🔧 Wall Identification Guide
Knowing your wall type ensures our fitters bring the exact heavy-duty anchors required for safe furniture anchoring. Here is how to quickly identify your walls.
The "Tap & Knock" Test
Tap on your wall with your knuckles in a few places and listen to the sound it makes:
What Era is Your Property?
UK homes built in different eras typically use distinct construction methods. This is an excellent indicator:
Standard in pre-1930s properties. Solid brickwork, stone, or breeze blocks finished with a layer of plaster. Very hard and stable.
- Knock / Tap Test Produces a dull, solid sound. No flex or hollow points.
- Also Referred to As Brick/block wall, masonry wall, load-bearing wall.
Standard in modern properties (post-1990). Plasterboard is stuck directly to a masonry backing wall using dabs of adhesive, leaving a shallow 10-20mm air gap.
- Knock / Tap Test Semi-hollow sound. Tapping will feel hollow in most places, but solid on the adhesive dots (spaced in a grid).
- Important Note Requires specialized dry-lining anchors (like Corefix) to bridge the void safely.
Common for internal dividing/partition walls. Plasterboard is screwed to a vertical wood or metal stud framework (spaced 400mm or 600mm apart) with empty cavities.
- Knock / Tap Test Sounds completely hollow except along vertical stud framing lines. Noticeable flexing.
- Also Referred to As Stud wall, partition wall, dividing wall, drywall.
Common in older rural properties or character cottages. These are generally softer and easier to drill than engineering brick, but can have voids or rubble infill.
- Paramount Board warning Some internal walls in post-war builds use Paramount Board (cardboard honeycomb sandwiched between thin plasterboard). These are highly unstable and require specialist support.
Video Identification Guide
Watch this visual guide to learn how to identify wall types before your fitting.
Drilling & Mounting Safety Policy
Your safety and the integrity of your property are our highest priorities. Please review our policy guidelines below:
- Electronic cable and pipe detectors are not 100% accurate.
- Older buildings or buildings without recent plans often have non-standard installations or modifications that detectors cannot trace.
- We will only proceed based on the clear, explicit instructions of the property owner.
- The owner assumes sole responsibility and liability for the request.
- We disclaim any insurance coverage or liability for any utility damages that occur from proceeding as requested.