Hanging a heavy mirror

vw_driver

Hi All,

I have a heavy mirror to hang (7kg) in my bathroom. The walls are porcelain tiles on top of plasterboard. The mirror will slot into two screws on the wall. I intend drilling the porcelain tiles with a 6mm diamond bit.

I was wondering what type of screw and raw plugs to use. Anyone have any recommendations on the types and sizes to use?

I was thinking of using these raw plugs but are they long enough? https://www.screwfix.ie/p/fischer-duopower-wall-plugs-6-x-30mm-100-pack/1030p

Lumen

Always best to go to source for data and instructions, the Fischer site is good.

7kg isn't heavy, those fixings look fine for the load. Max load per screw for the shortest of those fixings in plasterboard is 0.12kN (12kg, cos 1kN=100kg ish). Source.

Not sure about 30mm length though, seems a bit short. Your plasterboard+adhesive+tile is about 22mm? I'm guessing 30mm are for when there's just plasterboard, and that in this case 40mm would work better.

The required screw length is given by the plug length + fixture thickness* + 1x the screw diameter.

* or how much you need the screw head to protrude from the wall

Make sure you pick a screw of the correct diameter and of a length such that there is thread going all the way through the fixing.

finnyob

Be sure to turn the hammer action off your drill OFF. Rotary mode only.

The Continental Op

In a bathroom I'd pay the bit extra and buy a small pack of stainless steel screws to go with the plugs.

vw_driver

Thanks for the advice guys. It came with two 45mm screws and cheap white raw plugs but I’d prefer proper raw plugs like the Fischer ones and I think I’ll go with the 40mm ones.

Im a bit nervous of cracking a tile when screwing into the raw plug when it expands. Any advice on that or should I just take it easy and not force it in. Should I avoid using the drill screwing it in?

The Continental Op

No reason you can't push the plug further into the wall, drill out the first few mm or even trim the plug if you are that worried however the plugs aren't designed to grip the wall near the surface (where you tile will be) instead they expand the plug where its deeper in the wall.

You aren't even stressing the plug much as you aren't putting the screw the full way in and then tightening up on it.

But yes be careful and take it easy.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204099#Comment_120204099

And tape up the tile too

shoegirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120204541#Comment_120204541

Stick a bit of masking tape over it or use a takker to make a small guide hole first