Your Home – August 2019

66 August 2019 http://www.yourhomemagazine.co.uk

Feature

Emma Thompson

Step-by-step images

B&Q

Confidently hang

shelves, mirrors and

cabinets yourself

masterclass

T

he ability to put screws in a wall is

something all homeowners should

have – especially those of us that

like to change things up every now and

then. While it may be tempting to call

in a DIY-savvy friend, the truth is that

you’ll get so much more satisfaction from

having done it yourself. Learn how with

our step-by-step guide, tips and advice.

DIY

You’ll neeD

Essential l Power drill l masonry drill bits

l wall plugs l screws l tape measure

l screwdriver l stud and cable detector

Usefull tape l spirit level l sand paper

l filler l putty knife l hammer

SIzIng up

n First, find out what type of wall you’re planning

to mount on. Knock on the surface: a solid wall

will make a dull thud but if it sounds hollow, it’s

plasterboard. Universal plugs are fine in solid

walls and for very light loads on hollow ones, but

you should use the right kind. General-purpose

plasterboard fixings are suitable for hanging light

to medium weight objects while intercept fixings

and spring anchors will hold up heavier loads.

n If your product came with suitable fixings, these

will be fine to use, but otherwise you’ll need to select

a screw, wall plug and drill bit that are all compatible

[1]. There are so many styles and materials of screws

but for the majority of indoor mounting jobs, steel

wood screws will be suitable.

n The screw packaging will have the gauge and length of

the screw written on it, e.g. 5 x 60mm means that the gauge is 5mm and the length from head

to tip is 60mm. It’s a good idea to use the widest-gauge screw that will fit through the pre-drilled

holes of the item you’re hanging but the most important factor is the length. Short screws are fine

for light objects such as picture frames but heavier objects such as shelves will require longer screws.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry and use a longer screw than might be necessary.

n Match the wall plug to the screw gauge. There will be a size guide written on the packaging of

the plug but you can double-check by twisting a screw into a plug. It should be a snug fit but not

need to be forced through. The right size of drill bit will also be noted on the plug packaging but

if you’re unsure, drill a test hole on a scrap piece of material or thick cardboard and check the fit.

n Measure and plan out where you need to put the screws, marking the spot with a cross. Use a

spirit level and always double check your measurements – it takes less time than having to fill a hole

and starting over.

So why do you need to use wall plugs?

A screw’s raised threads burrow into

softer materials like wood, getting a

good grip – this is why you don’t need

to use a plug to screw into a wooden

stud. However, in solid and plasterboard

walls, which are more brittle, a bare screw

would quickly come loose when holding

any weight. Wall plugs are usually made

from slightly flexible plastic or metal that

can be pushed into a drilled hole with a

small amount of wiggle room. When the

screw is driven into it, the plug expands

and creates a tight fit, gripping the screw

securely in place.

plug know-how

Always follow manufacturer’s hanging instructions

1

top tip

Some manufacturers colour

code the sizes of their plastic wall

plugs, but this isn’t standardised

so always double check.

Kallax four-cube

shelving unit in

white, £40 each, IKEA

North wall

shelf, £39,

Beaumonde