7 votes

How can I vertically mount a surge protector with keyhole slots under my desk?

Drive four screws, appropriately placed, tight enough for the slots to just barely slip around. Friction may then be enough to hold the box in place. If that isn't good enough for you, drive one more ...
keshlam's user avatar
  • 28.9k
5 votes

How can I hang heavy things from this drywall and metal ceiling, without cutting drywall?

What you have there is a steel web truss with hat channel attached to the bottom. The hat channel gives you an attachment point for the drywall as it cannot span the 4' spacing that you have between ...
matt.'s user avatar
  • 3,051
4 votes
Accepted

How should I deal with shelf anchors which are deeper than the framing slats?

That is a bit of a head-scratcher. I have two potential solutions. You'll need to investigate the first to see if it's viable. Shorten the screw. Properly piloted, 45mm of thread is plenty for any ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 137k
4 votes

Ways to attach a coat-hanger between two closets (heavy load)

You basically want to run a bar between two outside cabinet walls. That should be easy, even with particle board. Use a couple of these per bar: https://www.amazon.com/Creatyi-Stainless-Brackets-...
Huesmann's user avatar
  • 3,323
3 votes

How do I determine whether a ceiling of unknown material is safe to hang speakers from, and identify the best spot to drill?

Use the beams. If that's a pre-manufactured kit-type sunroom, (as is moderately common for such add-ons) there may well be nothing suitable to mount to in the ceiling structure. Could easily be ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 212k
3 votes
Accepted

Strong attachment point on drywall in front of 1.5" thick stud in front of concrete

I would not trust the studs to be anchored to the concrete enough to take weight, they might just have enough nails or glue to hold the drywall up. Drill right into the concrete and use concrete ...
crip659's user avatar
  • 23.9k
3 votes
Accepted

Shallow wall mounted cabinet - cabinet hanger vs french cleat

Usual approach I've seen is to use the French cleat together the cabinet hung on the wall, then drive a few screws through the back into the wall to keep it from moving. Though it would take a lot to ...
keshlam's user avatar
  • 28.9k
3 votes
Accepted

Trying to identify this wall type in our apartment

Possibly cinderblock or concrete masonry units (CMU) where the form is pretty much the same, but the technical difference between "cinderblock" and "concrete block" is whether it ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 212k
3 votes
Accepted

How to attach header for a barn door to the face of columns?

8mm screws seem too small. Thread area is compounded with diameter, so even a small increase in size yields much greater hold. Also, you need to consider shear strength (flex and bending). Shear in ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 137k
3 votes
Accepted

Can I drill a bracket for a hanging basket into this column on our deck or will it weaken it?

A few screws will not hurt. Even a few hundred screws will not hurt. Those columns can hold quite a few plant baskets with no problem. You might want to put in caulking in and around the holes to ...
crip659's user avatar
  • 23.9k
3 votes

What mounting solution should be used to mount this wine rack?

You want to find studs. Do not use drywall anchors or else you will find a thousand dollar bottle of wine staining the carpet. I would use a nice backing board(stained wood) and mount it as a shelf, ...
crip659's user avatar
  • 23.9k
3 votes

Hanging Chair from Ceiling in Apartment?

Expanding on the comments already in place: your ceiling absolutely cannot hold that chair without anchoring into a joist one way or another. You are correct, the expansion screws will not work for ...
Jay McEh's user avatar
  • 278
2 votes

Securing a bookshelf to a shared (concrete?) townhouse wall

On a painted wall like that plaster filler will work just as well as it does on drywall. I would go with the powdered stuff as it sets up faster. So just drill holes and use concrete anchors, pick a ...
Jasen's user avatar
  • 20.6k
2 votes

How can I hang heavy things from this drywall and metal ceiling, without cutting drywall?

I think you're right to avoid using ceiling drywall alone to support any but the lightest of things. The furring strips between the drywall and the trusses will hold a fair amount, say 10 pounds at ...
Greg Hill's user avatar
  • 30.6k
2 votes

What screw should be used to secure plywood blocking into metal studs?

For a network rack ~100 lbs I think this is overkill. Not the plywood - that's perfect. But opening up the wall is just not necessary, and it means a lot of extra work to patch the drywall. In ...
manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact's user avatar
2 votes
Accepted

Hanging Picture on MDF Wall

If you're going to predrill through the MDF. other kinds of hooks also become possible, such as those which thread through and then press against the back of the wall to stabilize themselves. But ...
keshlam's user avatar
  • 28.9k
2 votes

Hanging drywall on 2x2 ceiling joints 16 on center

ASTM C840 specifies about everything for by-the-book drywall. For 16" support spacing and insulation supported by the drywall, Table 2 prescribes a minimum thickness of 1/2". Without ...
popham's user avatar
  • 10.4k
1 vote

What screw should be used to secure plywood blocking into metal studs?

The screws should be calibrated to the material at the back of the connection, wood in this case. They should be long enough to stick out the back of the plywood. There's a risk of overtightening to ...
popham's user avatar
  • 10.4k
1 vote

Coat/Backpack Hook Options for Concrete Wall

I know I can dirll holes with hammer drill/masonry bit/tapcon, but it's a rental, and seems like overkill. Unless it is abundantly clear in your lease, find out whether you can drill holes to install ...
manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact's user avatar
1 vote

Can I hang a hammock from a anchor in mortar?

The 5/16" screw hook will be inadequate. See this analogous eyebolt with a working load limit of 100 pounds, where the safety factor of 4 implies a 400 pound ultimate strength. Assuming that your ...
popham's user avatar
  • 10.4k
1 vote

Can I hang a hammock from a anchor in mortar?

Rather than just guessing and using screws that won't pivot with the motion of the hammock, GOOGLE hammock brackets and get something that's designed for a hammock like the one shown below from Amazon....
JACK's user avatar
  • 80k
1 vote

How can I tell if I drilled too far into a ceiling joist?

That is a lag screw. It is likely you drilled the hole too big. More likely you drilled into a piece of wood that is only supporting the ceiling drywall. (dead wood) This is a 2x4 that is laid on the ...
RMDman's user avatar
  • 28k
1 vote

Wall Feels Solid-- Can't Hang Art

Hard wall picture hooks (or hardwall picture hooks) are a thing. They are usually plastic with three or four small sharp pins inserted. Hold the hook where you want it, and use a hammer to drive the ...
Simon B's user avatar
  • 3,923
1 vote

Ways to attach a coat-hanger between two closets (heavy load)

I'd recommend wardrobe pole sockets. This would require that the cabinets be anchored so they don't move away from each other, but it's a standard trivial solution. (Image swiped from Amazon, but ...
keshlam's user avatar
  • 28.9k
1 vote

Ways to attach a coat-hanger between two closets (heavy load)

Drilling large holes through the walls of the shelves and passing the bar through them is a good approach, but then you have the ends of the bars inside your shelves, which may not be desirable. A ...
jay613's user avatar
  • 37.4k
1 vote

Ways to attach a coat-hanger between two closets (heavy load)

Put fairly large screw hooks into the ceiling framing, and support the rod(s) with cables or small chains from the hooks, ignoring the shelving units as support. This method also allows for having a ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 212k
1 vote

D-hooks or cable for hanging heavy artwork, mirror?

Technically this is wire rope, not "cable", and quality of "picture wire" rope varies widely. I've had it snap under surprisingly light loads. Here are the problems with it for ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 137k
1 vote

D-hooks or cable for hanging heavy artwork, mirror?

Depends on what you're hanging where and how, where the hanging points are relative to the rest of the object, whether you take the time to learn how to tie a picture-framer's knot and whether you're ...
keshlam's user avatar
  • 28.9k
1 vote

Installing a ceiling fan on an aluminum structure patio cover

Try flat square nuts such as something from this assortment of flat nuts. The flat will probably butt against the beam and you can just hold it down with a finger until the bolt is started. The ...
RMDman's user avatar
  • 28k
1 vote

How can I vertically mount a surge protector with keyhole slots under my desk?

Mounting vertically as you propose has the significant advantage that phone chargers and other heavy loose-fitting PSUs won't need to be strapped on. To use the ready-made holes in your rails, take ...
jay613's user avatar
  • 37.4k

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