There are many ways to hang a picture.
Artwork, shelves, mirrors and other wall-hung items help tie d cor together and make a house a home. Getting items to hang properly can sometimes be a daunting task, though -- particularly when the item is heavy or oddly shaped. Even lightweight items may present a challenge on fragile materials such as gypsum board, or in situations where rent agreements prevent putting holes in walls. However, a variety of hangers are available to overcome nearly every difficulty.
Instructions
Determining Placement
1. Measure the vertical length of the item you are hanging to determine how far to position it from the floor and ceiling. Jot that number down and keep it handy.
2. Measure the height of the wall from floor to ceiling and write that number down.
3. Determine the height that you prefer for the lower edge of the object you are hanging and measure the distance from that point to the floor, again writing the number down.
4. Add the first number to the third number and subtract the total measurement from the second number to get the amount of wall space you will have left above the item after it is in position.
5. Use the sum of the previous calculation to determine the position to place the hanger. Depending upon the type of object you are hanging, place the nail or other hanger two to three inches below the spot where the top edge of the item will ultimately rest.
Choosing a Fastener
6. If you rent, check your lease to see whether you can drill holes in walls. If not, choose an adhesive based hook or other fastener for lightweight photos and other lightweight items. If small holes are allowable, use a finish nail, push-pin hook or picture hook to hang lightweight items from picture wire attached to the back of your item. Picture rails are another alternative.
7. Use toggle bolts, molly bolts, or plastic anchors on drywall and other thin, hollow walls when drilling holes is not a problem.
8. Choose concrete screws or picture rails for hard, solid walls.
Installing the Fastener
9. Locate the wooden framework behind the wall using a stud finder.
10. Install a wooden picture rail -- specialized molding that accepts clip-on hooks -- at the top of the wall, using headless nails hammered into the studs. This is a good system for hanging several items if you do not want holes in the walls. Paint the molding and leave it in place as trim, to avoid marring the walls. Use wire, ribbon or monofilament line to suspend items from the picture rail with picture rail hooks.
11. Screw cup hooks or screw type picture hooks directly into walls at studs for secure fasteners, or hammer finish nails or picture hooks at stud positions.
12. Attach items to hollow portions of walls by predrilling appropriately sized holes, inserting spring toggle bolts through the holes and tightening the bolt. Alternatively, drill holes and insert plastic anchors or molly bolts to accept a variety of screw-type hooks for hanging.
13. Drill holes with a masonry bit, and then use a concrete screw for hanging items on a brick, cement block or other masonry walls.
Related posts
If you have a metal garage or a pole barn style utility building that you would like to hang items on, don't worry; it isn't all that difficult. Hanging items on a metal structure is similar to ha...
Drywall is usually fastened to the wall studs with drywall screws. But with walls constructed of block, the drywall cannot be fastened directly to the walls. Furring strips must first be attached...
Cinder block walls pose challanges to safely hanging curtains.You have searched and finally found the perfect drapery and curtain rods to fit your space only to be left wondering securely attach y...
Wall anchors allow builders to mount shelf hardware into hollow, plastered walls.Although builders can install plaster or stucco over solid walls, such as concrete block walls, most plaster adhere...
There are many ways to hang a picture on wallboard. The weight, size and hardware on the existing frame determine which size hardware to use for this project. The easiest type of picture hanging h...
