Choosing screws for basic DIY jobs
How screw length, head type, thread and material affect simple DIY choices.
Materials & Know-How
Screws, Plugs & Anchors
Understand basic fixings, wall plugs, anchors, pilot holes and common mistakes.
What you’ll learn
These pages explain choice, properties, limitations, terminology and safety checks before you use a material, fixing or method in a practical job.
Guides
View all guidesMatching fixings to wall type: beginner overview
A cautious overview of matching light-duty fixings to different wall types.
Pilot holes and countersinking basics
Why pilot holes and countersinks make many screw jobs cleaner and safer.
What wall plugs do and when to use them
How wall plugs help screws grip and why wall type matters.
Why screws strip, split wood or work loose
Common reasons screw fixings fail or become untidy.
Glossary
View glossaryAnchor
A fixing used to create a hold in a wall, ceiling or hollow surface.
Countersink
A shaped recess that lets a screw head sit flush or below the surface.
Pilot hole
A small drilled hole that guides a screw and reduces splitting.
Screw gauge
A size number that describes screw thickness in some screw systems.
Substrate
The base material you are fixing into, such as timber, plasterboard, brick or concrete.
Thread
The spiral ridge on a screw that bites into material or a matching insert.
Wall plug
An insert that helps a screw grip in a drilled wall hole.
Common mistakes
- Assuming one material or fixing is always best.
- Ignoring surface condition, age, moisture, heat or movement.
- Guessing strength or load capacity instead of checking the exact product and situation.