7th Dec 2022 -

Plasterboard wall plugs are easy-to-use fixings for dry lining, capable of supporting light weights, making them perfect for simple home improvement tasks. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of plasterboard wall plugs, look at which wall plugs are suited to specific types of plaster walls, and give a quick overview of how to install and remove plasterboard wall plugs.

What types of plasterboard wall plugs are available?

Regular Wall Plugs

Regular plasterboard wall plugs come in various sizes for different types of screws. They are designed to be hammered into a pre-drilled hole, securing them in the wall. They can then be screwed into, which expands the wall plug, further securing it in place. Regular wall plugs are affordably priced, costing pennies per plug, and they are available in boxes of a hundred or more.

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Extended Plasterboard Wall Plugs

Wall plugs are also available in extended lengths, more suited to plasterboard panels that have a solid wall behind them. Due to the limited thickness of the plasterboard, drilling an extended wall plug into a stud plasterboard wall has no benefit.

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    • Superior strength
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    • Available in 4 lengths
    • Manufactrured to BS EN 14566
    Price from: £19.19 £23.03

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Butterfly Wall Plugs For Plasterboard

Butterfly wall plugs are wall plugs intended for hollow walls like plasterboard. They are hammered into a pre-drilled hole and tightened with a screw. When the screw is tightened, the section of the wall plug behind the plasterboard flattens to the side, giving a tight seal.

Heavy Duty Plasterboard Wall Plugs

The wider the diameter of the wall plugs the stronger the fixing, so thicker wall plugs will be capable of securing a larger weight. A branded alternative would be Fischer Duopower wall plugs which are built with two materials to provide stronger load capacities. These plugs are still not necessarily suited for heavy loads but will support more weight than basic wall plugs.

What Are the Best Wall Plugs For My Plasterboard Wall?

While all basic plasterboard wall plugs will be fine for securing a lightweight to your regular plasterboard wall, there are other types of plasterboard that may require special types of wall plugs, or alternative fixings altogether. 

Sound Resistant Plasterboard

Creating holes in your sound-resistant plasterboard will damage its sound-muffling abilities, and as such it is advisable to use adhesive fixings instead.

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    • Moisture & mould resistant
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Fire Resistant Plasterboard

Plastic wall plugs will melt at about 160 degrees centigrade, a considerably lower temperature than fire-resistant plasterboard can withstand. As such, they should be avoided, and if fixings are needed specialist fire-resistant fixings should be used. 

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Insulated Plasterboard

Insulated plasterboard is considerably thicker than regular plasterboard, which would make an extended wall plug a great way to secure a heavier weight. Wall plugs can be used as insulated plasterboard fixings.

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How Much Weight Can A Wall Plug Support?

A general wall plug can support up to 10kg of weight in a plasterboard wall, though supporting an item with multiple wall plugs will obviously allow you to hold more weight. Wall plugs are suitable for items like pictures, mirrors, flower pots, and other light fixtures. Longer or heavy-duty plasterboard wall plugs would be able to hold a larger weight, though for heavy items like TVs, radiators, and bookshelves you should look to more heavy-duty plasterboard fixings like Toggle Bolts,  Hollow Wall Anchors, or Spring Toggles. Larger or heavy items are better suited to other types of fixings.

Fitting Plasterboard Wall Plugs

To insert a wall plug into the plasterboard you will need a drill, hammer, and a screwdriver. Wall plugs cannot be screwed directly into the plasterboard, they require a hole to be drilled first. But before you drill any holes into your walls you should first use a stud finder or multi-detector to check for pipes and wires within the wall. This is vital to avoid breaking a pipe or electrocuting yourself. Once you have marked out a spot where it is safe to drill, make sure that you have the right size of drill bit for the wall plug you are using. This should be indicated either on the side of the wall plug or on the packaging it came in.

Mark on your drill the length you should be drilling to, comparing it against the wall plug and marking with tape at a distance slightly longer than the wall plug. Use the hammer setting on your drill to make a straight hole into your plasterboard, making sure to keep it steady.

Once you have drilled your hole successfully, put the plug into the hole, and use a hammer to lightly tap the plug fully into the wall. It is now ready to screw into and should be secure within the wall once screwed in. 

For Butterfly plugs the process is essentially the same, though the screwing action is vital to secure the plug to your plasterboard wall.

Plastic, gray dowels on a white background. 8x40 size.

Removing Plasterboard Wall Plugs 

There is an easy method to remove any wall plug, requiring a screw and a pair of pliers. Insert the screw into the wall plug, but don't screw it in too far. Then use the pliers to loosen and pull out the plug. If the screw comes loose, make sure the screw is inserted further into the plasterboard wall plug and try again. If the wall plug is difficult to remove, consider using the handle of a hammer to lever against it. Another option for a lever is to use a wooden square with a small hole for the nail placed against the wall. These should hopefully allow you to remove the wall plug without damaging the wall by pulling out excess plasterboard.

Once you have removed the wall plug is it important to clean the holes to remove dust or pieces of plasterboard before attempting cavity fixing. 

Shop high-quality plasterboard wall plugs

Discover the reliability of plasterboard wall plugs at Building Materials Nationwide. Our comprehensive selection of wall plugs is designed to provide secure and durable fastening solutions for plasterboard walls. From lightweight fixtures to heavy-duty installations, our wall plugs are engineered to ensure stability and peace of mind.

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