How To Hang A Picture
There is much more to hanging a picture than just getting it straight, though that can be a challenge in itself! In addition to using a spirit level, we have some handy tips to make sure your picture is perfect.
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Check for Pipes or Wires Behind Surfaces
If you're hanging pictures or attaching fittings, it’s important to take care not to disturb any pipes or electric cabling that may lie beneath the surface of the wall. We suggest you buy a cable detector – these are available from most DIY stores. This will help you find most services behind walls, ceilings and floors, but can’t detect plastic pipework.
The following guidelines may indicate services behind a surface:
- Electrical cables are usually found above and/or below electrical sockets, switches and fittings
- Gas pipes will run above or below a gas boiler or gas hob and next to any gas fire surrounds
- Heating pipes found next to windows will run up into the ceiling or down into the floor
- Generally, pipes beneath chipboard floors are identified with marker or pencil lines
- Services in concrete floors are laid in the screed
What Fixings do I Need? Use our List to Find out:
- Plasterboard can take the weight of most pictures and other light items using steel picture hooks or masonry nails
- With timber or metal framed walls, fixings can be made into the timber or metal studs. If you need to hang medium to heavy weight items between the studs, fix these to the timber noggins using steel picture hooks or masonry nails
- To fix items to solid masonry walls, use drywall plugs and screws, making sure that the plug is embedded in the masonry, not just the plaster finish
- For medium to heavy fixtures, the fixing device must be long enough to bridge the cavity between the plasterboard and the solid wall behind it and penetrate well into the solid wall
- Plasterboard partition walls are not strong enough to support heavy items
*How To articles are intended as advice only. Please refer to your completion documents for specific information on lease and covenant restrictions and maintenance of your home.*
