Attaching Items to Walls is Simple - Even If You Can't Find a Stud

Nobody likes to see a wall with a bunch of holes left from someone trying to find studs inside, in order to hang a picture or attach a sconce or construct a set of shelves.

Oh, yeah - the holes can be patched and repainted, but such a bother, really, since today's affordable technology makes it virtually impossible to MISS finding studs. And if you just cannot manage to hang your objects at stud locations, there are neat little anchors available that help make it possible as long as you are careful to select ones designed to support the weight you intend to put on them.

So first things first!

Go out and get yourself an inexpensive "stud-finder"! That's "stud," as in what is inside your walls at home ... hmmmmm.

You do not need to spend much more than $15 for a decent stud-finder, and that will be $15 well-spent if you intend to periodically attempt to fasten things to your walls, I can assure you.

Whenever possible, try to plan any "heavy" wall items at stud locations, to ensure a solid, long-lasting support. Lighter objects can be more randomly located, as long as you still provide a solid enough support anchoring method for the object at hand.

When fastening at stud locations, merely install your nail, screw, hook or other fastening device to penetrate into the stud behind the drywall. Most interior drywall is 1/2 inch thick; some drywall on walls common to a garage area is typically 5/8 of an inch thick; and, rarely, some drywall is 3/8 of an inch thick. So, when you calculate your fastener length, be sure to allow enough to reach well into the stud itself by at least one inch, especially for heavier items.

If you must attempt to support 'heavy' items between the studs, I recommend using the plastic anchors specifically designed for use in drywall. They look like a large screw with sharp, widely separated 'threads' that cut into the drywall material as they are "drilled-into" the wall material between studs (preferably with a power-screwdriver; Caution! Do not over tighten!).

These anchors act as a reinforced 'receiver' for an anchoring screw. Some screws are normally provided with the anchors; if longer screws are required, use screws of the same diameter as those provided, to prevent the plastic anchor from breaking, which will cause it to lose its grip in the drywall.

There are numerous other similar anchors designed to be used with drywall, including the standard metal butterfly anchor, which inserts in a folded' position through a (fairly large) hole in the drywall; then, it springs open inside the wall. When the anchoring screw is tightened, the butterfly "wings" grab the inside face of the drywall, providing a rigid support. These anchors are better suited for "suspended" anchoring (i.e., from ceilings) in my opinion, and while they will work in walls too, I do not encourage them unless the ones described above are not available.

There are also the hammer-in' anchors; typically plastic "grippers" which, when driven into a hole that is just a little smaller than the actual diameter of the anchor, the plastic flutes or ribs "grip" into the drywall material. These are not very dependable, and whenever I have used them, I have been disappointed with their capabilities to hold very well.

There are some new wall-anchors on the market, as well. There is one that looks like a simple curved "needle" with a sharp point on one end to pierce the drywall (allegedly by hand pressure -- I have never tried these, so I'm not sure!), and a short, blunt section at the opposite end that becomes the 'hook' to hang something on.

Once inserted, the 'needle' is turned to a position which allows the pointed end to 'grip' the inside of the drywall, and to allow the blunt end to be situated to receive a lightweight hanging object. Obviously, these are strictly for small, lightweight items such as calendars, small pictures, and the like.

Once you get your objects or decorations attached to your walls in the right arrangement you desire, be sure to sit back and admire - not only the beauty of the decor or the creativity of the layout - but your own skills at attaching such things to your walls, too!