One of the brackets for a curtain rod in my house has pulled loose. Looks like the plastic anchor broke. How would you deal with this? Do they still make the old style spring-loaded metal anchors? The ones with the two wings that spring out after you push it through the sheet rock?
I don't think the plastic anchors will work any more in this case, because the hole is now slightly enlarged. Any suggestions?

The same thing happened to me. The middle curtain rod mount could not be over a stud and was too high to get screwed into the door frame. I replaced it with:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cr...ack-803922/204273381

Toggle bolts. There are many different variations; this is one of the simpler ones. It held very well.

If you need to fill the large hole left by the plastic anchor, something like this can work, too. However, they are pricier:

Yes, they still make toggle anchors. It makes for an ugly attachment.

I anchor my curtain rods in the studs by the windows or directly to the moldings themselves.

They do make oversized plastic screw anchors to go in a pulled out hole.

I've used them many times.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ro...ck-DWAC100/304617793

https://www.homedepot.com/p/E-...Pack-11353/100171703

If it’s only slightly enlarged, try one of these I use them exclusively now, they hold very well.

quote:

Originally posted by fvyellowbird:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/E-...Pack-11353/100171703

If it’s only slightly enlarged, try one of these I use them exclusively now, they hold very well.

Those can work, too. However, they didn't hold up against my 2yr old. That is likely not an issue for everyone!

I've used this style for hanging TVs where the bracket didn't align with studs. Very strong and the nut doesn't drop down the wall if you remove the screw.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hi...ack-376362/203754351

These have replaced plastic expansion anchors and toggle bolts for most applications for me. Mostly because they are easy to use, hold solidly, and don't pull out half the wall when they eventually fail like toggle bolts do. Sorry, yellowbird, I missed your xontribution while composing my post.

Molly bolt. If it is not real tight you'd hold the head while turning the screw, which pulls the grasping part towards the back of the wall.



Then reverse the screw and use that screw to hold the bracket.

They work great. Also on hollow core doors.

I might first try gluing the old anchor into the opening with clear silicone caulk if I had an open tube.

Bet there are several people on this forum who could post you an assortment of sizes (for different thickness walls) if you emailed them.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Yes, they still make toggle anchors. It makes for an ugly attachment.

I anchor my curtain rods in the studs by the windows or directly to the moldings themselves.

They do make oversized plastic screw anchors to go in a pulled out hole.

I've used them many times.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ro...ck-DWAC100/304617793

I'll give a vote for these also. I've used them for quite a few years.
If you have 17 minutes to watch a video this one might help you......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHb-Tcvkn7M

Some of the screw in anchors are much larger diameter and made of metal. Look for the heavier weight ones. It may be a simpler solution.

Like these
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hi...ck-3512344/204992985

I've had good luck with these, but takes a larger hole to push the anchor through.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hi...ack-376255/202243047

ETA: I have these holding up some iron pipe curtain rods I made with 8ft curtains, no issues.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: P250UA5,

Depending on your curtain rod bracket, an oversized anchor may protrude from the sides making it noticeable. If your curtains cover the bracket, no harm no foul. The ones that Mars linked to work great, but may pull out with the weight of the curtains. The metal spring loaded anchors are available at Home Depot and Lowes and such. Be sure to get the right size for your drywall thickness.

I made up my own bracket holders with door molding plinths. I screwed them to the header above the windows and attached the brackets to them. Our curtains are long and would drag on the floor if I didn't mount the rod higher than the trim.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Some of the screw in anchors are much larger diameter and made of metal. Look for the heavier weight ones. It may be a simpler solution.

Like these
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hi...ck-3512344/204992985

Yep zip-its work great for static things. They will eventually fall out due to weights of curtians after a couple years probably. At that point is when I would go to toggle bolts.

Hole sizes:

Plastic anchor -> Zip-it -> Toggle bolt.

Progress in size as you go. Zip-it is next size up, once you get to toggle bolts you need a larger hole to fit wings into the wall which may be visible depending on the size of curtian mounts.

There are a couple ways. I've used both.

If the hole is still small, these will do the trick:

E-Z Ancor 4-Pack Standard Drywall Anchor (Screws Included)

They come in two or three different sizes. Those are neat because they're self-tapping/-drilling.

If the hole is too big for even those (I had even one of those lose their grip, recently--it was a wall rack), then this will do it for sure:

TOGGLER 2-Pack Assorted Length x 1/4-in Dia Toggle Bolt Drywall Anchor (Screws Included)

The guy at Lowe's who, when we were discussing my latest wall-anchor problem, told me "Contractors love these." I can see why.

It's not immediately apparent how those Togglers work, just looking at them. You drill the hole out big enough for the toggle to go through, insert, pull back until the toggle is seated firmly on the back-side of the wall, scoot that little plastic thing on the left of that image down snug (works like a zip tie), snap the rest of the thing off and it's done. Neat thing is: Unlike traditional toggle anchors, you don't lose the toggle if you need to remove and re-attach whatever it's holding.

I like the Toggler not available at Home Depot, but they have it at Lowes.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
Molly bolt. If it is not real tight you'd hold the head while turning the screw, which pulls the grasping part towards the back of the wall.



Then reverse the screw and use that screw to hold the bracket.

They work great. Also on hollow core doors.

I might first try gluing the old anchor into the opening with clear silicone caulk if I had an open tube.

Bet there are several people on this forum who could post you an assortment of sizes (for different thickness walls) if you emailed them.

+ these. little one keeps yanking on the towel to get it off the hook that's out of his reach. a few cycles of ever larger oversized anchors until I stuck it with 2 of these. If he yanks it off again it'll yank enough drywall off to make a big enough hole I can put a 2x4 across the gap between studs when patching in a new square of drywall.

I've used the ones like Flesheating's picture shows. Very strong and has held up a heavy double bar clothes rack in my laundry room. No loosening or movement in 7+ years:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Co...-Pack-367R/202531181

Being you already had a plastic anchor fail, I would think the drywall around the hole might be brittle and would suggest a strap toggle compared to any drilling anchor. I have used the strap toggles on many items in my home and have never had a problem. We had an older 37" tv we bought many years ago and that thing had to weigh close to 70-80 pounds. I used the strap toggles on the wall and today the toggles are still holding. They are a million dollar idea just like the Shark Bite plumbing pieces.

quote:

Originally posted by SirBeep:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
Molly bolt. If it is not real tight you'd hold the head while turning the screw, which pulls the grasping part towards the back of the wall.



Then reverse the screw and use that screw to hold the bracket.

They work great. Also on hollow core doors.

I might first try gluing the old anchor into the opening with clear silicone caulk if I had an open tube.

Bet there are several people on this forum who could post you an assortment of sizes (for different thickness walls) if you emailed them.

+ these. little one keeps yanking on the towel to get it off the hook that's out of his reach. a few cycles of ever larger oversized anchors until I stuck it with 2 of these. If he yanks it off again it'll yank enough drywall off to make a big enough hole I can put a 2x4 across the gap between studs when patching in a new square of drywall.

These do okay when the whole is new, but if it’s already a damaged hole, they make things worse. I’d stick with a toggle bolt, or cut a whole and screw in some 1x4 wood backer. That’s the best fix, but it requires plaster and paint.

we use #3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QZE9CiZOJs