This happens when bathroom fixtures are only fastened to drywall -- such fixtures are easily ripped out. If you have young children, they will be mysteriously compelled to swing like monkeys from these. Don't ask how I know.
Here's how I permanently fix such fixtures:
- Remove the fixture, if it's still partially attached to the wall.
- Use a 3" hole saw to drill a circle through the drywall where the drywall fasteners were previously located. For now, let's assume you drilled two holes.
- Cut two 6" lengths of 1" x 2" pine. Tie a string around these, and staple it also.
- Insert a piece of pine in the hole, carefully holding the string. Center the pine in the hole and fasten the top and bottom of the pine with drywall screws. Repeat for the other hole.
- From a scrap of drywall, use the 3" hole saw to cut two drywall circles to replace the damaged ones from step 2.
- Insert a replacement drywall circle in each hole, center it, press it against the 1" x 2" pine from step 4, and fasten with drywall screws.
- Use drywall compound & paint to hide the repairs.
- Reattach the fixture exactly where it used to be. Because there's now 1" x 2" pine behind the drywall, you can use real screws to fasten it, and not those terrible drywall fasteners.
This is a very easy and permanent repair, and the only step that takes time is waiting for the drywall compound to dry.
If you need something stronger, you can use a larger hole saw (say 4" or 5") and a stronger piece of wood (say 1" x 3" pine or a piece of plywood). You can also slather one face of the pine with carpenters glue before you insert it into the hole.





