Light-duty anchors are good for wall hangings that weigh up to 50 pounds. Medium-duty anchors are good for wall hangings that weigh up to 200 pounds. Heavy-duty anchors are good for structural needs and wall hangings over 200 pounds.
The diameter of a wall plug determines its strength and therefore the weight of the object it can hold up. For small loads less than 20 kg, the ideal diameter of a wall plug ranges from 3mm to 5.5mm. For moderate loads between 20 kg and 50 kg, look out for 6mm to 8mm diameter wall plugs.
Molly bolts can hold up to 75 pounds per pair on drywall, plaster and other hollow walls. Expansion anchors can hold up to 100 pounds per pair on concrete, brick and masonry walls. Self-drilling anchors can hold up to 150 pounds per pair on drywall, plaster and other hollow walls.
Wedge anchor
Wedge anchors are considered one of the best concrete screws due to their exceptional strength. They consist of a threaded bolt with a wedge-shaped mechanism. As you tighten the nut, the wedge expands the anchor body, creating immense holding power.
Masonry and concrete anchor types are considered light-duty, medium-duty or heavy-duty, based on how much weight they can support. Light-duty anchors are good for wall hangings that weigh up to 50 pounds. Medium-duty anchors are good for wall hangings that weigh up to 200 pounds.
Toggle Bolts: Toggle bolts are a popular choice for mounting heavier items, such as TVs. They consist of a spring-loaded toggle attached to a threaded bolt that expands behind the drywall to provide a strong hold. Toggle bolts can support up to 100 pounds or more, depending on the size and number of bolts used.
Machine Screw Anchor – is best used in the solid section of a cinder block because it requires the bottom of the hole to be used for proper setting and expansion. The machine screw anchor needs to be set using a setting tool.
not always stated in the vehicle or car seat owner's manual. If the manufacturer offers no weight limit, do not use lower anchors or the tether anchor if child + car seat weight is more than 65 pounds.
Brick and Masonry
These fasteners are designed to attach items to bricks or mortar joints in walls, providing a secure anchoring solution. As brick contains hollow areas, masonry anchors for brick are specially designed to provide a secure hold in both the solid and hollow parts of the brick wall.
Evenly distributing the weight across multiple anchors can increase the overall load capacity.
So much so, that it can be used for harder materials, such as concrete. A masonry screw can also be used for securing wooden fixtures, attaching wood to concrete and staircase installation. In addition, a masonry screw won't need a plug either as it will self-tap its way into the material.
The most common sized Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU = “cinder block”) in the US is 8″x8″x16″. Heavyweight ones weigh about 35 pounds. Medium weight ones about 32 pounds. Lightweight ones 28 pounds.
Anchors and Plugs
Anchors expand within the wall, providing a secure hold. Wall plugs are inserted into pre-drilled holes and create a stable base for screws. Common types include plastic plugs, metal anchors, and chemical anchors. Ensure you choose the appropriate size and type of anchor/plug for your wall material.
Typical Weight Capacity: A well-constructed 4-inch concrete driveway can typically support weights ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds, which is sufficient for most passenger cars and light SUVs.
When concrete anchors are installed correctly, they can support a lot of weight. Heavy-duty anchors (the type used in commercial construction) can support wall-hung objects weighing over 200 pounds. However, several factors can impact a fastener's strength: Concrete's age, thickness, and compression strength.
Tapcons can be installed in concrete, brick, block and in the mortar joints between the brick and block.
Among the strongest options, drop-in anchors are placed in pre-drilled holes using a setting tool. Once inserted and hammered, the anchor expands into the brick or concrete, locking in place. Drop-in anchors are made of stainless steel, and they come in five different diameters: 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, and 3/4”.
Toggle bolts and molly bolts are ideal for hanging heavy objects on drywall without studs. These anchors expand behind the wall, distributing weight over a larger area. This makes them good choices for items like shelving units where the weight is not localized.
The modern stockless anchor has a holding strength of five times its weight in Newtons, whereas the ancient or primitive stock anchor has a holding strength of ten times its weight in Newtons.
Bigger is better when choosing anchor weight. You won't need as much for holding the boat in a quiet cove, but you will need much more weight for an emergency situation in the wind. You can also carry two anchors of differing weights.
In 1911, the company manufactured the anchors and chain for the ocean liner RMS Titanic. The largest of the anchors weighed 15.5 tons and on completion was drawn through the streets of Netherton on a wagon drawn by 20 shire horses. The chain and fittings for the anchors weighed around 100 tons.