The cabinet hangs perfectly on the wall. Tentatively, you step away to assess your work. That’s when you hear it. Crash.
You blink and rub your eyes. The cabinet is on the floor and there is a hole in the wall. This situation keeps many professionals awake at night. It could be avoided with toggle bolts. In this article, we explain how to install them.
How Should You Choose the Right Toggle Bolt Size?
Getting the right size toggle bolt is critical. If the bolt is the wrong size, you are in danger of the fixing into the wall not being strong enough. The result of this could be catastrophic and potentially very dangerous.
There are two elements that make up the size of the toggle bolt: diameter and length. If the length of a toggle bolt isn’t right, you are in danger of the anchor not springing out and engaging. This means the fixing isn’t as strong as it should be. If the bolt is too long, there is a risk of the bolt contacting another part of the wall, meaning the head of the bolt won’t tighten against the component you are fixing.
The diameter of the bolts affects the amount of weight they can take. The larger the diameter, the larger the weight the bolt can take before shearing. However, if a bolt is too large it can look unsightly. You will also need a larger drill bit for the installation.
So to choose the right toggle bolt size, you have to get the diameter and length right.
To work out the length, establish the thickness of the wall the bolt must pass through. Is it just plasterboard, single or double-skinned? Is it lined with a ply behind? Once you know this distance, add that to the thickness of the component you are fixing to the wall. Take this distance and add extra on, to allow the bolt to pass through the wall far enough to engage. This is the length bolt you need.
To establish the diameter, look for technical specifications about the amount of weight each bolt can hold.
How to Install Toggle Bolts
Installing toggle bolts can be an extremely frustrating experience. If you follow the correct processes, the installation will be extremely smooth, but some key elements must be considered.
Below we will walk you through the steps needed to get the job done.
Step 1: Establish the Size of the Bolt You Need
Following the points in the previous section, get the right sized bolts for the job and get the right amount, with a few extra.
Step 2: Get Tools and Equipment Together
To complete this job, you will need:
- PPE including ear defenders, safety glasses, and steel toe cap boots
- Drill and masonry drill bits
- Pencil, level, and measuring tape
- Screwdriver
Step 3: Mark Out Position On The Wall
Establish where you want to fix the component to the wall. Mark the distances using the measuring tape, level, and pencil. Double check everything, if these markings don’t lineup you will have to repeat this step
Step 4: Drill into the Wall
Drill the points in the wall that were marked in the previous step. Make sure the drill bit is a slightly wider diameter than the closed toggle. If it isn’t, the toggle won’t fit through the wall.
Step 5: Insert Bolts into Component and Through the Wall
Take the toggle off the bolt and put it through the component. Then put the toggle back on, at the very end of the bolt. Repeat this for all of the bolts.
With all the bolts through the component, bring the toggles close to the holes in the wall, this can be quite fiddly, but close the toggles enough so they go through the holes.
From this point, you can’t get the toggles back if they have engaged.
Step 6: Tighten the Bolts
With the component in position, slowly tighten the bolts until they provide a bit of resistance back. Finish the last bit of tightening by hand. If you use an electric screwdriver, you won’t get any feedback from the bolt, this could mean you overtighten and destroy the anchor in the wall.
Step 7: Check The Fixings
With the component on the wall, check that it is properly secured and safe to leave alone.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks
Installing toggle bolts can be very frustrating, below are some common mistakes, tips, and tricks to help you succeed.
1. Marking Out
A good trick to mark out the position of screw holes in the wall goes like this:
- Place screws in all of the holes in the component, where a bolt will later go. You want the screw to slightly protrude out the back of the component.
- Hold the component up to the wall where you want to install it.
- Carefully hold the component in place. Take a hammer and hit the heads of each of the screws. Don’t hit them too hard, but enough so they mark the wall beneath.
- Safely put the component down and remove the screws.
This technique will leave marks in the wall exactly where you need to drill holes for the toggle bolt.
2. Losing the Bolt
You only have one chance to use a toggle bolt. Once it is engaged, to remove the bolt from the wall, the toggle is lost into the cavity. This means you have to be exactly sure where the component and bolts will go. If you have to move them at a later date, you will need an entire new set of toggles for the bolts.
I wrote more about removing toggle bolts here.
Toggle Bolts: Frequently Asked Questions
With the process out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about this type of fastener.
What Is a Toggle Bolt?
A toggle bolt is a spring-loaded wall anchor, specifically used in cavity walls. There are two elements of it, the bolt and the toggle. When the toggle goes through a wall into the cavity behind, it will spring open and create a strong fixing point.
What Are Toggle Bolts Used For?
Toggle bolts are used to get strong fixings into cavity walls. Ideally, you would be able to fix into a stud or masonry in a wall, but that is not always possible. In these scenarios, if you need to hang something heavy, then a toggle bolt is a good option.
What Are the Advantages of Toggle Bolts?
Toggle bolts are one of the strongest cavity wall fixings you can get. Once you have the process sorted, they provide a reliable fixing that is tough to beat.
What Are the Disadvantages of Toggle Bolts?
Toggle bolts can be quite awkward to install, particularly if you need a lot of them all at once. Alongside this, they are more expensive than screws and much larger as well.
Summary
For a lot of professionals, toggle bolts are both a blessing and a curse. They are an absolute blessing when there is no fixing in a wall. A toggle bolt will help to get you out of an awkward situation.
Unfortunately, they can also be a curse when the installation goes wrong. If the installation steps aren’t followed correctly and the process doesn’t go right, many a professional has got very frustrated in this situation.
However, if you want to get a strong fixing into a cavity wall, a toggle bolt is the best option. Another option to consider is the molly bolt.