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Plastic Anchors in Drywall Ceiling?

GimmeSlack12

GimmeSlack12

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 29, 2005
5,406
14
San Francisco
Any contractors or experienced handy men out there?

Over the weekend I was working on a small project for a friend. I was hanging speakers from the ceiling and used expanding plastic anchors screwed into 1/2" drywall ceiling.

The speakers are 15lbs each and there are 4 screws (#10 1-1/2") & anchors (these). I've now done a little reading and it seems this is generally not a good idea for heavy loads. My question is what is a heavy load considered?

The load ratings I've found on these anchors says 10lbs, so I figure if the load is 15lbs distributed over 4 anchors, that each have a load of about ~4lbs. I'm quite prepared to go fix this, but was wondering if anyone has any thoughts.

I'm all ears.
 
They'll probably hold. I would have used toggle bolts.
 
I'm not a handyman, nor do I play one on TV. But I am a home owner who's had some experience with dry wall crumbling under load.:(

In my experience, most of these anchors assume a vertical installation. Installing anchors into the ceiling...well...I wouldn't do it.
 
Mousse said:
I'm not a handyman, nor do I play one on TV. But I am a home owner who's had some experience with dry wall crumbling under load.:(

In my experience, most of these anchors assume a vertical installation. Installing anchors into the ceiling...well...I wouldn't do it.
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Ya I agree the wall helps with the lower support. There will be more load on the ceiling even if it is even. Any way to screw into the joists themselves. At least try to hit one or 2 of them.
 
Carpenter here for 13+ years. Hilti makes a great wall anchor called zip toggles. I don't think that's the actual name that's on the box but they have like a 200+ lb. rating in 1/2" drywall & up to 500 lb for masonry. I use them all the time on commercial jobs & they stand the test of time.
q3Mk4ZG.jpg
 
scapegoat81 said:
Carpenter here for 13+ years. Hilti makes a great wall anchor called zip toggles. I don't think that's the actual name that's on the box but they have like a 200+ lb. rating in 1/2" drywall & up to 500 lb for masonry. I use them all the time on commercial jobs & they stand the test of time.
Image
Click to expand...
You still want to drill into the stud as much as possible. Anchors are a last resort.
 
scapegoat81 said:
Agreed but the OP asked about which type of anchors to use which assuming he already figured he couldn't drill into joists/studs.
Click to expand...
Do anchors work the same in a ceiling as they do in a wall? Isn't the support different.
 
scapegoat81 said:
...they have like a 200+ lb. rating in 1/2" drywall & up to 500 lb for masonry.
Click to expand...

I appreciate this advice, don't think I need a 200lb load though. But one day when I do I'll know where to turn to.

All of the advice provided has been very helpful. I will do a follow up on the speakers as I'm sure some adjustments to their directivity may be needed.

Drilling into the joists wasn't possible at the mounting locations. Would have been definitely my first choice.

Thanks guys.
 
I know u dont need that much weight capacity but i like to overkill when it comes to wall anchors cuz u never know. Good luck bud

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MacNut said:
Do anchors work the same in a ceiling as they do in a wall? Isn't the support different.
Click to expand...

Theoretically, yes. Would i do it in my house ? No. But, if the drywall/plaster was installed correctly, u shouldn't have a problem. I was initially going to suggest to the OP to mount on the walls but over the years I've learned to just go w/ whatever the customer wants cuz they know "where it would look best".
 
Well, is your friend's ceiling someone else's floor?

If you have four anchors, it's not likely all four will fail simultaneously. So if one fails, it's time for plan B.

By the way, what is your friend's floor? If carpet and pad, that will cushion the fall.
 
Those Hilti things are great. Regular toggles work well too. These are the safe choices.

You can spend an hour in the anchor section of a hardware department! At the very least you would want to use anchors that actually screw in. You can kind of tell which ones will be more secure, and some proudly advertise their abilities.

Note that the hole size must be perfect as the manufacturer instructs, can't just use a random bit that is sorta close. And it has to be drilled cleanly and straight.
 
I've had bad luck with anchors in drywall with heavier loads like speakers. Always find a joist or stud to screw into. Otherwise, the anchor may eventually pull through the drywall, regardless of the anchor's weight rating.
 
senseless said:
I've had bad luck with anchors in drywall with heavier loads like speakers. Always find a joist or stud to screw into. Otherwise, the anchor may eventually pull through the drywall, regardless of the anchor's weight rating.
Click to expand...

I'd agree. The blue conical anchors you linked to are for walls. Their surface looks pretty smooth - so there's nothing to grip the sheetrock securely. Playing thumping bass through the speakers could work them loose and gravity will do the rest. :eek:
 
Arran said:
Playing thumping bass through the speakers could work them loose and gravity will do the rest. :eek:
Click to expand...

Although the speakers are only 5" cones, I've been getting a bit paranoid myself and will go replace them with toggle bolts over the weekend. I figure it's only a matter of time and best fix it now.
 
scapegoat81 said:
Carpenter here for 13+ years. Hilti makes a great wall anchor called zip toggles. I don't think that's the actual name that's on the box but they have like a 200+ lb. rating in 1/2" drywall & up to 500 lb for masonry. I use them all the time on commercial jobs & they stand the test of time.
Image
Click to expand...

There's also another brand of these in the same aisle in Home Depot (actually some home depots are not carrying Hilti stuff). They look just like the one pictured but have a barb on one end of the toggle so you can use that with a pair of pliers to turn it and basically drill/dig through the drywall. Finding a stud is better but these work.

To easily find a stud get a cheap rare earth magnet and move it around until it holds. That will be a drywall screw that is screwed into a stud (usually 16" on center to the next one).
 
For ceilings, toggle bolts are best if you can't hit a joist. For light speakers, I'd also be comfortable with anchors like these.

I use those a lot because they're much sturdier than the standard conical anchors. They're rated up to 50 pounds.
 
rdowns said:
They'll probably hold. I would have used toggle bolts.
Click to expand...

Me too. The problem with hanging from the ceiling with the press in or screw in style anchors is that it's not a load perpendicular to the wall, but hanging from the ceiling, I imagine it could pull out easier in this orientation. Toggle bolts will hold no doubts.
 
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