Anchor

Plain-English definition

An anchor is a broad term for any device inserted into a wall or ceiling designed to securely hold a screw. While “wall plug” usually refers to simple plastic inserts for solid brick, “anchor” is more commonly used for specialised fixings designed for hollow plasterboard (drywall) or heavy-duty masonry.

Why it matters

Hollow walls (like plasterboard over a stud frame) have nothing solid behind the surface for a standard screw or wall plug to grip into. Hollow wall anchors solve this by expanding or opening up behind the plasterboard, spreading the load over a wider area and clamping securely against the back of the wall.

Common mistake

A common mistake is using a standard plastic wall plug in a hollow plasterboard wall to hang something heavy, like a television bracket or a large mirror. The plug will eventually pull straight out of the crumbling plasterboard. You must use a dedicated hollow wall anchor, such as a toggle bolt or heavy-duty metal cavity anchor, matched to the weight of the object.