t be able to support heavy items.
The amount
Even though a single one might only bear up to 100 pounds, you can support an object with multiple anchors. By doing so, you’ll distribute the weight across a broader area. You’ll then have no problems hanging 200-lb objects or heavier.
Heavy-duty for heavy items
When it comes to hanging heavy items, toggle bolts are arguably the best option. Even though they are costly, a single toggle bolt can support over 100 pounds with ease.
What’s more, their wings allow for ceiling installation. However, make sure you don’t hang anything heavier than 15 pounds on the ceiling. Gravity greatly reduces their weight limit.
Molly bolts are the second best option. They might not be as strong as toggle bolts, but they don’t fall behind by much.
Strap toggle and alligator wall plugs are also decent choices.
Plastic
Plastic expansion
Plastic expansion anchors are long sleeves of plastic that hold the screws in. Though flexible and durable enough, they distribute the weight of the hanging object poorly. This means they should not be used with items that weigh more than 10 pounds. They are a single-use-only option, as the plastic coat deforms when you hammer it in.
Installation is simple enough, although you’ll need a power drill. Expansion plugs are suitable for light objects such as picture frames.
Winged plastic
Though they look similar to toggle bolts, these plugs feature wings made of plastic. This makes them hold more securely to your drywall. They can shoulder more weight than expansion plugs.
However, they still can’t match the strength of metal fasteners – they can only bear up to 20 pounds. Their one advantage is that winged plastic fasteners don’t damage the wall panel when you pull them out.
Alligator
Alligator anchors make for very versatile fasteners. Made of propylene plastic, these plugs can be installed into drywall and ceiling alike.
They hold very firmly, and their unique design prevents screws from countersinking. Though an alligator plug might be considered a unique type of plastic expansion fastener, it can easily support up to 80 pounds.
They are used to install smoke detectors, alarms, and cabinets. But they will do the job for almost any item you wish to hang, provided it is below the weight limit.
Sleeve anchors
Sleeve anchors come in handy whenever you need to evenly distribute the hanging object’s weight evenly.
Thus, they are most commonly used to install electric radiators and public seating. They can be made of zinc, stainless steel, or plastic. The expandable sleeve ensures a tight grip on the wall.
Sleeve fasteners can only bear up to 20 pounds.
Metal anchors
Butterfly (toggle bolt)
Toggle bolts or butterfly bolts are among the strongest fasteners. Made of metal, they will also last for a very long time. Butterfly plugs got their name thanks to the wings located at their end.
The wings expand inside the drywall and evenly distribute the hanging item’s weight evenly. Thanks to this, toggle bolts are perfect to hang heavy roof gutters, window blinds, shelves, and cabinets. They are also ideal for securing ceiling fans, as the wings resist gravity well.
The weight limit of one toggle bolt easily exceeds 100 pounds.
Molly
Made mostly of steel, molly bolts feature an expandable sleeve that opens as you drive the fastener into the wall. Their design makes them a good option for medium-weight objects such as:
- heavy curtain rods
- large picture frames
- towel racks
- and coat hangers.
Though they are not the strongest, they are good value for money.
Molly bolts can hold objects from 50 to 100 pounds.
Self-drilling
True to their name, self-drilling anchors (SDA) drill themselves into the wall as you hammer them.
Because they sport many sharp treads along their length, they are sometimes called threaded anchors. These fasteners are arguably the easiest to install. You hammer them into the wall and watch them drill their way in. Then, you just turn in the screw.
However, they are no Hercules when It comes to strength. A high-quality SDA can hold only up to 75 pounds. Moreover, they lose shape as you hammer them and are unfit for more than one use. You’d better install them correctly!
Strap Toggle
A strap (sometimes snap) toggle anchor is a heavy-duty fastener. It consists of a carbon steel wing and a long plastic leg. Though it cannot compete with its metallic counterpart in terms of strength, it is cheap and beginner-friendly.
You can easily install it by drilling a hole and pulling the wing in. Then, you just strap it with the ratchet leg. Strap toggle is an excellent choice for medium-weight objects such as:
- smaller TVs
- picture frames
- and mirrors.
Strap toggle fasteners should handle weight up to 80 pounds well.
Conclusion
Anchors or wall plugs are fasteners used when installing hanging items such as floating shelves. Because drywall is made of soft material, placing screws directly into is not a good idea.
The screw will loosen over time, and your items will fall. Different types of wall plugs can support different weights. Choosing the correct one depends on your budget and the weight of the object you plan to install.
