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9.12

Hanging a heavy picture securely

Match the hardware to the weight: screw into a stud when you can, and use a rated drywall anchor when you can't.

Screws and plastic wall anchors of different sizes spread out on a white table.
Photo: ready made / Pexels
Area: HandsFrom age 16Time to learn: About 30 minutes for the first picture.

You will be able to weigh a picture, choose the right hardware and hang it so it stays up.

SafetyWear safety glasses when drilling. Do not hang heavy items over beds. In earthquake areas, use closed hooks so frames cannot jump off the wall. Older homes may have plaster walls, which need different hardware. If you are unsure what is behind the wall, stop and ask a professional.

Why it matters

Drywall is soft, and a plain nail holds only light frames before the weight pulls it through. A falling mirror or frame can break and hurt someone, which is why earthquake safety groups advise hanging pictures on closed hooks. Choosing hardware by weight takes the guesswork out.

How to do it

  1. Weigh the picture: stand on a bathroom scale, then step on again holding the picture, and subtract the first number.
  2. Look at the back. Wire and D-rings are better than a sawtooth hanger for heavy frames.
  3. Find a stud with a stud finder. In most North American homes, studs are 16 inches (40 cm) apart, centre to centre, though some are 24 inches (60 cm) apart.
  4. Do not drill directly above or below outlets and light switches, where wires often run.
  5. Choose hardware rated for more than the picture's weight. In a stud, use a screw or a picture hook. With no stud, use a drywall anchor whose package lists the weight and wall thickness (usually 1/2 inch). Some hook ratings assume the hook is in a stud, so read the package. For the heaviest items, use a toggle bolt.
  6. Choose the height. A common guide is about 57 to 62 inches (145 to 157 cm) from the floor, around eye level. Have someone hold the picture there and lightly mark the top centre of the frame on the wall.
  7. With a wire hanger, pull the wire tight with one finger, measure from the top of the frame down to the wire, and mark that distance below your top-centre mark. That is where the hook goes.
  8. For a wide frame, use two hooks spaced about one-third of the frame's width apart, and mark them level.
  9. Drill a pilot hole of the size the anchor package states, push in the anchor and drive the screw until it becomes hard to turn.
  10. Hang the picture, level it, and tug down gently to check that it holds.

Common mistakes

  • Using a plain nail in drywall for anything heavier than a few pounds.
  • Ignoring the weight rating on the hook or anchor package.
  • Drilling in line with an outlet or light switch.
  • Hanging heavy frames or mirrors above a bed or crib.
You can do this when …you can hang a framed picture heavier than 10 pounds (4.5 kg) so it sits level and does not move when you tug it gently.

Sources

  1. Family Handyman – How to Hang a Heavy Picture
  2. Family Handyman – How to Hang a Picture
  3. Earthquake Country Alliance – Step 1: Secure Your Space
  4. Ready.gov – Earthquakes

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