Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Prepare to hang your painting
• Method 2 of 2: Hang a painting on a plastered or plasterboard wall
• Tips

The easiest way to hang a painting on the wall is to drive a nail into the wall. Frames weighing more than 9 kg are considered too heavy to hang on the wall without proper reinforcement.To keep your painting from falling after you hang it, make sure you choose the right tools and technique for a heavier frame. Once you have properly hung a heavy frame, you are well equipped to fill your walls with heavy mirrors, shelving and speaker brackets and other decorative items.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Prepare to hang your painting

1. Weigh your painting in the frame. The weight of your painting determines which fasteners and technique you should use to attach it to the wall. Heavier frames and mirrors require special materials based on their weight. Use a regular scale to determine the exact weight of your painting.
   • Paintings up to 4.5 kg are considered light loads, 4.5-13 kg are medium loads and 13-47 kg mean heavy loads. Check the wall mount packaging before use, as they usually provide a weight range for intended use.
2. Determine the type of wall you are using. Older homes from the 1940s or earlier usually have stucco walls. Most modern homes use drywall. You can also hang heavy moldings on brick, mortar and ceramic tile with the necessary tools and approach.
3. Decide where you want to hang the painting. Find a place where you want to hang your painting or mirror and hold it against the wall. As a general rule of thumb, consider hanging your frame at eye level. Mark the top of the frame with a pencil or a piece of masking tape.
4. Mark where you will drill or nail the wall mount. Use a tape measure to determine where to hang your painting on the wall. Depending on the type of frame you are hanging, the frame can hang lower on the mounting.
   • If the molding has a D-ring or other metal loop on the back, simply measure from the top of the molding to the height of the ring. Measure this distance from the mark you made on the wall with pencil or painter's tape. Mark this new spot in pencil with an X. This is where you drill or nail an attachment into the wall.
   • If the molding has a thread across the back, use the tape measure to pull the thread up to the highest possible point. Measure from this point to the top of the molding. Remove the tape measure and measure this distance down from the original mark you made on the wall with pencil or painter's tape. Mark this new spot in pencil with an X. This is where you drill or nail an attachment into the wall.
5. Add a second suspension point. Consider hanging the frame from two points in the wall for extra strength. This is especially recommended for heavy loads. If the frame is hanging from a wire, use two fingers to hold the wire at the desired suspension points. The further apart they are, the more stable the painting will be. Measure from these two points with a tape measure to the top of the molding and transfer the measurement to the wall with a pencil.
   • You can also hold a piece of wood about half the width of the frame under the hanging wire to define the two hanging points. The two ends of the wood are where you need to hang the fixings. Using a tape measure, measure the distance between the wood and the top of the molding and use that measurement to place the wood on the wall below your original mark. Use a spirit level to make sure it's straight and draw a line across the top of the wood. The two end points of the line are where you hang your two fixings.

Method 2 of 2: Hang a painting on a plastered or plasterboard wall

1. Hang your painting on a wooden stud. For heavier paintings, it is best to hang your painting on a wooden stud. Plaster walls have a stud, or wooden support bracket, at approximately every 35 cm. Find a wall stud using a style finder, or by tapping the wall gently until you hear a muffled, rather than hollow, sound. Plaster walls are more difficult to find studs behind, so consider a different method if you're having trouble.
   • If your painting is wider than 35 cm or the distance between two studs in the wall, use a spirit level and two screws to screw a narrow piece of wood to the wall. For added strength, make sure the screws are in at least two posts. Then you can fix frame hangers at the desired distance in the wood with the help of nails or screws, depending on what the hanger needs. Hang the frame over both hangers.
   • If your painting is narrower, use a hanger on a point on the wall stud. For added strength, choose a hanger that uses multiple nails. Hammer the nails into the wall stud and hang your painting on the hanger. In the case of a plastered wall, use a hanger with screws, not nails.
   • It is unlikely that you will want to hang your painting exactly where you have studs in the wall. There are other strong, reliable methods of hanging paintings if you can't find a good spot on the wall for your painting with a wall jamb behind it.
2. Use traditional pendants. While hangers may not seem like the most robust option, they are easy to use and cause minimal damage to the wall. Single-nail hangers can hold up to 11 kg, and two-nail hangers can hold up to 22 kg. While it is not recommended to stretch the boundaries of these hangers, you can use them for medium load paintings. You can use them on plaster as long as the hangers have screws or anchor screws.
   • Hammer or screw the hanger with the corresponding number of nails or screws in the desired location in the wall. Hang your painting on this pendant.
3. Use anchor bolts to hang your painting. There are many different types of anchor bolts, depending on the weight of the painting and the type of wall you are using. Guide holes are required for all anchors. You need to pre-drill before installing the bolt or screw and hanging the painting. You have to use anchor bolts and screws with plastered walls. Using nails and hammers on plaster will only damage the wall.
   • Plastic anchor bolts are encased in plastic that expands in the wall after you screw them in. For drywall, choose those with plastic wings that expand behind the wall. Plastic anchor screws without wings work best on plaster walls because they grip the plaster well. Drill a hole the diameter of the anchor. Insert the anchor into the hole and pull it out again. Screw it back in place to activate the plastic anchor. Screw it back and attach a hanger then screw it back on to secure it. You can also unscrew the anchor screw to the desired length and simply hang the painting on the hook.
   • Molly bolts are more difficult to use but hold heavy loads well. This type of anchor bolt provides support by gripping the back of the wall. Drill a hole the diameter of the molly bolt. Insert the bolt and then tighten it with the drill. The metal support behind the bolt slips on the other side of the drywall as you tighten the screw. Unscrew and attach a hanger or simply hang the painting on the screw.
4. Provide heavyweight support with a turnbuckle. Turnbuckles carry the most weight. They are sprung and provide support from the back of the wall. They are also the best choice for plaster walls. They require a much wider drill to install.
   • Drill a hole the diameter of the folded turnbuckle. Fold in the sprung wings and insert the bolt into the hole. Let go and the wings spread out behind the drywall. Pull it out again and tighten it with a drill. You can hang a hanger on the screw or hang the painting directly on the screw.

Tips

• To hang a picture on brick, mortar, or ceramic tile, use the same methods as on plaster, but you will need to use a masonry drill bit to make the pilot hole. When drilling ceramic tile, make sure to stick a piece of masking tape over the desired spot for the hole so that the drill bit cannot slide.
• If your painting continues to slide and tilt on the wall, remove it from the wall and apply plastic bumpers to each of the four corners of the frame. This prevents things from going wrong by grabbing the wall.