Fixing an elictric fire to a plasterboard wall General problems, solutions, information and advice on fixing to walls of all kinds

[bazman]

I have bought a wall mounted electric fire but I've ben taken by surprise by its weight, about 60 lbs. I'm a bit concerned about the wall not taking the weight.
I've read all the reviews on various fixings but I'm wondering if there's a general rule of thumb in relation to weight, screw size and number of screws used when affixing to plasterboard.

Should I cut out the nonsence and just find the wall studs and use big screws.

Any thoughts appreciated

[john9159]

As the boards will be fixed to battens there will be some rigidity and ability to take the weight. The weight will be a downward force so the board should adequately take the heater.
There are several fixings:
Redidrive is the strongest of all plasterboard fixing problems sometimes lead to mis-alignment.
The Fischer HM is an example of an expanding plasterboard anchor.
The strongest fixings for use in plasterboard are spring and gravity toggle anchors (KT fixings), which can also be used in hollow block or any other type of cavity situation. They derive their strength from the broad splay of the toggle within the cavity, helping to spread the loading on the plasterboard. The drawback with these types of fixings is that they require a relatively large drill hole to accommodate the size of the toggle, they need to be assembled to the fixture prior to installation and if the screw is withdrawn, the toggle falls down within the cavity. For heavier applications where demountability is not required, these are definitely worth considering. The steel expanding “umbrellaâ€

[bazman]

Many thanks. I needed a shove in the right direction and a bit of confidence that my wall wasn't going to pulled apart.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas.