When it comes to hanging objects on walls, it’s important to use the right type of anchor to ensure that the object is properly supported and won’t come loose. Drywall anchors and wall anchors are two common types of anchors used to attach objects to interior and exterior walls.
Drywall anchors are designed specifically for use with drywall, while wall anchors are used with other types of wall materials such as brick, concrete, or plaster. There are several types of drywall anchors and wall anchors available, each with its own unique features and benefits. Choosing the right type of anchor for your project will depend on the weight of the object being hung and the type of wall material being used.
In this article, we will explore the different types of drywall anchors and wall anchors and provide guidance on how to choose the best anchor for your specific project.
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Types of Drywall Anchors
The following types of drywall anchors are widely used in construction industries,
- Expansion anchors
- Toggle-bolts
- Metal anchors or (Molly bolts)
- Self-drilling anchors
- Strap Toggle anchor
- Spring Toggle anchor
- Adhesive anchor
- Alligator anchor
- Cement board anchor
- Sleeve anchor
- Threaded Drywall Anchors
- Winged Plastic Anchor
- Plastic Expansion Anchor
- Steel Hollow Wall Anchor
- Zinc Drywall Anchor
Here, we above enlisted types of wall anchors are discussed
1. Expansion Anchors
Essentially thin plastic sleeves and this anchor sit in the drywall hole and expand slightly when you drive a screw into them, adding some pressure against the side of the hole and holding firm.
But its holding capacity has low as compared to other types of drywall anchors.
2. Toggle Anchors
This type of Toggle anchor comes in a long bolt type and it is driven through a threaded toggle the anchor toggle folds in half and then uses a spring to pop open after being inserted into the wall and distributing its weight behind the drywall.
These toggle bolts require a giant hole as compared to other anchors due to the size of the spring-loaded section. Also, this toggle bolt anchor has mostly used to hold the heavy photo frame, wall clocks, and Flat screen TV.
3. Metal anchors or (Molly bolts)
This Metal anchor sometimes known as a hollow wall anchor or molly bolt or anchor was the first drywall anchor bolt design with the ability to hold up to 50 pounds of weight.
Use this heavy-duty anchor bolt over a sleeve or plastic material anchor for holding the large mirror, floating bookshelves, decorative items, and a heavy sturdy photo frame.
The metal anchors have been around for almost a century and they resemble a metal version of expansion anchors.
Still, instead of pressing against the sides of the entry anchor hole, they flare the anchor barrel and create a wider hold pattern behind the walls.
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4. Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors
This self-drilling anchor is also known as a threaded drywall anchor and this variation of the plastic sleeve anchor is a screw-like corkscrew design and a pointed tip you can install into your drywall as you would install an ordinary screw. This self-drilling anchor has a drill tip and is designed to be installed with a simple screwdriver behind the drill tip this anchor has wide screw fins to get a good drip on the drywall.
Also, this self-drilling anchor is available in metal or plastic material and this plastic drill anchor is less expensive compared to a metal anchor. This different material anchor is pretty easy to install and remove, their holding capacity is high and its diameter is 3 to 8 inches.
5. Strap Toggle Anchor
Its name suggests it functions like a normal toggle anchor and plastic expansion drywall anchor, this toggle bolt of drywall is expanded behind the drywall.
for resisting being pulled out a strap toggle anchor do not the same as a piece of metal that will be turned sideways after being pushed through the drywall.
Once this strip of a metal anchor is turned sideways on the other side of the drywall your bolt will screw into it from this side of the wall, once tightened down the metal can bite into the back of the drywall to create a firm grip.
6. Spring Anchors
This spring anchor is a contraption that holds within it an expansion spring, this spring connects the two surfaces and supports the weight through its own inherent tension.
Also, it has a unique function which is that it is adjustable so that you can decrease or increase the amount or rate of spring extension. The spring drywall anchors come in four various categories such as fixed hole anchors, swivel hole anchors, single hole anchors, and multiple groove anchors.
You can install a threaded sleeve-type anchor into the drywall and from there the spring anchor is installed.
7. Adhesive Anchors
These adhesive drywall anchors are used for house improvement projects, construction projects, and more due to their ability for handling heavy loads. Their strength cannot be understated. They can deal with all kinds of rain, vibration, heat, weather, and cold.
These epoxy-based drywall anchors are popular in construction industries because they work well with dowels and with rebar, you may not ever reach for them just for drywall tasks and although they can work there.
8. Alligator Anchors
This Alligator anchor is that have straight fins that not only cut into the drywall but it also will snap out the drywall much like a toggle anchor would do. These fins provide anti-rotation protection, that others do not, the rotation will weaken the anchor’s ability to perform its job.
9. Cement Board Screw Anchors
You could argue that the cement board’s anchor is one type of screw and but the construction industry still calls them an anchor. They are used for attaching cement board for either wood or steel, and as you know cement board is not quite drywall but it is a similar concept.
You will find it used for bathtub attachment, under flooring with countertops, and other applications,s, especially where water might be involved. So make sure the anchor you use is resistant to rust and corrosion.
10. Sleeve Anchor
This sleeve anchor can be used with drywall though you may often see them used in applications involving masonry, different types of house foundations, and concrete.
You can screw your bolt into the sleeve and the inner sleeve will expand and push into the bricks or whatever is acting as the outer sheath. This can handle very heavy loads including wood, concrete, and other several types of material.
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11. Threaded Drywall Anchors
These threaded drywall anchors are one type of drywall anchor and it is used for fastening objects to walls, also it is made of a screw with a threaded shaft and an eyelet which is inserted into a drilled hole in the drywall.
The threaded drywall anchors are used for plastering and other types of wall material, also it is available in different lengths and different sizes to accommodate different thicknesses of drywall.
If you are hanging a heavy weight or object then it is best to use two or more anchors to distribute the weight, and similarly, for a lighter weight, you can put a single anchor.
12. Winged Plastic Anchor
This winged plastic anchor is mostly used drywall anchor and it is also called a molly bolt. The plastic wing on the bolt is spread out once and it is inserted into the hole that helps to grip the inside of the wall.
You can use winged-shaped plastic anchors for light to medium-duty applications such as hanging a picture or attaching a small shelf to a wall.
13. Plastic Expansion Anchors
This plastic expansion anchor is arguably the most often used for drywall anchoring; this is a low-cost choice that allows individuals to efficiently hang light goods.
This expansion anchor is fixed beautifully if you have a lightweight picture or other items which you wish for hanging on the wall.
14. Steel Hollow Wall Anchors
These drywall anchors will be an efficient instrument to anchor various items to your walls, regardless of what you label them. This drywall anchor is described as an anchor which arranges a metal casing with a hole and screw to fit on it. That is precisely what these drywall anchors (bolt) are and it performs admirably in their intended role.
15. Zinc Drywall Anchors
This Zinc drywall anchor are commonly used for DIYs projects due to their ruggedness and durability. The zinc anchor as the name suggests it have a zinc coating on it.
The core material of the anchor is steel, also found completely zinc material anchor is very hard. The zinc coating anchor is used for heavy-duty purposes. as the zinc coating increases longevity and offers more protection, some metal drywall anchor is prone to corrosion and rust.
The upside of using zinc anchor is that it was capable to resist environmental impact. Also, this zinc-coated drywall anchor is suitable for humid areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and also outdoor projects.
Because of the inside metal core, the zinc anchor is easily fashioned into sharp profile threads and pointed tips which cut the wall deeply with utmost precision.
Also, the sharp threads can go in without any pre-drilled hole, so the zinc is also used for making self-drilling anchors.
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