WD-05Fit reinforcement for your wall typeA fold-down desk pulls away from the wall every time you lower it, so metal studs alone - even with the right hollow-wall toggles - are not strong enough on their own. On a metal stud wall, cut an 18mm plywood pattress about 600 x 150mm, hold it over at least two stud centres, and fix it through the plasterboard into both studs with self-drilling metal-stud screws every 100mm. On a timber stud wall, fit the same pattress with coarse-thread wood screws biting at least 30mm into the studs, or fit a timber noggin between the studs if you're happy to open the board. On solid brick or block you can skip the pattress and fix straight into the wall with the correct plugs; on dot-and-dab you must use fixings long enough to pass through the plasterboard and adhesive dabs and still bite properly into the masonry behind, since a plug fixed only into the plasterboard will pull straight out; on lath and plaster, never rely on the plaster itself - locate the timber studs behind the laths and screw into solid timber.