Do you think it's okay to hang a 30 lb mirror on drywall?

Question

I just moved into a new apartment and all of my walls are drywall. I got this huge, beautiful, antique mirror out of my mom's house, and it probably weighs about 30 pounds. Do you think it's okay to hang it on drywall? The wire that you hang it on seems pretty sturdy. I went ahead and hung it here, but my dad's concerned that it's gonna fall any minute. What do you think? Also, my mom had it hung at her house, but she had a different kind of wall. Thanks in advance, guys! This may not be an easy question to answer w/o seeing the mirror itself.

thanks. i called my dad and he's got a stud finder that he's gonna bring over tomorrow. in the meantime, i took the mirror down.

Answer 1

Girl, all you have to do is find a stud (that's what the drywall is nailed to) and sink you a nail or screw in it. To find one, pick out the wall you want to hang it on. Then take the butt end of the handle of your hammer, or screwdriver, and tap the wall along a horizontal fashion. It will have a hollow sound, kind of like a drum, until you hit a stud whereas the sound will turn deeper. To find the center of the stud tap along it from left to right and back again mentally measuring the center. Once you do it you will find out how easy it really is. If you need any more help, click my icon and contact me.

Answer 2

It will be fine as long as you put the nail into a stud. Make sure the nail is big enough, probably a 2" nail. If you are depending on the drywall to hold it, the drywall will crumble under the weight, and the mirror will eventually fall.

Answer 3

Take it down before it falls down.
Drywall is hung on 2x4 studs and that is what to hang your picture on.It doesn't matter if it is heavy,just find a stout screw-in hook.
The studs are usually 16 inches apart and you can find them by thumping the wall.When you hit something solid you will know it,it is harder and the sound changes.
You can also buy a stud finder at a hardware store.It will indentify metal in the studs,ie,nails.
Find a stud,screw in your hook at the preferred height:and if you get it right,the mirror will never fall.
If the mirror is big enough go over to the next stud and repeat the steps.
You can hang darn near anything by using that method.

Answer 4

You can go to Wal-Mart or a home improvement store and buy hardware to hang pictures. The nails go in at an angle through a hook and each box will tell you how much weight each one can hold. I had a mirror that probably weighs a hundred lbs on drywall. Always get a hook that will hold more than what you are hanging just to make sure.

Answer 5

Drywall has a weight limit of about 30 lbs, so you're pushing it. Just make sure whatever fastener your using to secure it to the wall is mounted in a stud, not just in the drywall itself, and you should be fine :)

Answer 6

only if the nails are attached to the stud, otherwise it's possible the drywall don't hold it forever. I wouldn't be so concerned about the mirror's wire as I would the placement of the nail. Directly into drywall only isn't going to hold.

Answer 7

go to the hardware store - the lowe's depot or someplace similar and purchase 100 of the approiate anchors for your wall and mirror. (ask someone). Use just the one and put the rest in a save spot till you need them again where you will immediatley drop the container and have 198 little bits to pick up. Avoid using the vacuum because you only used on about 4.5 years ago.

Answer 8

It's easier to just find a stud and hang it securely than to repair a gaping hole in the drywall.

Answer 9

It would be best to try and find a stud in the wall ,or just pick up a molly screw so it doesnt pull through the wall. We dont any bad luck right.

Answer 10

I think I would use some type of hollow wall anchors, rather than picture hangars (although they have picture hangars rated for 50 lb or more.

Go to a good hardware store and ask them their recommendation.