What's the best way to hang paintings and frames on a wall?

Question

I also don't like to damage the walls....Thanks!

Answer 1

With proper technique, hanging pictures on a lath-and-plaster wall isn't a problem. If the pictures are small and equipped with a wire on the back, use a small picture hook and nail.

To install small picture hooks, all you need is a hammer. Gently tap the nail provided with the hook diagonally into the wall using the hook itself as a guide. With small hooks there is little danger of cracking the plaster.

Larger hooks may require pre-drilling a hole. A cordless drill equipped with a drill bit slightly smaller than the nail is the tool for the job. Drilling a pilot hole removes some of the plaster and greatly reduces the possibility of cracking the plaster. Make sure to drill the hole on an angle that approximates the angle of the path of the nail.

For small- and medium-sized pictures, you don't have to be concerned about hitting a stud. The plaster has enough structural integrity to hold their weight.

Be cautious about trying to drive a nail into a piece of wood lath. If a nail strikes a piece of lath under the plaster there is a good chance it will vibrate, break the plaster keys and loosen the plaster from the lath. A "key" is the term used to describe wet plaster that oozed between the lath when applied and dried partially encasing the lath. These "keys" form a bond between the dried plaster wall and the lath.

You'll be able to tell if the nail strikes a piece of lath - it will bounce back when you tap it with your hammer. If that happens, drill a pilot hole no matter which size nail you use.

For hanging large, heavy pictures, we recommend using a wood screw as hanger if the screw can be installed in a stud or a wall anchor if it does not hit a stud.

Wall anchors come in a variety of sizes. They are a two-part fastener, a machine bolt that fits into a collapsible cylinder. Whether installing a wood screw or wall anchor, pre-drill a hole in the wall to inhibit cracking.

For a wall anchor insert the cylinder into the pre-drilled hole, tighten the bolt so that the cylinder compresses and back the bolt part way out of the cylinder and hang the picture. Use two fasteners for very large or heave pictures.

The bottom line is if you have any doubt, pre-drill the holes to avoid cracked plaster.

Answer 2

I like what Golden Smile has said. I am lucky my apt. has ceiling mounding from which I can hand heavy mirrors and such from it without driving nails etc. into wall. But I have also used the cloth tab that you just wet and stick on wall for light things. I see now that they have a new hook design that uses only a thin wire to anchor to the wall and only leave a hole the size of a needle. Saw advertised on TV

Answer 3

I saw these hook like things on tv advertised that were amazing. They look similar to the top part of a clothes hanger and you pop them through the wall and they can hold really heavy heavy things with minimal damage to the wall. Do a search on wall hangers and you might find them. Sorry I cant recall what they were called, but they had me sold! Maybe check "As Seen on TV"+"wall hanger".

The price was reasonable too.

I found them at drywallhooks.com

Answer 4

Steel straight pins can hold 10 lbs. if inserted at a 45 degree angle, that should hold most pictures. You can also buy vey thin wall nails at hardware stores and picture framing centers. don't worry about studs...drywall will hold and is easy to patch with joint compund and paint if you move pix

Answer 5

I like to use tacks. they do not make big holes and they are not noticable.