Wall fixings - solid walls

So many items of DIY require fixings to be made to walls that the possible methods and their limitations need to be considered.

The basic type of wall to which a fixing is to be made can be broadly categorised into solid or hollow.

Always check that there are no pipes or cables hidden in the wall beneath the area to be drilled.

Various pipe and cable detectors are available to check this.

Solid walls

These include brickwork, blockwork, and concrete.

To provide secure fixing to this type of wall, the most common method is drilling and plugging.

The size of screw and plug is dependent on the item to be fixed and the nature of the wall, but an explanation is given here of the method involved.

Many different plug types are available and the choice depends on their suitability for the material being plugged. Generally, the plastic type are the best. The size of hole required will be detailed on the pack.

fibre plug plastic plug

Mark and drill the wall with the specified size masonry bit. These are quite different from those used for drilling wood.

As always, wear goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris when using power tools.

Hold the drill bit against the mark and begin drilling slowly so that the bit does not wander from the position.

To assist with this, you may find it helpful to use a nail punch to tap a small recess into the surface at the mark first.

As the drill begins to cut into the surface, you can speed it up, but remember speed isn't everything. If you have an electric drill with hammer-action facility, this will make the work easier, but a moderate speed is actually more effective in this mode.

The wall should be drilled to a depth which is sufficient to accommodate the plug.

Many drills have a depth gauge to help with this. If not, you can mark the drill bit with chalk.

Insert the plug so that it sits flush with the surface. A light tap with a hammer may help with this as it should be a tight fit.

Offer up the item to be fixed and insert the screw through it. Line the screw up with the centre of the plug and begin to tighten it.

As the screw pulls its way in, the plug sides are forced outwards, gripping the surrouding surface. Small lugs on the side of the plug prevent it turning in the hole.

Continue tightening the screw until the item is held securely, but do not overtighten. With sufficient force, the screw may either shear or the plug itself may give way and the process will need to be started again.