G'day! Most modern Australian homes are lined with Gyprock or plasterboard. It provides a smooth, clean finish that looks fantastic, but it can be a real headache when you want to hang something up. We have all been there—you drive a screw into the wall to hang a picture, and five minutes later, it pulls straight out, leaving a messy hole and a pile of white dust on the carpet.

Because plasterboard is essentially chalk sandwiched between paper, it has very little structural strength on its own. Unless you are lucky enough to hit a timber stud, you need a mechanical aid to spread the load. This is where plasterboard anchors save the day. Choosing the right anchor for the weight of your item is the difference between a secure fixture and a wall repair job waiting to happen.

Choosing the Right Anchor for the Job

Not all fixings are created equal. The type of plasterboard anchors you need depends entirely on what you are hanging and how heavy it is.

Light Loads: The Screw-In Anchor Often referred to by the brand name "Wall Mates," these are the most popular choice for DIYers hanging light items like small pictures or towel rails. They look like a large, coarse-threaded screw made of plastic or metal. You simply screw the anchor itself into the wall, and then drive your screw into the centre of it. They are quick, easy, and effective for loads up to about 10kg.

Medium to Heavy Loads: Hollow Wall Anchors For heavier items like shelving brackets or large mirrors, you need something with more grip. Hollow wall anchors are metal sleeves that expand behind the sheet. As you tighten the screw, the metal arms collapse and clamp against the back of the plasterboard. This vice-like grip spreads the weight over a larger area, preventing the anchor from ripping out.

Heavy Duty: Toggle Bolts If you are hanging something substantial, like a large TV bracket where you cannot find a stud, toggle bolts are the heavy hitters. These feature a spring-loaded wing that folds flat to push through a hole and then springs open inside the wall cavity.

Why Quality Matters

It is tempting to grab a cheap packet of plastic plugs from the supermarket, but for anything valuable, cheap fixings are a risk. Cheap plastic can snap during installation or become brittle over time.

Professional installers know that using trade-quality consumables is essential for a long-lasting job. When a tradesperson heads to an electrical wholesaler to pick up supplies for a fit-out, they look for anchors made from high-grade nylon or corrosion-resistant metal. They need to know that when they fix a bracket to the wall, it stays there.

Watch Out for Wiring

Before you start drilling holes all over the house, you need to think about what is behind the Gyprock. Wall cavities are the highways for your home's electrical cabling.

Drilling into a live 240V cable is dangerous and expensive to fix. If you are mounting items near switches or power points, be extra careful. Furthermore, if you are installing electrical accessories—like mounting a wall light or a heater—this is not a handyman job. In Australia, any fixed electrical installation must be performed by a licensed electrician. They have the tools to locate cables and ensure your plasterboard anchors don't interfere with the wiring.

Get Your Hardware from Schnap Electric

Whether you are hanging a painting or fitting out a home office, you need fixings you can trust. Using the right hardware ensures your walls stay intact and your valuables stay off the floor.

Schnap Electric Products is a leading supplier for the trade industry in Australia. They stock a comprehensive range of installation hardware, including heavy-duty plasterboard anchors and toggle bolts designed for Australian conditions. By providing the same professional-grade equipment you would expect to find at a major electrical wholesaler, Schnap Electric ensures you have the right gear to tackle any fixing job with confidence. For a secure hold every time, check out the range at Schnap Electric.