Fit mug hooks or a cup rack to a metal stud wall

Fit a mug hook rack safely, checking your wall type first and using the correct fixing for a secure, tidy result.

AB-01Plan the position and mark it upHold the rack against the wall at a comfortable height, away from where mugs will bang into cupboard doors or a kettle. Use a spirit level to keep it straight, then mark each screw hole through the rack's fixing points with a pencil. Double-check spacing with a tape measure before you drill anything.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Spirit level (small)

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1 each · Tape measure

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AB-02Work out what the wall is made ofTap the wall. A dull, solid sound usually means brick or block. A hollow sound means plasterboard, and you need to know if it's on timber or metal studs. Run a magnet or stud detector sideways along the wall: a steady line of screw heads under plasterboard means metal studs, since timber studs are usually fixed with nails or screws spaced further apart and less evenly.

1 each · Stud detector

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AB-03Check for pipes and cables before you drillSweep the marked area with a detector, but treat it as a guide, not proof. Detectors miss deep cables, cables in metal conduit, and anything behind metal-backed plasterboard, and a metal stud frame can confuse cheap detectors further. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

AB-04Solid brick or block: drill and plugDrill a 6mm hole to 40mm depth using a masonry bit, keeping the drill level. Push in a matching wall plug until it sits flush, then drive in a 4x40mm screw. This gives a strong fixing with no further step needed.

1 each · 6mm masonry drill bit

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1 pack · Wall plugs (Rawlplug), pack

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1 pack · 4x40mm screws, pack

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AB-05Plasterboard on timber studs: screw straight inOnce you've confirmed a timber stud sits behind your mark, drill a small 2mm pilot hole to stop the wood splitting. Drive a 4x40mm wood screw straight into the centre of the stud. No plug is needed here, and this gives a very strong fixing for a light rack.

1 pack · 4x40mm wood screws, pack

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AB-06Plasterboard on metal studs: use the right fixingA quick pilot hole test tells you what you've got: fine grey swarf means metal, pale dust means timber. Never use a plain plastic plug or an ordinary wood screw here, as they strip straight through 0.5mm steel. Use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing driven straight into the stud, or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor between studs. A mug rack is light, so this is fine, but anything heavier, or anything that pulls away from the wall in use, needs a timber noggin fitted between the studs first.

1 pack · Self-drilling metal stud fixings, pack

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1 pack · Toggle-type hollow-wall anchors, pack

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AB-07Dot-and-dab plasterboard: reach the masonry behindDot-and-dab walls have an air gap of roughly 10-40mm between the plasterboard and the solid wall behind. Push a bradawl gently through your pilot hole to feel for this gap. Use a long fixing, typically a 6mm plug and a 4x75mm screw, that passes through the plasterboard, crosses the gap, and grips solidly in the masonry.

1 each · 6mm masonry drill bit

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1 pack · 60mm wall plugs, pack

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1 pack · 4x75mm screws, pack

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AB-08Lath and plaster: spread the loadOld lath and plaster walls have thin timber strips with gaps behind a brittle plaster surface, which cracks easily if you hammer or force a fixing. Drill a fine pilot hole first, and where possible aim for a lath rather than a gap. Use a spring toggle or similar hollow-wall anchor to spread the load across the plaster, and go gently to avoid cracking it.

1 pack · Spring toggle fixings, pack

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AB-09Mount the rackHold the rack against the wall, lining up each fixing point, and drive in the screws by hand or with a screwdriver bit on low torque. Snug is enough; overtightening can strip plasterboard or crack old plaster. Check the rack sits level once all screws are in.

AB-10Test the fixing and clear upHang a couple of mugs on the rack and give it a firm tug to check it holds. Vacuum up any plasterboard or plaster dust from the floor and skirting, and wipe down the wall. Pack away tools and dispose of any offcuts or packaging.

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