The Natural Philosopher wrote:
pm wrote:

Stuart Noble wrote:

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

pm wrote:

I want to fit a towel rad to a plasterboard wall. The fixings that
come with the rad aren't for plasterboard unless fixed to timber
noggings in which case the instructions say to drill a 4mm hole for
the screws.

Naturally there are no noggings where I need them so I am looking
at plasterboard fixings like these
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?&id=12229

But I'm not sure what the 'spec' is - the description is "Hollow
wall anchor 5 x 52mm 8-16mm"
I take it the 5x52mm means 5mm screw, 52mm length. But what is the
"8 - 16mm"? Is this the size of the hole in the fixing I want to
put in?

Also this fitting
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?&id=33559
"Metal plasterboard anchor 5x37S" - what is 5x37S - 5mm x 37mm?
What is the 'S'?

Thanks

Pete



I would say that your only safe option is to take a strip of
plasterboard off and PUT in noggins.

Unless you have tiled the wall, in which case ordinary screws and
rawlplugs will just be adequate.

As a long term dweller in stud work houses, you get very used to
carving out a chunk of board with a Stanley knife, inserting bits of
wood to the studs, and sticking the plasterboard back and re
skimming, sanding and painting.



I've always found this sort of thing quite adequate providing you get
a nice clean hole the right size.
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...22882&id=58219



I looked at them, the metal ones look like they spread the load more.


The real issue is the circumference of the hole in the plasterboard. Or
in fact the one side of it that takes the weight

This usually exceeds the compression strength of the plasterboard, and
the hole gradually enlarges as a result.

Tiling over locally increases the strength as the tile does the
supporting, and the tile spreads the load to the board via the tile
cement.. That works, as also does gluing a slab of wood OVER the
plasterboard. But no fixing that relies on a cylinder of small diameter
in plasterboard can take much weight.


The area is half tiled (the bottom half) and next year this will be
coming off and the whole lot tiled.
I can't locate any studs at all by tapping. It is a fairly narrow wall
(only just wide enough for a 600mm towel rail) so perhaps the studs are
right at the ends.

Opinion seems to be divided about the effectiveness of the plasterboard
fittings. Seeing as it will be tiled next year I might give them a go.
If it goes T/U you can say "I told you so!"