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What's the best way to attach heavy objects (mine is a neon sign on a back board - similar weight to a mirror) on to a plasterboard stud wall? The sign came with rawl plugs, but I cant see that working well in plasterboard.

Anyone used any fittings that you'd recommend? I see some youtubers just bashing screws straight into the plasterboard, but that strikes me as insanity. I crave the voice of experience.

Plasterboard rawl plugs or try and find the wood behind and screw threw into that.

It's a bit of a 'if I was wanting to go there, I wouldn't be starting from here' type reply, but if you're planning to attach heavy objects to a plasterboard wall, plan ahead and ensure you have the studs in the correct place(s) to accept heavy duty fixings.

I've got plaster and lath nothing works well in it.

I've got these after watching this:



https://www.geefix.com/

If it is heavy find the studs and/or noggins and fix to them.

If it was heavy like a TV then I'd use a stud finder and screw into wood but mirrors and neon signs aren't usually that heavy so I'd likely use a plasterboard plug.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-plas ... pack/81956

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:41 pm If it is heavy find the studs and/or noggins and fix to them.

Or if it's a block wall behind, anchor into that.

There are specific fixings which include a tube spacer to prevent the plasterboard being compressed when the screw is tightened.

Horse wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 5:10 pm

Cousin Jack wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:41 pm If it is heavy find the studs and/or noggins and fix to them.

Or if it's a block wall behind, anchor into that.

There are specific fixings which include a tube spacer to prevent the plasterboard being compressed when the screw is tightened.

Recently had a handrail fitted to a block/dot&dab plasterboard wall. Chopped out plasterboard, fitted wood block to wall, fixed to block and then filled in to make good the plaster

crust wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:31 pm I've got plaster and lath nothing works well in it.

I've got these after watching this:



https://www.geefix.com/

That's a very clever device.

A decent magnet waved over the wall usually finds the plasterboard screws.
They're fixed into the studs which are usually on 400mm centres.
Find one screw then look above or below it to make sure it wasn't a fluke then check to the sides for other studs.

If I can't use a batten, then fischer plugs it is on p/board.

crust wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:31 pm I've got plaster and lath nothing works well in it.

I've got these after watching this:



https://www.geefix.com/

That looks very good. Bit overkill for a neon light possibly?


I've used these things with success in the past, hanging a heavy mirror over a stairwell.
Nartel Metal Self Drilling Plasterboard Fixings Cavity Wall Fixings with Screws
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075KJP2QC? ... le_1&th=1

Rockburner wrote: Fri Oct 31, 2025 10:14 am

crust wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 3:31 pm I've got plaster and lath nothing works well in it.

I've got these after watching this:



https://www.geefix.com/

That looks very good. Bit overkill for a neon light possibly?


I've used these things with success in the past, hanging a heavy mirror over a stairwell.
Nartel Metal Self Drilling Plasterboard Fixings Cavity Wall Fixings with Screws
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075KJP2QC? ... le_1&th=1

I have used those with limited success. Some plasterboard they work fine, other walls in a different house seemed to be very fibrous and they didnt work at all well.

With heavy items, if you can't use the studding to fix to, I use masonry screwbolts- the fixings like a big self tapper for brick.
Good thing with these is, they don't work by expansion, so you don't have to tighten them to expand them. Drill right through into the brick, and screw into that, gently snug as to not pull the board in.

My go to are these:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-holl ... pack/12229

And I have used the geefix ones in the past with some success on plaster & lath but you can’t beat screwing straight into a stud.

Oh and its worth bearing in mind that many plasterboard fixings are depth sensitive.
Usually designed for single boarded studs and shite for double boarded walls.

I usually use avoid em totally when I can but for relatively lightweight use I just use these type fixings.

The screws are often too short but as long as I use ones with the same diameter thread I can swap em out and I keep a good handful in the van to get my by til the site gets their shit together and gets a box.

Sometimes I'll make up a MDF patress and chamfer the edges so it looks OK.
That way I can use it to catch the studs.

Trogladyte wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 2:19 pm What's the best way to attach heavy objects (mine is a neon sign on a back board - similar weight to a mirror) on to a plasterboard stud wall? The sign came with rawl plugs, but I cant see that working well in plasterboard.

Anyone used any fittings that you'd recommend? I see some youtubers just bashing screws straight into the plasterboard, but that strikes me as insanity. I crave the voice of experience.

Mrs. G.'s company attaches big 70" plus screens and stuff like that to walls, so I have a multitude of fixings in the garage. I would recommend toggle bolts like this:
https://www.dalaledstang.se/produkt/gip ... gIijfD_BwE
Sorry: Swedish server

I have some very British ones in my garage that I could post to you if you're still in need.