To install a toggle bolt, fold the spring-loaded wings back along the shank of the bolt.
If wall anchors have failed, loosened, or torn out of drywall, then it’s time to upgrade to a stronger fastener. On the other hand, if the hole is too large for a drywall anchor to fit snugly, try the next method on this list.
If the hole in the wall is too small to accept the drywall anchor, use an electric drill equipped with a drill bit to enlarge the hole.
If the hole is too large for a drywall anchor, use a bolt-type fastener or patch the drywall.If the pilot hole is too small for the drywall anchor, enlarge it using a drill and drill bit.If you can drive an anchor into the hole with a few taps from a hammer, the drywall anchor will make the hole reusable.Test to see if a plastic drywall anchor from this kit will fit the hole in your drywall.If it fits snugly, it’s the perfect solution. Use a hammer to tap a plastic drywall anchor into the hole gently. If the screw hole you wish to reuse was originally just a screw driven into drywall, you might be able to make it strong enough for reuse by adding a drywall anchor. Then, the methods will become more advanced, including tactics for repairing wall damage to ensure your screws stay in place. Below, we’ll walk through the best methods, starting with the simplest one for small holes. How Do You Fix a Screw Hole in Drywall for Reuse? ĭepending on the severity of the hole in your drywall, different methods may be required to reuse the screw hole. This allows it to support anchors, toggle bolts, and other fasteners without falling apart.
Drywall is pressure treated and sandwiched between layers of paper. Instead of patching screw holes with spackle for reuse, you’ll need to replace the damaged drywall with a new drywall patch. Patch damaged drywall with a new piece of drywall (as shown below) to make a durable repair.If you attempt to insert a screw, anchor, or bolt into spackle, the fastener will pull out of your wall.Spackle is not durable enough to fill a screw hole for reuse.If you attempt to install a screw or anchor in joint compound, it will pull out of the wall. Joint compound will shrink and pulverize easily when a screw is driven into it. Spackle, also known as joint compound or “drywall mud,” is not as durable as true drywall. Can You Drill into a Spackled Hole?Ī drywall hole that has been filled with spackle will not support a screw. A simple plastic wall anchor can increase the holding weight of a single screw in drywall by up to 25 pounds (11 kilos). Unanchored screws cannot support much weight and will pull out of drywall.Įven weights as low as 2 pounds (1 kilo) can rip a screw out of drywall.Never drive a screw directly into drywall unless there is a stud behind the drywall at that point.Plastic anchors, toggle bolts, and molly bolts allow you to reuse holes in drywall.Screw holes in drywall can be reused if you install a sturdy mounting system.Screws driven into drywall will strip easily, creating holes in the wall that require repair. However, screws should never be driven directly into drywall unless they are being driven into a stud. You can reuse a screw hole in drywall if you use a secure wall-mounting system such as wall anchors or toggle bolts. How Do You Fix a Screw Hole in Drywall for Reuse?.