Secure Objects Safely to Walls & Ceilings with the Right Anchors

Whether you’re mounting a TV or hanging tools in the garage, anchors are essential to ensure a safe, secure attachment. Expansion anchors, or anchor bolts, are a type of masonry anchor that expands when inserted into a pre-drilled hole, applying force to the hole wall so the fastener will not come out. There are several different kinds for different applications. Wedge anchors are designed for use only in solid concrete and provide the highest holding value. Drop-in anchors are also used in concrete but require a setting tool to trigger the expansion. They’re a good choice for hanging ductwork and attaching pipes and to walls. Nail-in anchors feature a tamper-proof head and are commonly used to fasten eavestroughs and drywall tracks. Sleeve anchors are also popular because they can be used with various types of masonry including concrete, brick, and tile. This makes them ideal for installing grab bars in bathrooms.

When attaching items to drywall you can choose from several types of hollow wall anchors. Small plastic anchors are fine for hanging lightweight objects like curtain rods. Molly bolts are also plastic but have a heavy-duty construction that can handle up to 20 kilos. Toggle bolts can hold up to 40 kilos and feature a head that snaps open on the other side to secure the bolt to the wall. Self-drilling drywall anchors eliminate the need to predrill a hole and can also bear heavy loads.