Securpak Shelf Support Plug Type White Nails 40 Pack, shelf bracket support plug, cabinet shelf peg, shelf fixing insert

Fasteners and fixings join timber, metal and masonry and hold fittings to walls, floors and ceilings. The range runs from screws, bolts and nails to wall plugs, plasterboard fixings and screw eyes.

Screws, bolts and nails

• Wood and multi-purpose screws: chosen by diameter and length, head shape and drive. Countersunk heads sit flush with the surface.
• Drive type: cross-head screws are mainly Pozidriv (PZ) or Phillips (PH). They look alike but are not interchangeable, and the wrong bit tends to slip out and damage the head, so match the bit to the screw.
• Coach screws and coach bolts: heavier timber fixings. A coach bolt has a domed head with a square neck that stops it turning while the nut is tightened.
• Machine screws and bolts: metric threads such as M5 or M8 need a nut and washer of the same thread size.
• Nails: round nails for general joinery, annular ring nails with ringed shanks for extra grip, large-headed clout nails for roofing felt, and hardened masonry nails for brick and block.

Fixing into walls

Match the fixing to the wall. Wall plugs suit solid brick, block and concrete, while plasterboard and other hollow walls need fixings designed for them. Concrete screws cut their own thread in a drilled hole in masonry. Use the drill size and screw size given on the pack, and check for hidden pipes and cables before drilling.

Finishes and corrosion

Many general-purpose fixings are zinc plated. For treated timber and outdoor work, hot-dip galvanised or stainless steel fasteners are recommended. Fasteners and metal connectors that touch should be the same metal, because dissimilar metals in contact can cause galvanic corrosion.

For hooks, brackets and door hardware, see ironmongery.