How to repair loose blind mount wall anchor?

[audzzz]

 

 

3-year-old blind purchased and installed by a tradesman seems to be falling apart. 

I managed to dislodge the blinds and took a photo of the mount. It seems quite fragile as though if I use a bit of strength, it might get pulled out. 

I saw on Youtube there was something like a wet n fix patches in the US for wall plugs where you wet it and apply it all around on the anchor and fix it back into the hole.

I would like some advice from the community how I can fix this using products from bunnings. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @audzzz,

It definitely looks like the anchors that were installed are struggling to hold on. Without removing them, it is hard to tell, but it looks like they've used a type of anchor that is not particularly suited to plasterboard.

My suggestion is to remove the screws and then pull the anchors out to assess the strength of the plasterboard behind the bracket. 

If it is in fair condition, you should replace the anchors with these Ramset M5 x 9mm Plasterboard Hollow Wall Anchors. They are designed so they can be inserted into the hole in one straight line before expanding out like a split pin when the screw is rotated. This expansion pulls on the back of the plasterboard and offers a stronger anchor than the expansion style anchors that appear to have been used.

If you remove the screws and find that the plasterboard is fractured and is likely unable to support an anchor, you would have to cut out a section of plasterboard, backblock it with some timber, then reinstall a patch. By installing the back blocking, you would be able to simply screw through the plasterboard into this timber.

Have a look at How To Repair A Large Hole In Plasterboard for an example of this. In your situation, you would also add a piece of timber across the centre of the hole so you can screw the blind bracket into it.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[audzzz]

Hi Jacob,

Thank you so much for your detailed steps. 

Will have to remove it to have a look. If the surrounding of the hole does not have any fractures, is it safe to say I can use the hollow wall anchor? What happens if the hole on the wall is larger than the anchor? How should I “mend” the hole after I installed it?

[JacobZ]

Hi @audzzz,

If the plasterboard is strong, then you should be fine to use the hollow wall anchor. You'll mainly want to confirm whether the plaster between the two holes is in sound condition, as this is the likely location of fractures.

Unfortunately, if the hole in the wall is considerably larger than the anchor, then you could either move the blinds up or down and create new holes, or install a new piece of plasterboard and conduct the repair as if the plasterboard was fractured. I am not aware of a filler product that you can use to mend the hole that will be strong enough to support a plaster anchor.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Jacob

[audzzz]

Hi Jacob,

thank you so much for that. I went in store to buy the hollow anchor but it is smaller than the hole on the wall (about 26mm). Do you know if there is any anchor larger for this hole, otherwise could you recommend me the materials I would need to repair it? 

It is not very clear in the video provided, I am not very sure what type of timber, screws and the filler to use. How large should I cut the plasterboard to replace with a new board?

thank you so much for all your help and sorry if I sound dumb 

[EricL]

Hello @audzzz 

It's perfectly ok to ask these questions, please don't feel bad that you are not familiar with the steps that have been shown to you. I suggest using the following materials:

• 42 x 19mm 1.2m DAR Pine Standard (unless you have something similar in your shed)
   
• Gyprock CSR 530 x 530 x 10mm Mini Plaster Repair Panel (this is the smallest repair panel we have at the store)
   
• Zenith 8G x 28mm Gold Passivated Countersunk Rib Head Chipboard Screws
   
• CSR 420gm Gyprock DIY One Patch Filler 

You'll need to cut a hole that is at least 80mm tall x 50mm wide. You'll need to cut the pine timber at least 140mm in length. Tie a string around the pine timber piece tightly so that you can slide it into the hole and keep it in center position. You'll need a drill to install the screw onto the timber piece (refer to the repair video to see how its done). Once the screw has anchored the timber piece to the plasterboard wall you can now cut a patch from the repair panel at the same size which is 80mmx50mm. Screw the repair piece in place using a single screw in the middle.  

Follow the rest of the repair video to finish the repair. The reason I only asked you to place a single screw in the repair piece is because there must be enough space for the screws of the roller blind to pass through. With this timber type repair you will no longer need to use anchors, you can screw straight through the plaster and into the pine timber piece you placed behind the wall.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[audzzz]

Hi Eric,

thank you so much for your reply. We were just wondering for the larger hole, will there be any spring toggle that is big enough for it or is this an option we can go with? Otherwise I will definitely have to invest and do the repairs accordingly. 

thank you so much. 

[EricL]

Hi @audzzz 

No anchor will be able to hold on properly to the walls current condition. I'm afraid the damage is too big, and the hole must be properly patched. 

Eric

[audzzz]

Hi Eric,

Got that. We will repair accordingly. I am wondering would it also work if we swap the dimensions so it is 50mm tall and 80mm wide? The reason is I am not sure whether there are stud or any metal around the edge between ceiling and wall, afraid the timber will not fit in vertically. I have measured seems like it may fit the dimension, but would like your thoughts. 

  

[EricL]

Hi @audzzz 

Thank you very much for sharing those pictures. Yes, you can cut it in the other direction if it is more in line with your repair conditions. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric