Fixings

Choosing the Right Fixing for Your Project

At County Building Supplies, our branch teams help builders, tradespeople and DIY customers find fixings for a wide range of installation and construction jobs. Whether you're fixing into plasterboard, masonry or a cavity wall, installing sanitaryware or levelling materials with packers and shims, choosing a fixing that's suitable for the substrate and load is important for a secure installation.

What Are You Fixing Into?

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a fixing is the material you're fixing into. A fixing designed for solid masonry may work very differently from one designed for plasterboard or a hollow wall.

• Wall plugs are used with compatible screws to create secure fixings in suitable solid materials such as brick, block and concrete.
• Plasterboard fixings are designed for suitable installations where the fixing needs to work with plasterboard or a hollow wall construction.
• Cavity wall fixings provide fixing solutions for suitable hollow-wall applications where a conventional solid-wall fixing isn't appropriate.
• Sanitary fixings are designed for installing products such as basins, toilets and other suitable bathroom or washroom fittings.
• Packers and shims help position, level and space materials accurately during installation and construction work.

Before choosing a fixing, consider the substrate, the item being attached and the load the fixing will need to support.

Fixing into Plasterboard & Hollow Walls

Plasterboard requires different fixing methods from solid masonry because the board itself may have limited capacity to support heavier loads. Specialist plasterboard and cavity wall fixings are designed to provide more appropriate fixing solutions for hollow-wall construction.

The best fixing depends on the wall construction, board thickness and load being supported. Where possible, heavier items may require fixing into suitable structural support behind the plasterboard rather than relying on the board alone.

Using Wall Plugs in Masonry

Wall plugs are commonly used when fixing into suitable brick, block or concrete. The plug is inserted into a correctly sized drilled hole before a compatible screw is driven into it, expanding or engaging the plug within the substrate.

The drill size, wall plug and screw should be correctly matched. The condition and type of masonry also need to be considered, particularly when fixing heavier items.

Packers & Shims

Packers and shims are useful for creating accurate spacing, levelling and alignment during construction and installation work. County Building Supplies stocks TIMCO flat packers and horseshoe shims in assorted thicknesses, making it easier to make small adjustments during installation.

They're commonly useful when positioning items such as frames, timber, joinery and other building components where accurate spacing or alignment is required.

Sanitary Fixings

Sanitary fixing kits provide the components required for suitable bathroom and washroom installations. County Building Supplies stocks TIMCO sanitary fixing products, including fixing kits for basins and WC or bidet installations.

Always check that the fixing kit is compatible with the sanitaryware, wall or floor construction and installation requirements before use.

Consider the Load

The weight of the item being installed and any additional loads placed on it are important when choosing a fixing. A fixing suitable for a lightweight fitting may not be appropriate for a heavier item.

Always check the fixing manufacturer's technical information and recommended loads for the particular substrate and installation. Where a fixing is safety-critical or supporting a significant load, the appropriate specification should be confirmed before installation.

Need Advice?

If you're unsure which fixing you need, visit your local County Building Supplies branch or contact our team. Tell us what you're fixing, what you're fixing into and the type of installation you're completing, and we'll help you find a suitable product from our range.