I am mounting some bike racks to a brick wall (basically, a special hook that you hang your bike on). The holes in the metal bike racks are big enough for #8 screws. I purchased some lead plugs which were supposed to accommodate #8 screws, drilled holes for the anchors in the brick and installed the bike racks. It turns out that the anchors were actually mis-labeled at the store, and are for screw sizes #10 – #14, so the anchors don't expand enough in the brick, and the bike racks don't stay on the wall.
My problem is how I can use the existing holes to re-mount the bike racks.
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If I take out the existing anchors and buy smaller ones to fit the #8 screws, is there some way I can fill the hole so the anchor holds?
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Is there another kind of anchor that will expand to fill the oversize hole?
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Is it just easier to buy larger screws and drill a larger hole in the bike racks?
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Other options?
Thanks.
Best Answer
Use larger anchors/screws. IMO this is the best option. There are dozens of different types of anchors, so it is possible to find one that will be larger but fit the smaller screw. Myself, I'd drill the rack and use the proper screw for the anchors you have.
Another possibility, since brick is pretty deep, is to use a longer Tap-Con style screw, like 3" say. You can drill past the old anchor point, but still have plenty of meat for the longer screw to bite.
Sure, you can plug the holes with wood but I would not trust a bike rack or similar item hung off such a makeshitft anchor.