How to Fix into Plasterboard - a Complete Guide to all the Best Fixings

[@CharlieDIYte]

🛠Charlie DIYte Amazon Tool Store amzn.to/3fcLnY4 - all my tried, tested and much loved DIY tools. ☕Charlie DIYte Buy Me a Coffee Membership bit.ly/3xuQ3zb - access our incredible Discord DIY forum and help support my Channel. 👚Charlie DIYte Official Merch Store charlie-diyte.myspreadshop.co.uk/ - all new range of professionally designed merch.

[@tombarrett1487]

@Steve A Depending on how thick the fixture is the screw is going through a 50 or 60 x 4.5 or 5 mm screw should do you.

[@ROCKGRINDER12]

hi mate, just a little question: I have used the "hollow wall anchors" to put a 14 kilos tv set on the plaster wall, they worked beautifully, but I have a 58 inches tv (it must be 26 kilos at least) set that I am planning to put on the brick wall (sitting room chimney) and I found among my screws 4 concrete/brick screws (they're for about 70 mm long); my question is "would be the concrete/brick screws enough for hanging the 58 inches tv on the wall or it would be better to use concrete/brick plugs+screws?? for the job. thanks a lot.

[@davidthomas1876]

Hi there Charlie, David again. Do you have a video on what is the best product for filling deep drill holes in masonry walls please. Kind regards David

[@seemaab]

What about 6 x 50mm Fischer duo plugs for plasterboard? You only spoke about 6x30mm and 8x40mm. Thanks!

[@edwardwatson4505]

Don’t apologise for long videos! They’re fantastic. Such a great level of detail. Keep up the good work.

[@honkynel]

I agree. It's a fully comp vid. There are examples of all the fixings and all of the walls plus a destructive test at the end. All in one vid.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much guys. If I have one regret it's how I inexplicably didn't conclude by saying which ones based on all the tests, I would recommend for various jobs. Might have to be a brief follow up video for that.

[@gareth4903]

I know right? Videos that are long and filled with informative bits and details are 👌🏽 and is always welcome in my book Charlie.

[@vernpierce8836]

Good videos never seem to long! You know the old saying..."time flies when you're having fun" 👍 and for me personally learning new things I'm interested in is having fun🙂

[@WhatsMyLane]

Honestly feels like you're an old mate, been watching your videos for ages now. Never a dull one. Thanks for the entertainment and the knowledge.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Aw, thanks Aarron. Can't thank you enough for that. Thanks for watching so many of my vids 👊

[@belkokasnaxui]

BIG thank you Charlie ! I'm fitting curtains and blinds for a couple of years now in Ireland. This video was extremely helpful. 90% of the times I'm the fitting into hollow plaster board. Your demonstration and explanation was far better than any tips I've ever got from anyone else in the trade !

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks buddy. Yes that's what I used to do as a living too. We installed more often than not into plasterboard. Glad you found it useful and thanks for getting in touch 👊

[@victorbarbulescu8794]

As a fresh homeowner, getting to the stage of fixing various bits on the walls and seeing the miriad of different fixings out there gave me the sweats. This video cleared up virtually everything I needed to know to confidently choose the right fixings for my needs. +1 Sub! Thank you!

[@alexisadler2343]

Can’t thank you enough for this comprehensive video. We bought our 100 year old, wall-to-wall plaster home 2 years ago and have barely hung up anything because we were so perplexed and scared of drilling into plaster and brick. Knowledge is power and your videos gave us the understanding and confidence we needed to roll up our sleeves and get to work! Thank you so much!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Brilliant - so glad to hear that Alexis and thanks so much for letting me know. 👊

[@Rehash84]

Bought my first home recently as a complete novice in all things DIY. Your content has been a lifesaver! Thank you!

[@Neil_down_south]

I don't know why but I find reviews of plaster board fixings ADDICTIVE :)

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Neil 😉👊

[@Neil_down_south]

@@CharlieDIYte Ok I spoke to soon ... I now need to refit 3 x ceiling roses, and the plasterer has covered over the screw holes!! Do I try to find the joist (how?)? Or use plasterboard fixings?

[@Bacender]

Thank you for this informative and well paced video -- the length is perfect, you didn't skip anything or gloss over important details. Absolutely stellar work.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much - I really appreciate that - both the comment and the donation 🙏👊

[@lawrencemartin1113]

This was such a helpful video!! Having lived in a solidly built Edwardian house for over 30 years and where nearly every wall was seriously well built with brick, I have recently had to move to a house built in 1995, seemingly made entirely from some sort of soft cheese. The walls are nearly all dot and dab plasterboard and I am just about to jump in and start fixing things. Because the house was previously a let, and tenants were not permitted to drill, it's never had anything much into any wall. I have never ever worked with plaster board, other than to know I hate the stuff with a passion and am not looking forward to having to drill large holes to put strange fixings through.....but this video has given me a lot of excellent info and some very useful tips and tricks to use when working out the various thicknesses and voids I need to know about. Thank you for such a comprehensive guide! First time searching....found you....subscribed! 😊👍🏻

[@jasonkennedy2045]

Everyone who owns a modern home should be sent this link and made to watch. Just bought my first house and bought it off plan so it’s an adventure working out what walls are dab etc. I was always told to avoid drilling into the adhesive but now know that this is wrong. Thanks Charlie, I’ve bought all those fixings over the last year and should have just watched this first. Cheers Jase 👍

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much Jase. I really appreciate that 👊 Let's hope Google gets hold of it, to recommend it to a wide audience 👍😉

[@glencwilson]

Have seen a few of these fixing videos and this is really useful too as it gives a comprehensive updated guide to each fixing and their positives and negatives and it really does help when choosing between them. Certainly wish I had seen something like this when I was mounting my old 40" Plasma screen on the wall! Compared to that thing modern TVs are feather weight. The Duopower is great and copes with situations that don't require too much strength and also means you can have a single item in the toolbox. However, the other fixings at the higher prices are very useful to have in the toolbox too for when things need a stronger support. Though a longer video, the subject needs it. You could spend so much more time on the weight test with completely new board for each fixing and so on but that test is probably closer to a real world situation than something done in ideal laboratory conditions. It gives a consistent test, ideal for comparing them. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Glen, I really appreciate that. Yes your summary is what my vid is rather lacking. Having promised myself I would take my time, in the end I didn't sum up properly what I use, which is broadly in line with your experience. Yes, no real need to use a new board for each fixing as 30 cms apart, the collapse of each bit of board around the fixing didn't effect the one next to it.

[@dominiclucas1272]

Great video Charlie. I successfully hang up a 1.5m Oak Coat Rack with 6 Geefix attachments. It worked like a charm and covered an unsightly hole from a previous botched installation.

[@PhillGoodFactor83]

Fantastic video, just what I was after. I have just moved into a new build and dreading mounting anything on plasterboard. This a great guide. What I would appreciate is a guide to common things to mount - coat hooks, picture frames, mirrors, chest of drawers to walls(for child safety), cabinets etc

[@nanotechnos]

This must be one of the most comprehensive review I saw this year. And it’s all about wall anchors ! You hooked me up, big thanks !

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment. 👊

[@tobysharples111]

Cracking video mate, I’m an engineer by trade but home DIY is not something in my wheelhouse. You’re a life saver!

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're very welcome Toby. Thanks for the comment 👊

[@BlissfulZen]

Found this vid yesterday when looking for advice on plaster wall fixtures in anticipation of a new TV purchase and intent to mount it on our bedroom wall. In absence of a snaptoggle in the local DIY store, I purchased a set of Fisher's duotec 10s and they functioned perfectly on the wall we have. Mounting the 65" TV with 6 of those seems overkill too, but I can sleep better knowing the contraption is secured this well. Really appreciate your guidance here and such a informative and thorough review of options available for this particular challenge. Thank you!

[@ianrobinson9243]

Thank you , the most informative video I have seen on plasterboard fixings. It does make a mockery of modern house building from the the last 25 - 30 years in that you have to spend half hour watching a video and require umpteen different fixing that you will need for what is a simple task in a traditional built or older built house. On the flip side though I’m not completely anti stud walled houses as there are benefits when doing alternations , electrical and pipe work compared to solid walls.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Ian. Yes and good for Wi-fi - assuming the walls aren't packed with foil backed PIR. 😉👍

[@andikat5400]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed. No waffle, all the theory and practical knowledge. Easy to follow but doesn't talk down to me.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Cheers Andi - thanks for the feedback. Chuffed you felt I pitched it just right. 👍

[@TheCoadyp]

the level of detail in these videos is incredible.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks buddy. Videos like this are exhausting to put together so it means a lot hearing that 🙏👊

[@user-nd5jc8xv8v]

Yes dont apologise for the long video. This video taught me a lot about fixings and im grateful you made it. Great learning for me. Very good video indeed.

[@TheCitizenmax]

This is a brilliant comprehensive video - no fixing gets left behind! Incredibly clear and informative. Thank you!

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Glad you found it useful and thanks for the comment. 👊

[@daveh1081]

Charlie.........I'm saving this video because without doubt, it's the most informative one out there! Your reviews are always "real world". Many thanks mate. Dave👍

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Dave. I really appreciate that. Drop me a comment if you ever have any questions 👊

[@daveh1081]

@@CharlieDIYte Will do Charlie.....and by the way, it isn't the first I've saved!! Cheers bruv and have a great xmas!👍

[@soullimbo]

Thank you for this wonderfully informative video, I am now subscribed !! As a side note, I must say you had me giggling when you said "I accept this is a bit crude....", as it immediately reminded me of the movie "Back to the future" when Doc says to Marty "Please excuse the crudity of this model , I didn't have time to build it to scale" lol. I have now ordered the pack of T-Bolts to fix my 60" tv to the wall. Also, the length of the video is not an issue and does not need an apology. The amount of thorough detail you give is needed to give the viewer all the information they need. Top job :D

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

KZbin randomly suggesting a video, sometimes it just gets it right. I don't actually need to affix anything but watched the whole thing regardless. Pretty handy thing to learn. Added to the watch later for future reference and an easy subscribe. You've made a fantastic video, well put together, informational, huge lack of ramblings and put together in a great order. Hugely appreciated. I'll be sure to check out some of your other videos later.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks mate, really appreciate that. 👊

[@hothiscold00008]

Just moved into a new build and needed to know what I was doing before mounting stuff to my walls. Lifesaver of a video. Thank you!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much for that. Glad you found it useful 👊

[@SnypeMC]

OMG this is by far the best fixing to drywall video I have ever seen. So good.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much 👊

[@bibiyana33]

I was struggling with plasterboard screws not anymore after watching your videos and learn alot thankyou very much.

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Glad you found it useful and thanks for the comment 👍

[@ctrler]

Thanks

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome 👊

[@bhayaty]

Hands down the ultimate guide to plasterboard fixings, invaluable!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks mate 👊

[@lizjohnston2550]

Logically and clearly presented, this is one of the best DIY videos I’ve seen as I now know how to fix my daughter’s ceiling mounted curtain rail. Thank you!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much Liz. Good luck with the install. 👊

[@lizjohnston2550]

Curtain rail is now successfully re-attached to the ceiling using snap toggles 🥳

[@davidcooke3081]

Hi Charlie Great video...pity it wasn't around when I bought my house in 1984, but most of those fittings were not available then. It was my first experience with plasterboard fittings and like you I tried a lot of then before settling on a few I would use all the time. In the beginning I used the Plasplugs cavity fixings or a version of them, only good for very light stuff like a light picture frame. Plasplugs do have a heave duty version but I quickly settled on the Rawl Hollow wall anchor to ensure heavy items stay where they are supposed to. But I ran into a problem with them on my internal walls downstairs as they were all Dot and Dab, my external walls all have studs fitted , but they are fitted horizontally in stead of vertical. So I started using a Thorsman TSP10 (or TSP6 for small stuff) I think they used to be called Duo Max. They are still around but owned by Schneider Electric. They are a bit like your Timco ones in that they have a nut to catch a threaded screw but they have washer on the outside attached to two plastic spirals which connect to the nut and wings. You drill the hole, shove them in and then you can remove the screw, place the thing you are fitting against the wall and then put the screw in and tighten. The wings (4) are drawn to the back of the plasterboard and keep everything in place. When I used them on the dot and dab walls I used to drill a 10mm hole in the plasterboard and then insert a 6mm masonry drill in to drill into the brick to allow the long screw sit in. The Corefix would solve my problem now but were not available then. By the way, the Rawl Hollow anchor are very settable with a screwdriver if you drill exactly the right size hole, the two "fangs" on them are locking fangs which stop the fitting rotating, but you must tap them into the plasterboard first. And you are right about the self drilling plasterboard fittings....they are junk. One final word on plasterboard...it hides a multitude...usually things like cables and water pipes. Some of my neighbours have drilled through both...and while the hole in the water pipes created a mess...the hole in the cable nearly killed someone. To overcome this I usually drill a hole in the plasterboard without letting the drill go very far in and then shine a torch in and poke a small screwdriver in to feel if there is anything in there. Take care Dave

[@ColmFanning-l3e]

Excellent video.This man knows what he’s talking about.Honest information.Time well spent listening to this.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks mate 👊

[@sunflowerbadger]

My wife waved our stud detector in my general direction and it blew up! No joke. Your videos are the absolute best btw❤

[@nevermindthe]

Thank you so much! Im a tenant who'd love a mirror cabinet/ storage in my bathroom but the plasterboard walls have prevented it (&massive exposed pipes dont allow for those over toilet storage things) the cheapest installation quote Ive received is £400. £800 avg & thats excluding materials etc. Noones even had look at it! Youve given me the knowledge & the confidence to go it alone. Ill probably fail but you never know. Thank you!

[@CharlieDIYte]

You won't fail. The more you plan the greater the chance of success. Good luck. 🤞

[@MrGuardcaptain]

Charlie you hero. Just saved me a client. I was having a dreadful rime with those cavity wall anchors... got to have a plate between them! Thanks so much

[@Hermiel]

Great update. I'm a bit of a wall anchor nerd. I like to think that I know what's on the market but today you stumped me with the T-Bolt, for which I thank you.

[@PattyWak01]

This is an exceptionally good video! I'm from Australia and the brands available here are different but the different concepts of fixings are still found here, thank you very much!

[@marcelomauro1869]

Undoubtly the best guide to plasterboard fixings. Saved.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks 👊

[@Czechbound]

Fantastically comprehensive. As a first time homebuyer, the first DIY job I had was hanging things ( clocks, alarm speaker, mirrors ). I had no idea what to use, what weight things would support. It was kinda worrying. This video gives all the answers - thank you so much.

[@stevewilliams6191]

Definitely no need to apologise for the length of video Charlie. I wish I'd had the benefit of watching these types of videos from people with experience such as yourself many many years ago when I first started fixing into plasterboard! And really interesting to see the different fixings available. Thanks for taking the time to make this video 👍

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Steve. Really appreciate that. 👊

[@k.hussain360]

Very comprehensive video and some good knowledge. Definitely essential viewing for any DIYer with lots of Plasterboard walls. I opt for Fischer Duo Power for everyday use after Andy Mac did a video on them and Hollow Wall Anchors which I almost dismissed until I saw your video about using a setting tool, which completely changed my view on them. If I ever had to mount a TV or anything more expensive, I'd be going into the bricks or Studs because, at a certain load, the fixing becomes irrelevant because its the plasterboard itself that fails.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Absolutely agree. Thanks for that 👍

[@matthewhook3375]

Just wanted to thank you for this comprehensive review. I've just used snap toggles to secure a wall mounted basin/vanity unit in my bathroom and they are indeed extremely solid, really happy how secure it feels.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Good work Matthew. They're fantastic aren't they 👌 oh and massive thanks for letting me know.

[@DY-cq3qd]

Really good !!!!! 10/10 Son has house built 20/21 (during Covid) and all sorts of materials subsitituted - like one wall /window where they obviously ran out block and put a lintol across whole room!!!! Used metal tapping bolts into lintol as didn't know any better. Would have used this vid if know it was here.

[@behzadutube]

This sort of video is what KZbin is made for! Thanks!

[@davidthomas1876]

Please please please don't apologize, that was an absolute thorough video which covered everything, I'm installing my new kitchen tomorrow and my walls are dot and dab so I'm leaning towards the corefix and again thanks for your insight because I would not have come across these. Thanks again for a yet another quality video. Kind regards David

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're very welcome David. Have a look at Rigifix too. They're a competitor to Corefix which I've never used but heard good things about.

[@HenryTozer]

This is surely the greatest video on the whole of KZbin. It reminds me of the early days of videojug and youtube. Thank you, sincerely.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Aw, thanks so much mate. It's comments like this that keep me firing and they have a habit of cropping up when I'm thinking "d'you know what, this isn't worth all the hassle". Really appreciate it, thanks for taking the time to comment. Chuffed you found it useful. 👊

[@solsdadio]

Your detailed descriptions of each plug saved me a ton of hassle today. Thanks. Ps I went with the Timco multi-fix and they were perfect for the job.

[@gmo4250]

When I use the spring toggle anchors, to eliminate the sloppy hole, I fit a piece of wooden dowel onto the screw underneath the toggle. That really improves the fitting and you get a much firmer fit.

[@sndygskylr]

I appreciate your tutorials! Excellent! 90yo hubby needs a safety bar outside the bathtub, on the PLASTER wall. I think I found the stud. I cannot imagine him holding and pulling on the safety bar and it staying in the plaster wall. Suggestions, Please and thank you!❤ (Not in a position to hire a handyman.) I can do this!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Sandy The other thing you could do is buy one of these amzn.to/3MOM0I1 It will find any screws in the stud thereby showing you recall where to fix it. Good luck with the fixing the bar. 🤞

[@Yevad_Nivek]

I've watched a ton of videos on this topic and yours, by far is the most informative of them all. Thank you

[@Agenthoover1]

Videos like this are the reason i love KZbin and dont even own a TV, ... thank you for this.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Paul. Really appreciate that 👊

[@dodge_walks]

Just about to mount a 40" TV into dot dab and got the corefix after plenty of what appear to be positive youtube reviews including I think yours :) Anecdotally I have the Bosch Truvo funnily enough and not had a problem with it so far! Great video as always

[@SloppySalad]

Mounted my 65" to dot and dab - may have been overkill, but used x8 corefixes, and that thing is rock steady! I'm sure you won't have any problems with them at all!

[@BristolMatt]

Best video on this subject by farrrrrrrrrrrr. I have watched many, and none compare. Bravo.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Matt that's incredibly kind - really appreciate the comment 👊

[@xxwookey]

That was impressively thorough. Well done. Several of these fixings are new to me.

[@fauxjito7402]

This is a wonderfully comprehensive video. The split front/back video views of fixings going in is so helpful. Thanks for all the work you put in.

[@melpomeneb-smith3955]

I've been hanging up curtain rails and despairing as the kit instructions just didn't work at all and I couldn't work out why. Your video is absolutely crystal clear, just what I needed.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Glad to hear it, thanks for letting me know 👊

[@goingviral8917]

HOLLOW WALL ANCHORS ARE MY FAVOURITE, THEY ARE THE BEST ALL ROUND IN COST AND PERFORMANCE!

[@CharlieDIYte]

That's a fair point 👍

[@tombarrett1487]

As someone who's lived in two new builds I feel pretty well versed on fixing to plasterboard on both dot and dabbed walls and stud partitions. I have tried a lot of these fixings myself and have slimmed my fixings box down to a few go to items. I use red Rawlplug Uno to fix light picture frames to walls in conjunction with a no. 3 picture hook as Charlie demonstrated in a previous video. The Uno forms a wedge in plasterboard and is superior to the 6x30 Duo power fixing in my experience. I have used the 6x30 mm for installing blind brackets into dabbed plasterboard in a window recess. In this case I used an old screw to hammer one plug through into the blockwork before installing a second plug into the board followed by a 70mm screw through both of them to achieve a rock solid fixing. For 90% of tasks I have used the expanding hollow wall anchors with the setting tool. Toilet roll holders, mirrors (7kg), towel rails, light duty shelving, coat hooks have all been successfully and solidly installed. I use the Stellafix fixing as a problem solver, for example I was too close to a metal stud so the metal hollow wall anchor wouldn't open. I opened the hole up top 10mm and used the nylon fixing as it was able to knot up against the stud where the anchor would not function. For installing TVs (I've done 3 onto [partition walls) I have used the Geefix fixing with a 25mm hole saw bit for a quick and easy install. All TVs are absolutely solid on the wall. As Charlie mentioned, the spade bits make a mess of the wall, particularly if they have a plaster skim coat so I also have a 20mm hole saw used for some Bullfix. Speaking of which, perhaps it was my situation but I struggled to get the Bullfix universal to open in the collar and has to trim some plaster away with a knife to get the "horns" to rotate through and open in the cavity. In my experience, the plastic used on the Timco snap toggles is brittle to the extent that the fixing has dropped into the cavity. I noticed Charlie used the Toggler brand ones which seem superior. I would avoid the Timco ones personally although it could simply have been a bad batch. Finally, Dryline Pro plugs are a well designed and cheaper alternative to Corefix and Ridgifix on D and D walls although the inventor is retiring and has not sold the IP for someone to keep manufacturing. Anyway you can now buy are the last ones out there which is sad as they were half the price of the alternatives. Definitely worth a look. I've had the radiators off in our house and replaced the single brown plug with a proper fixing solution for the substrate. Some people, eh!!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Wow Tom, what a comment - massive thanks for that. Funnily enough I used to be a big fan of the brown Unos. Feel very secure when you tighten them. I think I was a bit put off when I did my first plasterboard fixing video, and you had to be laser accurate with your screw (getting it through the centre of the fixing at the back) to get the fixing to umbrella open, but maybe that's not quite how it was designed to work? I'm cross I didn't mention the Rigifix - it not being something I have experience using but which a number of you have recommended. It looks very good, and I'm intrigued by the Dryline Pro. 👍

[@Nyle95]

What size expanding hollow wall anchors do you use please?

[@tombarrett1487]

@@Nyle95 M5 x 53mm

[@lotusrow]

Hi there, I'm in a new build and I've watched this video about 5 times and knocked on my wall a dozen more trying to figure out what the hell the craic is... I am looking to fix 1.2m H x 1.2m W shelving via Twin Slot shelving. I initially just used rubber rawl plugs which I was told by my local DIY store is a no no.. i'm definitely a novice and am tearing my hair out.. The wall is definitely plasterboard and I've located the studs with the little magnets. I've made pilot holes and used a paper clip to get depth of the wall - which seems to be around 38mm-40mm... does this mean I have successfully located the stud and I need to drill into the stud? I've got hollow anchor fixings but i'm not sure if there is space for the fixing to expand... Now i am paranoid but have no idea what the right solution is. Any guidance would be so helpful! Thank you.

[@tombarrett1487]

@@lotusrow if the wall is internal, and it sounds as though it is, then you need a hollow wall fixing or you can fix into the studs if you have them. However, some new builds have metal studs which are tricky to fix to as they're narrow and you want to hit the centre of them. If you have wooden studs, go straight in with a 50mm woodscrew. To determine the stud material, run a magnet up the stud. If it sticks in every position, it's steel. If it only sticks in spots then it's wooden (the magnet sticks to the drywall screw heads.

[@whosken88]

Came here from the original, 4 minutes in, this is superior to the old one but boy it was good too. Just bought a house, I'll be at this channel often!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much Ken. Really appreciate you watching my vids and chuffed you find them useful. 👍

[@lynnesimpson3353]

Thank you so much. After planning to fix a wall cupboard to my office wall I despaired when I could only find one stud in the area I wanted to fix to. Having established I had one layer of plasterboard with about 30mm air gap to the solid wall, this video gave me the confidence I needed to choose wall fixings. I probably have way more than strictly needed, but I'm confident the cupboard should stay up :)

[@CharlieDIYte]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know Lynne.

[@efrygasservices6169]

Since I found the Geefix, I have not used any other product for plasterboard walls. I have hung 3mtr double radiators on them and I have had absolutely no movement. Outstanding fixing.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Yes it's still the strongest fixing on the market for plasterboard. 👊

[@buddyboy4x44]

I could not imagine a more comprehensive, interesting video about this topic. The effort on your part to put together such a quality review is amazing and all to help others. Thank you. Subscribed!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks so much. It was a monster to put together so I really appreciate that!

[@6GSF]

what a great video ive half-built houses and still never mastered the plasterboard fixings especially with radiators, so not the plan is to refit them all with geefix and corefix thanks v much

[@caioaquino5958]

You never disappoint Charlie! Had a problem with it due a short space between the plaster and the concrete wall behind it, and found here the solution! Thanks for the great content

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks buddy. Glad you found it useful. 👊

[@jbrennan9929]

Great comprehensive video Charlie. I'm an anchor man so glad they meet with approval!

[@CharlieDIYte]

It's difficult to fault them, isn't it 👍

[@Harkendown]

Very useful. Thanks. Talking about hollow door fixings (there are still plenty about) there used to be Tulip plugs. These had no moving parts but just had petals that sprang open once you were clear of the inside surface of the plywood. To stop it turning inside the cavity you maintained a tension in the bolt as you turned it using a claw hammer or similar. Very small hole, strong, dirt cheap. Sadly no longer available. I've not seen any for 30 years.

[@bear693]

Thanks. 55lb+ mirror to go up on plasterboard (previously internal double doorway I'm told) with little experience in the DIY field this was a great help

[@CharlieDIYte]

Glad you found it useful. 👍

[@clarasampson9910]

Hi, this video has helped me so much and I feel much more confident about hanging things up in my new home. I am using the raw plug hollow wall anchors to hang a very heavy coat rail and wondered how do I check the thickness of my plasterboard and what size would you recommend? I bought the m5 x 65mm and thinking these will be too big.

[@gabrielnamini]

Hi Charlie, I came across your video here by chance. Wow! It is amazing. It's very informative and comprehensive. And it totally educated me on the topic! 🙂So, thank you, and keep up the great work!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Gabriel. I really appreciate the comment and am chuffed you found it useful.

[@gareth4903]

This is the most information I've received from any DIY or video explaining which type of wall fixing to use... thanks Charlie I'm a new subscriber after this post.

[@ortizle1]

Wow, I've never seen the screws with the metal fixing inside. Great video. Very detailed.

[@RH-nk7eo]

Love the bullfix ones. I've hung a 42" LCD TV and a 25KG electrical rad and no issues at all.

[@sharonmc5192]

I used Grip-it fixings for some cat furniture (yes you read that correctly - essentially a platform up high for him to sleep on). All fine to a point, but as he got heavier and with slight movement every time he jumped up there, they finally failed this year and took lumps out of the plasterboard wall when it fell down. I wouldn't use them again. Usually my go-to fixings were the metal Hollow Wall anchors as I've never had any issues with those and have hung some fairly heavy items on them but I might try some of the ones with the wider wingspan you've featured as they look ideal. Great video Charlie - thanks!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Sharon. Yes the hollow walls have always been a favourite of mine. Glad you found it useful and thanks for the comment 🙏

[@johntaylor2489]

What a great and informed video. You were right to keep everything in one video despite the length as it forms an easy self contained reference. Really very well done.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks John, I really appreciate that 👍

[@karlwarnes6062]

Good video test. Light weight I use speed screw fixings or the core fixing and for kitchen units hollow wall fixings. Duo power 65mm now going to be added on the van. Always learning

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Karl. Anyone who's always learning is damn good at their job IMO 👊

[@NicMG]

Fantastic and thoroughly comprehensive video, always a pleasure to watch and some how constantly relevant to stuff I need to do.

[@CharlieDIYte]

So glad to hear that Nick - can't thank you enough for watching my vids 👊

[@farhorizons3901]

Another excellent review. Snap Toggles are my go-to heavy duty fastener where there is a wall cavity. Have found these to be also brilliant in outdoor applications such as with timber cladding or even inside a shower cubicle. For these, I swap out the lightly zinc coated bolt for a stainless one, and smear silicone under the bolt head.

[@andrewknots]

Thank you for a very comprehensive survey. I had been going to put up a bookshelf with Molly bolts, but I’ve now followed your link for the Bullfix

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're very welcome Andrew, and good choice with the Bullfix, oh and thanks for buying through the link. Good luck with the book shelf. 👍

[@MelbourneAlan]

great video charlie. definetly a few angles there that other videos dont include like really tight gaps and insulated board etc its great that you mentioned fixing to the wall if possible. lots of people are obsessed with opeing up behind the board but ignore that there is a far better option availible i have used most of those. my go to are the snap toggle and hollow wall anchor. i have been looking at those bullfix but was aprihensive. definetly buying them now. they look great i agree about the grop it. i never got on well with them. they are slow and fiddle to fit and need a large hole and cost a lot. far better options out there i dont agree about those hammer in fixings tap its. obviosly there is no real strength there so should be avoided for anything with any weight to it. but they are very usefull for very lightweight used like holding plastic trunking on walls or attaching screw on wire clips to walls etc. the best thing about them is that they leave a very small slot to fix if your using them for temporery jobs.

[@jasonharding9490]

Thanks Charlie, really helpful. I will just add one type of plasterboard wall: the pre-made partition wall consisting of a sheet of plasterboard on each side, held together by a cardboard matrix, often referred to as eggbox. I am working on a 1983 built house in middle England and every partition wall is this type, my mum in law's 1989 house is also full of them. If you go looking for studs on these walls you won't have much luck and pretty much the only way to hang anything is to rely on the plasterboard.The 'gap' available is quite deep but you do have to deal with the cardboard bits, depending where the drill hole happens to fall. I have to replace a radiator on one wall (most are on the external block walls) and the previous one was fixed using spring toggles, I probably would have ended up going down that same route, I had no idea there were so many and far better options, I will definitely be looking at one of the stronger options you listed. Thanks again.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks - I've never encountered one of those walls. Extraordinary how some building practices have evolved over the years. Yes, the section of the vid where I show you how the fixings open up in insulated plasterboard might be useful to you. The hollow wall anchor is probably your best bet.

[@janstafford1490]

Plasterboards vary so much in stability and humidity absorption rate, i found Knauf better but that was over 20 years back, with dot not dab i sometimes just pump an adhesive be it two pack or gripfill depending on the time i’d be there but your snap ties wicked, never seen them but look i will. Thanks for the video 👍🏽

[@neilstevenson1485]

Appreciate that video, brought a fixing tool as I was sick of them spinning around on me. Now I can do both :-) But setting tool worth £15 basis the amount of anchors I had gone through!

[@anotherledfreak8649]

Great video again. Some subjects need longer videos and this is one example. One thing I suffer with is the fixings opening distance. My internal walls have a cardboard lattice inner core (about 25mm squares) and less than 25mm distance between the 2 layers of plasterboard. Some of the best fixtures I just cannot fit due to the lattice. Your video is excellent as it shows all the information I need. Many thanks!

[@peter-gn8ey]

great vid charlie. looks like I'll be adding some geefix to my fixings box - love the fact you can add another screw into the wings. I also bought the gripits in an assortment box about 4 years and I regret it as I've only ever used a couple of them.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks Peter. Yes those Gripits are a bit of a gimmick I'm afraid which is probably why the company ultimately went bust. Peter Jones ruthlessly exposed their flaws on Dragons Den when they first came to the public eye, by pulling the radiator off the mock up wall the inventor had fixed it to.

[@mstatham10]

Bullfix Universal work really well. Great reviews on Amazon

[@ghostlightwhisper6802]

Thank you so much! Now I know the best fixing for my very heavy mirror. I'm in the US, but I managed to find them. Subscribed!

[@CharlieDIYte]

Brilliant news. Humbled you found my vid in the US and managed to source the fixing.

[@gsxr-bt2qg]

Look forward to your comparison videos, not seen a few features on this video before, i 've used the blue gripits before for large tv's without a problem,when i've run out i'll try something else .thanks for the video.

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Glad you found it useful. 👍

[@fqlynx]

Hi Charlie, loving all the different subjects you're covering so comprehensively. Thank you! Could I put in a request, which I think will be very popular and that is how to safely mount a TV above a central heating radiator. I want to do this, but want to make sure the screw plugs don't fail due to heat and how to protect the TV from heat damage.

[@CharlieDIYte]

It's basically a case of following the steps in my vid, to work out what's behind the wall and then what the best fixing to use is. You also want to double check there aren't any water pipes traveling up the wall to your upstairs if applicable. In terms of fixing, depending on the weight of the TV and whether the bracket is pivoting or not, one of those heavier duty fixings I showed with the anchor that opens up behind would be worth using.

[@marlarice]

Thanks for the great video! Very thorough. How can I tell if I have enough space for a toggle bolt?

[@andrewknots]

Thank you for a very comprehensive review. I had been going to put up a bookshelf with 2 screws into the only stud, and a load of molly bolts, Instead I’ve just followed your link for the Bullfix extra fixings

[@CharlieDIYte]

Good work Andrew. Yes they're a brilliant design, and get easy to usual. I wouldn't bother with the universal as I think the anchor isn't wide enough but the extra are great.

[@iblackfeathers]

i have had good results with franklin sensors stud finder. unlike most other detectors it has like 11 to 13 sensors build it.

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks, I'll check that out 👍

[@grandwonder5858]

You have the best video on the subject of plasterboard anchors and anchor weight tests! Great job! 👍

[@CharlieDIYte]

Thanks, I appreciate that 👊

[@commonsensicle2231]

Excellent video ,have to fix stair banister to plasterboard so obviously has to be a strong fix. So extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment. 👍

[@YeahStevie]

Excellent comparison, if you wanted to put some coat hooks on a hollow core bathroom door, which would you recommend?

[@roygalaasen]

Thank you for a very thorough review video, especially where you show the parts that may go wrong.

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@idjr2654]

Great guide Charlie! Thank you for creating and sharing!

[@suejames3208]

Can anyone recommend the best fixing for use with a curtain pole which has a bracket where the pole slots through and not a bracket which the pole rests on. Hope you understand all that!

[@drsquirrel00]

I use multiple magnets to find the line of the stud, will normally get you around any rogue metal bits that arent near studs.

[@Ianf1x]

The biggest problem with most fixings is you can't have close together ie when filling curtain pole brackets. I bought Fisher plugs and found as tightening would start to spin in plaster board even when hole drilled smaller and plug tight fit. Put in bin . I use red plug 5.5 bit or brown 6.5 with yellow in it to make tight fit. Have worked for me 20years plus. Hollo wall are my go to with big brackets. Thanks for a great fixing vid👍

[@KimmoJaskari]

Fantastically comprehensive comparison. Easy to figure out now what I want and don't want to use on my plasterboard walls. The house is from the 80s, and apparently when they built it they felt it was fine to put the studs 1.2 meters apart, which is some bullshit. Which really makes using studs to mount to a challenge, so I need a good anchor solution. The Bullfix looks like the sweet spot I think as I'm not hanging super heavy stuff, and since it's removable and reusable that also factors in. Just seems more elegant than losing metal bits inside the wall. Most likely overkill for my application but hey, having some margin never hurt, the total cost won't be that bad. Oh, but one good thing about the composite Fischer variant - only need to drill 10 mm.

[@CharlieDIYte]

You're welcome. Yes I never use that Fischer toggle to be honest. Stick with the Bullfix. As you say, being removable is a good option but I wouldn't worry about the odd bit if metal falling into the cavity. The builders probably left a whole heap of other stuff in there anyway 😉 For lighter weight stuff, the Fisher Duopower 8x40 is a fantastic universal plug.