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How to hang on plasterboard

This step-by-step guide provides detailed information on how to complete a task.

It includes a list of tools and materials needed for the task.

Please be advised that this is only a guide and I cannot accept responsibility for any work undertaken. If you are not confident undertaking electrical work then you should have this work undertaken by a qualified electrician. 

Tools and Materials

  • Pencil
  • Measuring tape
  • Appropriate screws (weight and size dependant)
  • Appropriate plasterboard anchor (weight and size dependant), I recommend Togglers
  • Drill
  • Impact driver/screwdriver
  • Appropriate drill bit for plasterboard (wood or metal or multipurpose drill bit works well)

Step by Step Guide

1

Choose the right drill bit

  • Select a drill bit suitable for drilling into plasterboard. Wood or metal or multipurpose drill bits work well for plasterboard.
  • Make sure the drill bit is the right diameter for the wall anchors you plan to use. For your pilot hole use a smaller drill bit 2-3mm.
2

Mark the drilling spot

  • Once you’ve found the location where you want to drill, use a pencil to mark the spot. Double-check the placement to ensure it’s where you want it and aligned correctly.
  • You need to check that your marking’s locations are not horizontal or vertically to a plug socket as the cables maybe running behind the wall and you do want to drill through the cables. If you are horizontal or vertically to a plug socket you can unscrew the plug socket (please refer to my guide ‘How to change a plug socket to USB’ to do safely) to see which way the cables are running, if they run towards your holes you will need to move the position.
3

Prepare the drill

  • Insert the 2-3mm drill bit into your drill to drill pilot holes. Make sure it’s secure and tight.
  • Make sure the drill is on the drilling setting. The symbol for the drilling mode has the shape of a drilling bit, do not use the hammer setting. And set to drill forward.
4

Drilling pilot hole technique

Gently place the drill bit on the marked spot and hold the drill perpendicular to the wall. Start drilling at a slow speed to create a shallow indentation. This helps prevent the drill bit from slipping when you begin the actual drilling. Apply light pressure initially.

5

Drill into the plasterboard

Once you have the shallow indentation for pilot hole, increase the speed of the drill and apply gentle, steady pressure to start drilling into the plasterboard.

6

Keep it straight

Ensure that the drill remains perpendicular to the wall throughout the process. This will help you drill a straight hole.

7

Depth of the hole

Drill to the desired depth. If you’re using wall anchors, stop drilling when the hole is deeper than plasterboard anchor, as your screw will want to be slight longer.

8

What you may hit when drilling

 

You may find once you have drilled through the plasterboard you hit a wooden stud which is a wooden frame the plasterboard is attached to. If you do drill a little further and remove drill and you should be able to see wood on the drill bit, if not get a screw and push it in and it should feel slightly soft. If wood carry on drilling your pilot hole and jump to step 10.

You may also come across something hard this will more than likely be a wall made of brick or breeze block. If you come across this, you will want to change to a masonry drill bit to drill a little further for your wall anchor. If you only need to drill a further 1-2cm for wall anchor you can still use plasterboard fixings. If you need to drill deeper +3cm, you will require wall plugs.

9

Re-drill into plasterboard

  • Once you have drilled your pilot hole change your drill bit for plasterboard anchor and drill into your pilot hole to same depth using same technique as above. If going into solid wall, make sure using masonry drill bit for the solid wall and change drill setting to hammer.
  • Make sure you test your depth by inserting the screw you are using to ensure it goes all the way in.
10

Install plasterboard anchors

  • Carefully drill your plasterboard anchor into the plasterboard using impact driver
  • If you hit a wooden stud, you do not need plasterboard anchors and can drill your screw straight into the wooden stud with you impact driver.
  • If you hit solid wall and only drill 2-3cm more your plasterboard anchor should still fit, or you can cut it a bit small to stop before solid wall. If you need to drill further into solid wall you will need a wall plug, so drill a wall plug depth further into solid wall. Then insert your wall plug first, you will need a long thick screw and hammer to tap it securely into the solid wall then cut plasterboard anchor to fit remaining gap.
11

Insert screw and test

Once anchor is in drill in your screw using your impact driver. Then test pulling down on the screw with what you think is the same force as the item you are hanging to ensure it will be secure.

To learn how to hang on solid wall – click here

CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE COMPLETED IT!