Wall anchor options can be overwhelming and honestly a bit biased depending on who you talk to. I spent many years doing contract interiors and had the opportunity not only to try a vast array but also to see how they held up under normal to heavy use. I remember a job where we were asked to hang a unit on a sheet rock wall weighing several hundred pounds and not many studs to hit. Another time we were asked to mount a wall unit for a business that neglected to tell us it was in an old x-ray room until i ruined my 4th drill bit. So lets get started. There is no way I can cover all the options in a short blog so i will break it down into categories covering each one on its own blog.
1. Sheetrock
2. plaster and lathe
3. cement
4. vertical or horizontal
5. glass, mirror and tile
6. wood
While i will try to cover each area, please note that every circumstance is unique and should be addressed before deciding which anchor to use. Also the anchor, once decided, is only half the battle. The drill bit, should you need one, is just as important to the project as the anchor. Using drill bits that are "close enough" is a dangerous practice and will lead to failure in the project. A dull or pitted bit could lead to a blown out hole leaving little material to anchor to even if the front looks fine. Finally every anchor must be in the right position and so other tools will complement and make your project much easier such as levels, stud finders, both electronic and magnetic, and its always a good idea to learn how to patch a hole as well if it is drilled in the wrong place and visible. I look forward to hearing about your projects and will do my best to answer any questions you might have as well. I would love to use your question as a topic in future blogs and will get to them as soon as possible as they come in. I don't claim to be an expert, just the pastor of repair.
