G'day! We have all been there. You buy a nice new shelf, a heavy mirror, or a big flat-screen TV. You grab a screw, whack it straight into the plasterboard, and hang your item up. Five minutes later, there is a massive crash, a hole in the wall, and your new gear is on the floor. It is a proper dog's breakfast.

The problem is not the screw; it is what you put it into. To hang anything heavier than a calendar on a standard Aussie wall, you need the right wall anchor. Whether you are dealing with Gyprock, brick, or concrete, choosing the correct anchor is the difference between a job that lasts forever and a repair job you will be doing next weekend.

Know Your Wall Type First

Before you even head to the shops or your local electrical wholesaler to buy fasteners, you have to know what you are drilling into.

Plasterboard (Gyprock) This is the standard internal wall in most Aussie homes. It is essentially a sandwich of gypsum plaster between two sheets of paper. It is not very strong on its own. If you drive a screw straight in, it will just crumble and pull out. You need a wall anchor that spreads the load behind the sheet.

Masonry (Brick and Concrete) This is solid stuff. You cannot just drive a screw into it. You need to drill a hole and use a plug that expands to grip the inside of the hole tightly.

The Main Types of Wall Anchors You Will Use

The Green Wall Plug (Masonry) This is the classic. If you look in any tradie's toolbox, you will find hundreds of these. They are usually 7mm plugs designed for brick and concrete. You drill a hole with a masonry bit, tap the plug in, and drive the screw. The plug expands and grips the brick like a vice.

The Screw-In Anchor (Plasterboard) Often called "Wall Mates," these are brilliant for light-to-medium loads like picture frames or towel rails. They look like a large, coarse screw with a big thread. You simply screw the anchor itself into the plasterboard, and then drive your screw into the centre of the anchor.

Hollow Wall Anchors and Toggles (Heavy Duty) If you are hanging something heavy on plasterboard, like a TV bracket or heavy shelving, you need these. They are metal anchors that push through the wall and then expand or "umbrella" out on the other side (in the wall cavity). This clamps the plasterboard from behind, spreading the weight over a large area so it does not rip out.

Weight Ratings Are Critical

Never guess the weight. A small plastic wall anchor might be rated for 5kg, while a heavy-duty toggle bolt might handle 20kg. Always check the packaging. If you are mounting something expensive or heavy, it is always safer to overestimate and go for a heavy-duty option. If you can, always try to locate the timber stud behind the wall and screw directly into that for the ultimate hold.

When You Need a Professional Touch

Using a wall anchor to hang a picture is a great DIY job. However, if you are drilling into walls to mount electrical items, you need to be careful. Hitting a live wire behind the wall is a serious danger.

Furthermore, if you are mounting electrical accessories like wall lights, heated towel rails, or new power points, this involves fixed wiring. In Australia, this work is illegal for DIYers and must be done by a licensed electrician. They have the testing equipment to locate cables before they drill and the skills to install the gear safely.

Get the Right Gear for the Job

A professional installation relies on professional-grade fixings. A licensed professional will not use cheap, brittle plastic plugs that snap in the hole. They source their consumables from a reputable supplier to ensure reliability.

As one of Australia's most comprehensive suppliers, Schnap Electric Products stocks the lot. They provide a massive range of trade-quality fixing solutions, from heavy-duty masonry anchors to specialist plasterboard fixings suitable for any application. Alongside their vast range of electrical components, they stock the essential hardware that you would expect to find at a top-tier electrical wholesaler, ensuring that whether you are hanging a simple bracket or installing a heavy switchboard, it stays exactly where you put it. For a job that holds up, the pros rely on quality gear from a supplier like Schnap Electric.