Best anchor/fixing for holding this up

[addey]

We have a triple set of electric blinds for our bifold doors, all mounted in one 3.6m long alu frame. On the weekend the whole thing detached and fell to the ground, the fixings basically just ripped out of the wall. So I need to re-attach it, what fixings am I best to use? As you can see from the pics the installer used metal plasterboard fixings which are only 25-30mm long. Saw a video on YouTube which basically ended "and whatever you do, don't ever use these" with a picture of the exact same metal threaded fixings

As far as I can tell it's regular plasterboard with polystyrene insulation the other side. In case it matters the screws are going up into the ceiling and I guess the whole unit weighs 8-10kgs. There are sufficient mounting points that I don't have to screw into the damaged areas of plaster

[Mr Pointy]

This video is a good review of plasterboard fixings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdu9RId7m90

Note that at 24:55 there is a test of which fixings work in insulated plasterboard. The Geefix is very strong if you have enough space behind but may not be suitable for your application so have a look at the Tbolt at 16:47.

[fat80b]

I like corefix for plasterboard into the wall behind if there is one.

And for belt and braces / particularly heavy objects, I use R-Kem resin as well - combine the resin with the corefix and it can hold almost anything to the wall.

[megaphone]

Use hollow wall anchors, you really need the tool to open them up. https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-hollow-wall-anc...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/rawlplug-hollow-wall-an...

You can get kits if you shop around. Often Aldi/Lidl have them.

Make sure you buy the correct ones, looks like you have single skin PB, some are for double skin. They should work ok with insulated board, they will open up and crush/move the insulation.

What is above the ceiling? There should be some joists, can you pick up on them? Screw straight through and into the joist?

As you have discovered those crap spiral plasterboard fixings should never be used for anything heavy or anything that moves.

Edited by megaphone on Monday 14th September 12:24

[wolfracesonic]

How thick is the insulated plasterboard? At 3.6m its most likely a steel lintel, either a UB or Catnic type. Self tappers or self drilling screws into it may be the answer. Plaster board fixing are only as good as the bond between the pb and lintel or the integrity of the pb itself.

[nwmlarge1]

Grip-It's have been my go to for a while.

[Danm1les]

megaphone said:

Use hollow wall anchors, you really need the tool to open them up. https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-hollow-wall-anc...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/rawlplug-hollow-wall-an...

These are great and can hold quite a lot of weight. Those plastoboard screwing type fixings are no good when mounted vertically, certainly when holding bilnds up in a recess.

[Freakuk]

I've used these recently with great success for blinds etc

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DBGNZWPJ?ref=ppx_yo2...

[addey]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll take a look through those and work out what's going to be best. We seem to have a problem with plaster coming off in lumps so not sure if it was badly done originally. So I guess I want a method with minimal intrusion/weakening of the plaster. There is a steel above there somewhere, but when I stuck a skewer up into the hole it went 6inches without hitting anything! So no idea how that is orientated, and no chance of tapping into it!

[Stevenery]

Fischer metal expanding fixings are excellent - have found other brands strip the threads when the tool is used to contract them, but never with these. 4mm are only good for small items like loo roll holders, and 5mm ideal for most other uses. You might need to file the bracket holes larger.

https://www.toolstation.com/fischer-hm-s-metal-cav...

The Fischer setting tool is also really well made and should last a lifetime:

https://cpc.farnell.com/fischer-fixings/62320/holl...

[hellorent]

I'd be inclined to drill up and insert some 4mm threaded bar secured with this: https://www.toolstation.com/rawlplug-r-kem-ii-poly...

Job done

[E-bmw]

nwmlarge1 said:

Grip-It's have been my go to for a while.

Don't use these, they are cr@p.

OP.
Unfortunately, many plasterboard fixings are designed to go into walls not ceilings so spread the weight differently.

Is there any way you could go "full nuclear" and use a screw/plug long enough to get into the wall behind the plasterboard?

That would be my preferred option.

[The Gauge]

Whatever you use, maybe try drilling new holes in the aluminium frame so that you're not re-using the same wall holes.

Edited by The Gauge on Tuesday 15th September 15:02

[nwmlarge1]

E-bmw said:

Don't use these, they are cr@p.

OP.
Unfortunately, many plasterboard fixings are designed to go into walls not ceilings so spread the weight differently.

Is there any way you could go "full nuclear" and use a screw/plug long enough to get into the wall behind the plasterboard?

That would be my preferred option.

what was your experience of them?