Hanging pictures and TV mounts in Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca

Costa Blanca wall types and how to fix in each

There are four typical wall types in homes here, and each needs different technique and materials. The wrong fixing may look fine short term but eventually the picture or TV weight overcomes the material and it ends up on the floor.

Solid concrete appears in columns and load-bearing walls of 80s and 90s blocks. The toughest wall to drill but the strongest to anchor in. Standard bits break, needs a tungsten-tipped concrete bit, a powerful hammer drill, and either expansion plugs or chemical anchors for heavy loads. Once fixed, the anchor lasts forever.

Hollow brick is the most common in interior partitions and non-load-bearing walls. Reasonably easy to drill but the problem is the plug may fall into the brick’s internal cavity. To avoid that we use special plugs that open inside the cavity. Fine for medium loads. For heavy loads, find the nearest column.

Plasterboard is the modern material in ceilings and recent partitions. Very fragile without the right plug. Up to 5 kg, a folding-arm hook is enough. For medium loads, metal molly-type plugs that expand behind the board. For heavy loads like big TVs, you need to locate the metal stud behind the plasterboard with a detector and screw into the stud.

Tile or porcelain in kitchens and bathrooms is the most delicate. Wrong bit or too much pressure and the tile cracks all the way to the edge, irreversible damage. Use a diamond-tipped ceramic bit, drill at low speed without hammer action, and apply masking tape around the point to prevent slipping. Fixing behind is similar to brick if there’s masonry behind, or plasterboard-type if there’s a dry partition.

Fixing kit by weight and type

Pictures up to 2 kg: a hook or nail in most walls except tile and plasterboard. Medium 2-8 kg: material-specific plug with 4-5 mm screw. Large pictures and mirrors up to 15 kg: heavy-duty plug and 6 mm screw. LCD TV mounts up to 50 inches and 25 kg combined weight with the bracket: two anchor points into stud or column with 8 mm screws.

Articulated TV mounts: correct installation

A poorly installed articulated mount is the leading cause of fallen TVs at home. The arm multiplies the lever effect when the TV tilts or swivels. If wall fixing is marginal, real load on the fixing can triple at full extension. So we always look for metal stud behind plasterboard or concrete column. We never anchor an articulated arm to plasterboard or hollow brick alone.

Optimal screen-centre height is 1.10-1.20 m from the floor when watched from a sofa. For walkways or kitchens, 1.40-1.60 m. We measure before marking.

Common mistakes that crack tile

First mistake: standard wall bit on tile. The tip slips and cracks it. Use a diamond-tipped ceramic bit. Second: hammer mode on tile. Vibrations crack it from inside and hairline cracks appear over weeks. Drill without hammer. Third: not marking the centre well. A pencil mark on masking tape around the point stops the bit slipping.