Fixing a pegboard to the wall: the complete guide for a tidy workshop
The pegboard, also called a tool panel, is the simplest solution for storing hand tools, brushes and accessories above the workbench. But a bad fixing can result in a panel torn from the wall at the first hammer blow. Here is how to fix a pegboard to the wall durably, whatever the type of wall.
Choosing your panel and the supports
Pegboards come in MDF or wood, in panels of 60 × 60 cm, 60 × 120 cm or 120 × 120 cm, with accessories (hooks, shelves, screwdriver holders). Prefer a thickness of 9 to 12 mm for MDF: thinner, it bows and the hooks hold badly. Budget 15 to 30 euros for a 120 × 60 cm panel with its accessories.
- MDF pegboard of 9 or 12 mm, with 5 mm holes
- Hooks and supports suited to the hole diameter
- 4 × 35 to 4 × 45 mm wood screws depending on the panel thickness
- Anchors and screws suited to your wall (concrete, drywall, brick)
Fixing well according to the type of wall
The fixing technique depends on the nature of the wall. On a concrete wall, drill with a 6 mm masonry bit and use 6 mm nylon anchors. On a drywall partition, special hollow anchors or toggle anchors are necessary: a simple screw in the sheet does not hold. On a hollow brick wall, choose anchors suited to this material, generally longer and expanding.
- Concrete wall: 6 mm nylon anchor and screw, drilled with a masonry bit
- Drywall: toggle anchor or Molly anchor, no standard anchor
- Hollow brick: special hollow brick anchor or expansion anchor
- Wood wall (dresser, shelf): direct wood screw, without anchor
The installation in seven steps
- Locate the position: center of the panel at eye level, above the workbench
- Check that no electrical cable runs in the wall (detector or caution)
- Mark the fixing points with a spirit level, spaced 40 to 50 cm apart
- Drill with the bit suited to the wall, holding the drill straight
- Drive the anchors in with a hammer, flush with the wall
- Screw the panel starting with a corner then the diagonal
- Install the hooks and store the tools from heaviest to lightest
The right spacing and the load
It is advisable to create a 1 to 2 cm gap between the panel and the wall using washers or wedges: the hooks then pass perfectly and air circulates behind the panel, preventing moisture. For a panel intended to support many heavy tools, multiply the fixing points: one point every 30 cm rather than every 50 cm.
The useful accessories for a pegboard
The panel alone is not enough: it is the accessories that make it functional. Over time and with use, you will assemble a range of hooks and supports sold in sets or individually for a few euros. The principle is to group the tools by frequency of use, the most common at hand height.
- Single and double hooks for hammers, pliers and scissors
- Screwdriver holders and screw storage
- Perforated shelves for boxes and pots of accessories
- Storage hooks for rolls of tape and sandpaper
- Dedicated supports for drills, screwdrivers and impact wrenches
What budget to plan?
Budget 15 to 35 euros for a 120 × 60 cm MDF pegboard depending on the thickness and brand, and about 10 to 20 euros for a set of assorted accessories. Add a few euros of anchors and screws suited to your wall. For the whole panel, fixings and accessories, a budget of 40 to 70 euros covers the essentials, much cheaper than a complete commercial workshop unit.
The mistakes to avoid
- Screwing the panel into drywall without a suitable anchor: it tears out at the first loaded hook
- Drilling too close to an edge of the panel: the MDF can split, drill at least 2 cm from the edge
- Overloading one side of the panel: distribute the heavy tools over the whole surface
- Ignoring the electrical cables in the wall: check with a detector before drilling
Fixing a pegboard to the wall takes less than half a day, materials included, and radically changes the workshop's storage. The secret of a durable installation lies in the choice of anchors according to the wall and in a sufficient number of fixing points. With well-distributed hooks and tools marked in their place, your panel will remain functional and orderly for years.