Plastic Expansion Plugs (Standard)

• Best for: Solid walls (brick, concrete, stone)
• Material: Nylon or polyethylene
• How they work: Expand when screw is inserted
• Common shape: Ribbed body with flared ends
• Sizes: Typically color-coded by diameter (e.g. red = 6mm, brown = 7mm)

Cavity Wall Anchors (Hollow Wall Plugs)

• Best for: Plasterboard, hollow blocks
• How they work: Expand or spread behind the wall to "grab" it
• Types include:
  • Toggle bolts
  • Spring toggles
  • Molly bolts (metal expansion anchors)
  • Plastic toggle plugs

Hammer-In Plugs

• Best for: Masonry
• How they work: A nail-screw is hammered in, expanding the plug
• Common uses: Mounting batten frames, light fixtures

Frame Fixings

• Best for: Mounting door/window frames to masonry
• Structure: Long plug with long screw
• Benefit: Holds deep into masonry

Universal Plugs

• Fit: Work in solid, hollow, and plasterboard
• Design: Expands, knots, or folds depending on wall material
• Advantage: Versatile for unknown wall types

Chemical Anchors (Resin Fixings)

• Best for: Heavy loads in masonry or concrete
• How they work: Resin is injected into the hole before inserting a threaded rod or rebar
• Advantage: No expansion pressure; ideal for fragile substrates

Self-Drilling Plasterboard Anchors

• Best for: Light to medium loads in drywall
• Material: Metal or plastic
• How they work: Screw in directly without pre-drilling; wide thread grips drywall
• Note: Can be reused

Sleeve Anchors

• Best for: Concrete and brick
• How they work: Sleeve expands outward when the bolt is tightened
• Often used for: Heavy-duty applications

✅ Check Load Requirements

• Light-duty (up to 10kg): Plastic plugs, self-drilling drywall anchors
  
• Medium-duty (10–25kg): Metal anchors, toggle bolts
  
• Heavy-duty (25kg+): Sleeve anchors, chemical anchors
  

✅ Match Plug and Screw SizesWall plugs come in specific sizes (often metric), and must match the screw diameter and wall hole size:

• Example: A 6mm plug typically uses a 4–5mm diameter screw
  

🛠️ Installation Tips

1. Drill the correct hole size — too tight, plug won’t fit; too loose, plug won’t hold
   
2. Use the right drill bit for the wall type (masonry bit for brick/concrete, wood bit for timber)
   
3. Clean the hole of dust for a firm grip
   
4. Insert plug fully flush with wall surface
   
5. Use appropriate screw length — long enough to reach deep into the plug but not overly long
   

🔍 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using plugs in crumbling walls — they won't hold
  
• Choosing a plug too small or too short
  
• Not matching screw to plug size
  
• Using wall plugs in soft wood (screws work better directly)
  
• Over-tightening screws, causing plugs to spin or break