what is my wall made of?

[robinbr]

I have just moved into a newly-built Skanskabyggd apartment (2008).
The apartment has walls that, according to the folder, consist of either concrete, single plasterboard, or double plasterboard.

I’m going to mount a cabinet on a wall that faces a stairwell, and it sounded duller when I knocked on it than one of the internal walls, so I thought double plasterboard.

But when I drill, it seems like there is plaster first and then wood shavings. What kind of combo is this? Is it common? Should I still use 26mm molly?

Also, unfortunately, I hit a metal stud, so I guess I'll have to run down to Bauhaus and get a stud detector?

I would appreciate some help!

 

[Gurravasa]

Perhaps there's chipboard or OSB behind it? It's quite common to put some form of wooden board behind it so it's easier to attach things to the wall. It works with molly even if it's gypsum+osb, but it's not necessary.

 

[Wasa]

Hello

Don't buy a stud detector... Since there is obviously some type of wood-based board behind the drywall, you can just use regular screws. If you happen to hit a stud, it will hold even better...

Now you also know where the stud is located. The others are on c/c 600 or 450...

Regards, Wasa

 

[robinbr]

Well, any chipboard or OSB seems to be. But will it hold if you screw into it? A cabinet that will weigh 20 kg unloaded with 4 screws?

 

[barajag]

jo nån spån eller OSB verkar det vara. Men håller det o skruva i då? ett skåp som olastat kommer väga 20 kg med 4 skruv?

Hey.

I can say all newly built apartments I've done either have concrete against the stairwell or, in your case, it's either double gypsum or gypsum/plyfa depending on the client, but regardless, there are steel studs behind.

So if you hit a steel stud with 2 screws, it will definitely stay up on that side; if you miss the steel on the other side, insert two molly bolts, as long as they expand correctly, you'll have to tear the gypsum apart to get them out..

 

[robinbr]

Hey.

I can say all the newly built apartments I've worked on have either concrete against the stairwell or, as in your case, it's either double gypsum or gypsum/plyfa depending on the builder, but regardless there are steel studs behind it.

So if you hit a steel stud with 2 screws it's definitely secured on that side, if you miss the steel on the other side then use two mollys; as long as they expand correctly you'll have to tear the gypsum apart to get them out. .

Hi!
Thanks for the answer!
I tried to fit a molly but it bottomed out too early so it seems like it's concrete against the stairwell and then framed with metal studs with gypsum and some wood panel.
So I guess I just have to use regular French wood screws directly into the wall now? I don't have many options left, it feels like.

 

[Wasa]

Hi

I'm afraid that French wood screws don't hold very well in a 12mm OSB board. I would probably use several regular wood screws instead and try to hit the studs.

Best regards, Wasa

 

[barajag]

Hi!
Thanks for the response!
I tried to use a molly, but it bottomed out too early, so it seems like there's concrete against the stairwell and then metal framing with gypsum and a wood panel.
So I guess I'll have to use regular French wood screws right into the wall now? It feels like I don't have many options left.

As mentioned above, French screws don't work. But if you have concrete behind, it is at least 45mm. Narrower studs don't exist. So a molly shorter than 45 +12 (gypsum) + 12 (plywood) = 69mm should not bottom out.