Drywall is the most common finishing material. It is used in any structure. It is clear that for fixing on the surface (shelves, lamps or something like that), you will need to know which mounting component will be appropriate. There are enough offers on the market, but how to make a choice?
Standard dowels are designed for stronger foundations, and it will not work reliably to fix in plasterboard, alabaster, MDF-plate. But how to act in this situation? The simple answer is to purchase special dowels for drywall. Such fasteners have a different design and principle of operation. Here, there is no expansion inside the hole, but on the contrary, the sheet is crimped on both sides (although the standard method is also sometimes used).
What you need to know about the species?
As already noted, on sale everyone can find a large assortment of goods for their intended purpose.
But what choice to make? How to find the most relevant dowel for drywall? Before making the final choice, you need to understand how fasteners work, find out detailed characteristics and the principle of operation. That is what will allow you to competently make your choice and purchase the right material.
"Butterfly"
This fixture helps to place something on the surface:
- From drywall.
- Chipboard.
- Plywood.
These are not too heavy designs. The dowel "butterfly" for drywall by name corresponds to its shape. This is visible in the photo.
The material is polypropylene. But before you install it, you need to create a hole in the right place of the corresponding diameter. In what situations is such a dowel used?
- Fixing fixtures and electrical wiring.
- Installation of circuit breakers.
- Installation of skirting boards.
In this situation, the thickness of the material should not be more than 10-12 millimeters. It turns out that this size has its limitations.
How to install?
It is important to understand how to install a dowel for drywall:
- Make a hole.
- Attach the end of the dowel to the hole. At this time, you need to hold the side elements, and then with the help of a hammer to upset the body with the notch until it stops.
- After that, an object for fixing is applied to the wall.
- Then a screw is taken and fixed in the threaded sleeve, which is located at the end of the dowel.
Everyone can cope with such a task. There are advantages to this method - the screw is easy to put in place. If necessary, dismantling is simple. It is clear that there are also negative sides - if the back space is small, then the “butterfly” will be an inappropriate option.
Driva
Driva drywall dowel is a hollow conical rod, which has a flat head, there is a screw thread with an acute-angled profile. Its head is comparable to a screw - there are slots for a screwdriver. On sale such fasteners are with a rod diameter of 12 to 15 millimeters. In order for the fixing screw to fall into place, a blind or through hole is made inside.
On sale you can find the "Driva" dowel for drywall with a drill and its absence. But what is this design? Most often it is created in the shape of a trident. Material - metal or plastic. This type of fixation is used if you cannot use something else due to limited internal space. It is important to understand how the work goes:
- A hole is made, but not in all cases.
- Fasteners are fixed with any tool. Making this a simple screwdriver is difficult.
- Any item is fixed with a screw. In the process, the end of the fastener will change shape and become thicker. This further complicates dismantling.
Fasteners for this purpose are used by many for its main positive qualities:
- No need to pre-create a hole because there is a drill.
- Possibility of installation with a small distance between the drywall sheet and the wall.
- If necessary, you can remove the hardware.
Everyone can cope with such material.
The dowel "Molly" for drywall
One of the main advantages is the ability to withstand heavy loads. But what about external data? Most often, the design is close to a spacer anchor, which is used in the process of attaching to a brick or other dense structure.
What does Molly look like? This is a sleeve with longitudinal slots. A nut is fixed on one side and a hat with cloves on the other. This design eliminates the turning process. A screw goes through the hollow dowel. It is fixed already in the nut.
How will the fastening happen?
The work is done in several stages:
- Holes are made with a diameter that is equal to the sleeve itself.
- Further, the sleeve is driven into such a moment until the teeth themselves “catch” the wall under the drywall.
- After that, the object is hung in its place, and then the screw is fixed on the nuts.
- The thread is mounted all the way. At this moment, the sleeve itself is obtained along the main axis. Visually, these are several supporting triangles, due to which the strength and reliability of the entire installation will be achieved. Visually, this is comparable to an umbrella.
Pros and cons
One of the main advantages is the ability to withstand heavy structures. For this reason, the dowel is often used. There are also negative aspects worth knowing about:
- With a small distance between the drywall sheet and the wall, it will not be possible to install it.
- To dismantle such a metal dowel for drywall, you will have to break the finish.
It turns out that there are a lot of dowel options for drywall. From the one offered on the market, everyone will always find a suitable option for themselves. Having theoretical data on each of the fasteners, it is easier to understand which option is suitable in a particular case.
Umbrella
There are also fasteners that are very reliable, and they are called "dowel umbrella." But often builders call them a spring suspension, because any load is available to him. They are used for fixing to the ceiling of lighting fixtures. What does this design look like? The core on which the thread with the nut is created is taken as the basis. There are also two spring-loaded legs, most often located at an angle of 180 degrees. The end where the main load should be can be straight, circular or with a hook.
Before installation, you need to make a hole in the drywall so that the paws enter there. The mounting process itself will occur in a short period of time. The paws are inserted into the hole in the folded state. When the dowel of the drywall profile is in place, then with the help of a spring the elements are straightened and maximum fixing takes place.
In the process of application, such a device shows itself from a reliable side, therefore it is used very often. The main plus is that it is easy to dismantle. To do this, the rod is removed from the nut, after which the remaining part is carefully removed. Although builders say that it’s not always the case. It is clear that such a dowel-nail for drywall has the ability to withstand heavy loads. But at the same time, not every drywall can be reliable. So it is worth using it only on a solid foundation.
An umbrella plug is a common fastener option that applies to other installations. But often there are inconsistencies in the materials presented: one fixture is described, and in the photo it is completely different. For example, an umbrella and a “butterfly” are two dowels, but at the same time with different designs and characteristics. One is able to withstand severe loads, and the other is not. Not understanding what is at stake, it is possible to use the wrong fasteners during the repair process, which will lead to unpleasant consequences.
In addition, often people pay attention to external data. It is for this reason that you need to understand the properties of each type of element before buying. Often the name "umbrella" can be seen in another fixture - spring. He has two spring petals. After installation, they automatically open and resemble an umbrella. Sometimes these names include simple elements for fixing the insulation. Their minimal reliability is of no benefit.
Basic properties
To make the right choice, it is worth going through the characteristics, namely the properties. As a result, it is easy to make the right choice when installing and finishing the room.
“Butterfly” is most often used in the following cases. This is the fastening of wires, skirting boards, cornices (in the case when the wall is thin). Due to axial thrust, fastening takes place. The size of the hole should be done depending on the diameter of the dowel. It can withstand loads of up to ten kilograms. It is difficult to dismantle.
"Driva" makes it possible to mount light objects on thin-walled structures. The element is spacer; there is no need to create an additional hole. No need for a large interior space. If desired, the design is removed. It can withstand loads of up to 30 kilograms.
"Molly" is an excellent option for hanging shelves, plumbing and other structures. Installation method - using axial thrust. The hole is made according to the diameter of the dowel.
If a screw installation method is used, there must be sufficient space under the drywall. After fixing, it will not be possible to carefully disassemble the structure. The option is quite durable and reliable - suitable for elements with a load of more than 40 kilograms.
Spring-loaded - a good option for lighting. A free mounting method is used. It turns out a large hole. Before installing, make sure that there is enough space. The element is easily dismantled. It is difficult to find information about the carrying capacity, but, according to experts, this figure is high.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are enough dowels for drywall, so if necessary, you can easily choose the right option. Do not use simple screws or bolts, as they will not withstand the specified load. Going to the store, it is better to stock up with useful information so as not to be deceived. If you want to fix something insignificant (for example, lighting), you should not purchase a installation that can withstand the maximum load. The presence of free space in the wall of the room also matters. Knowing these nuances, it is very easy to make a choice.