How would you go about repairing this plasterboard?

How would you go about repairing this plasterboard?

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Discussion

RedFish

Original Poster:

802 posts

198 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
Keen to avoid getting a tradesperson in for cost and hassle
How would you go about this, in terms of equipment and method?

It feels like part of the the reason the radiator came away from the wall was the screws used don't look appropriate for plasterboard?

OR is this all a bit trickier and if I have to ask....I'm better getting a pro in?




mgtony

4,064 posts

197 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
I think you can probably relocate those fixings a couple of positions lower and make new holes for securing them. Do one at a time to keep the rad supported. Then just fill the old holes.

RedFish

Original Poster:

802 posts

198 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
Blood hell, I didn't even think about that

Would still like to repair fill the plaster and I'm not too sure on kit to use or how.

Also original screws don't look up to the job so replace those?

Fastpedeller

3,971 posts

153 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
Plasterboard isn't adequate for the weight of radiator full of water. many years ago I fitted one similar as follows:-
There is a bedroom on the other side of the wall, so I discussed the possibilities with the customer. There were free-standing wardrobes in the bedroom against the wall in question, so it was a simple job of drilling right through the wall from bathroom to bedroom and using nuts, bolts and penny washers with the nuts and penny washer hidden by the wardrobes. The other options are to find the wood of the studwork behind the plasterboard and screw into that, which only works if the wood is at a suitable position. Failing that, remove radiator, remove some plasterboard, fit more wood (in best position) securing it to existing wood, reinstate plasterboard and skim and then fir rad. Stud walls are a pain and only there for the benefit of the house-builder.

Collectingbrass

2,386 posts

202 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
RedFish said:
Blood hell, I didn't even think about that

Would still like to repair fill the plaster and I'm not too sure on kit to use or how.

Also original screws don't look up to the job so replace those?
You need to find out where anything with any meat (ie vertical studs or blockwork behind a board on dot and dab) is behind the plaster and fix into that. If thats a wet system radiator, or electric oil filled, it will weigh too much to be held up by plasterboard fixings alone. Although if you have kids ask them if they have been swinging on it or dragging towels roughly.

Panamax

5,051 posts

41 months

Sunday 10th November
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As others have suggested the wall almost certainly isn't strong enough.

I'd be tempted to removes the rad, fix a sheet of good quality 9mm plywood (or equivalent MDF) to the wall about the size of the rad. Use multiple fixings and/or adhesive to ensure any load is spread. Make good and paint, then refix the rad.

Panamax

5,051 posts

41 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
^^ It occurs to me, having seen the picture again, you could achieve the same result by attaching two horizontal pieces of wood between the rad fixings and the wall. They'd need to be about 100mm height and extend about 100mm outside the rad fixings.

OutInTheShed

9,293 posts

33 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
Plasterboard is a lot stronger than many people think, if treated right.

However, once it's all smunched up, it's all over.

An actual proper job might be to cut out a section of plasterboard, install a 'noggin' AKA a bit of 2x4 between the uprights, then patch the plasterboard and make good with plaster. It's really not hard, if you can get an offcut of plasterboard the right thickness.
An artful bodger might even re-use the rectangle of PB they've cut out.

A 'good enough' repair might be to make big enough holes where the plasterboard is damaged, to insert some 2x1 behind the board to spread the load

Belle427

9,736 posts

240 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
The correct fixings would hold it properly even though its not ideal, spring toggles would be the most sturdy in my opinion.
As for filling if its not too damaged gyproc easifill is a good product to work with.

Crafty_

13,478 posts

207 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
there are fixings that are designed for plasterboard and will (apparently) take significant weight.

I've never used them but one example is https://www.gripitfixings.co.uk/

As someone said, if you can re-locate the fixings a bar or two down I'd investigate fixings similar to the above. Whilr sratvhing I did find this comparison video:https://youtu.be/nfGG1Z5m-5A?feature=shared

As for the damage, just buy some readymix filler and a filling knife. swipe some in, leave to dry and then rub down and a litle bit of paint.

andyxxx

1,208 posts

234 months

Sunday 10th November
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Toggle fixings will 100% be the best fixings for that. As said fill and sand the damaged holes and re fix the toggles to the rail beneath.

paulwirral

3,387 posts

142 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
Crafty_ said:
there are fixings that are designed for plasterboard and will (apparently) take significant weight.

I've never used them but one example is https://www.gripitfixings.co.uk/

As someone said, if you can re-locate the fixings a bar or two down I'd investigate fixings similar to the above. Whilr sratvhing I did find this comparison video:https://youtu.be/nfGG1Z5m-5A?feature=shared

As for the damage, just buy some readymix filler and a filling knife. swipe some in, leave to dry and then rub down and a litle bit of paint.
I’ve used those a few times , they do work well but drill the hole slowly and carefully , if you bust straight through the board it weakens the rear and that’s what the fixings rely on .

bennno

12,699 posts

276 months

Sunday 10th November
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Be careful, bet the pipes for the rad are behind that plasterboard

mgtony

4,064 posts

197 months

Sunday 10th November
quotequote all
I don't think you're going to be able to use toggle fixings because of the stand-off brackets design and position.

I'd probably lower the bracket one rung, re drill a hole and then feed a 30mm or 40mm washer and nut through the old hole and down with either a finger or taped to a spanner (secured with a piece of string so you don't lose it) so I could use a long bolt through the bracket and into the nut. Then fill the old hole.

LooneyTunes

7,548 posts

165 months

Monday 11th November
quotequote all
OutInTheShed said:
An actual proper job might be to cut out a section of plasterboard, install a 'noggin' AKA a bit of 2x4 between the uprights, then patch the plasterboard and make good with plaster. It's really not hard, if you can get an offcut of plasterboard the right thickness.
An artful bodger might even re-use the rectangle of PB they've cut out.

A 'good enough' repair might be to make big enough holes where the plasterboard is damaged, to insert some 2x1 behind the board to spread the load
You’re often better off reusing the piece than cutting a new one. It will be the right shape and all you have to deal with is the kerf (instead of having to fill/skim over the entire new piece of board).

When you cut it out, make the cuts with a padsaw held at an angle (so the board is wider on the working side of the wall). It won’t fall back into the hole and makes it easy to refit it to the noggin you install behind. Make good with 2-pack wood filler (overpack and then sand back) and you’d never know it had been cut out.

You can also repair in the same way without a full noggin by using a short piece of 2x1 that just spans the piece you’ve removed and a couple of cm beyond: screw into it either side of the hole (using a screw as a handle to hold it in place while you fix it) then fix the piece of board you removed to that.

journeymanpro

805 posts

84 months

Monday 11th November
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Use the correct fixing and plasterboard will be fine. Have a look at geefix.

Djtemeka

1,872 posts

199 months

Monday 11th November
quotequote all
I’ve repaired and refitted loads of these for clients.

Use spring toggles and use the same holes.

Fill and sand around the brackets when you’re done.

No need to mess about with the pipes and cables.