I just hung a new mirror in my bathroom over the weekend, and today it completely shattered after one of the anchors ripped out of the wall. We used two anchors meant for either drywall or studs (they're rated to hold up to 50 lbs), but we didn't have a stud finder, and I'm now worried about other items I've hung with the same hardware. The mirror itself weighs around 24 lbs. I've attached some pictures of the anchors for reference. What could have caused this to happen, and should I be concerned about my other hung items?
7 Answers
I know it says drywall on the package, but consider the actual materials you're working with. Those anchors don’t provide much grip on drywall, especially with weight. You should think about swapping everything to expanding mollies; they can really make a difference for hanging heavier items securely.
From what you've explained, it seems that the way the mirror weight was distributed stressed the anchors more than usual, especially compared to just hanging a picture. Make sure to check the anchor instructions; they often recommend lower weight limits for shelves or heavier items like mirrors.
I think the anchors you used might be designed to mount to both drywall and studs simultaneously, which is different from a typical drywall or stud anchor. Try looking for a drywall-only anchor; something like a T anchor could be a better choice for your setup.
It's possible that the plastic anchor was damaged when it was put in and could only hold a tiny bit of weight before it gave up. Watch out for that because it can happen with the wrong installation.
Honestly, my guess is that someone leaned against the mirror while it was hanging. It looks like since the mirror was protruding a little (like 1-2 inches), it acted like a lever and pulled the anchor out instead of just supporting weight. These anchors are good for things that hang down but not for things pulling outward.
Toggle bolts might be overkill, but they can definitely ensure security. I also recommend the white plastic threaded anchors rated for 75 lbs. Just remember not to overdrive them; screw them in until the flange just touches the drywall, then give it a slight twist to set it properly.
It looks like the hole is pretty clean, which makes me think you might have over-tightened the anchors. Instead of properly screwing in, they just drilled out. I've had luck using the plastic ones similar to yours; they expand behind the drywall when you screw the anchor in, which offers better support.
That makes a lot of sense! I'll definitely be more cautious with how I approach hanging things after this incident.