Hanging heavy pictures in drywall?

[golfgal]

We have always had plaster walls and now our new house is all drywall. How do you hang heavy pictures in the drywall? I have some picture hangers that are for heavy pictures (100 lbs or whatever) are those sufficient or do I need to use those plastic anchor things and screws?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I think you need a thing called anchors. However I am pretty clueless when it comes to homey-type stuff like that. It's my DH's job.

 

[monkeyboy]

mollies or anchors and hooks rated for that weight or greater

found at most home depots

 

[DVCLiz]

Oh, I hope someone will let us know!! I have two heavy mirrors that I am dying to hang this weekend, but I don't know how to do it properly, and the last thing I want is to have the whole thing fall off the wall...

Do you have to nail into a stud? Is there a way to tell how without a stud finder? What is a stud finder, anyway? How does it work? Do I have to go buy one or call my builder back, or can I just bang a picture hanger or two where I want it to go????

 

[monkeyboy]

What is a stud finder, anyway?

They alert everytime I walk by



YES try and nail to a stud or see above notes on hangers

 

[Tina]

If you are in a new home and plan to hang things in a lot of rooms, I recommend picking up a stud-finder at Home Depot or Lowe's. They're not too expensive and come in very handy.

If you are hanging anything - light or heavy, you need to:

* Nail into a stud
or
* Use an Anchor

If you place a nail or screw directly into the drywall, there will be nothing to hold it there and it will fall out.

 

[lowie]

i use the 3 nail "ook's". i have a HUGE heavy mirror hung in drywall, with no mollie or stud and it doesn't even rattle a bit when we slam doors! if in doubt use 2.

p.s. they also only leave tiny holes, not huge gaping messes.

 

[HOGFAN]

Go to Ben Franklin, they have wire and hooks rated for heavy pictures. You will probably want to put a wire across the back and use 2 hooks, 1 on each top edge of the picture/mirror. They need to go into studs and the hooks use nails that go into the wall at an angle.

 

[golfgal]

This is what I have, will these work with the right weight load or do I need something else. I won't always be able to use a stud. I have a stud finder that beeps every time DH walks into the house .

 

[liamandcaili]

They make these great anchors that you can just screw into any type of wall...they will even go into studs and you don't have to drill. The kind I have are called E-Z Ancor (Self Drilling Drywall Anchors). Then you hang things by the screw. I have several shelves in my house that are supported in such a way. However, they do leave a big hole, so if you think you might move things around, aren't planning to stay in your location for long, and/or don't know how to repair drywall, you might rethink. I think I got these at Home Depot or Lowes.

 

[MoniqueU]

i have a mirror so huge I have to pay to have it installed. They assure me it's not coming off even in an earthquake. We have to be careful with big heavy stuff aournd here.

 

[JennsBabySky]

i have a mirror so huge I have to pay to have it installed. They assure me it's not coming off even in an earthquake. We have to be careful with big heavy stuff aournd here.

Just curious as to where you find someone to hang a mirror? So far, I've been able to safely hang everything myself, but I'd love to know where to go if I needed to.

To the OP: I usually use drywall screws. You can buy them at hardware stores, some will come with weight guidelines. I know at my local Lowe's, they have a section with different types of nails, screws and other hangers for different surfaces and they have a chart to help you pick the appropriate product.

Good luck,
Jennifer

 

[cardaway]

There are great hangers and achors for those but really the best solultion is just to find the stud or attach a beam to two studs and hang the picture from there. Most studs are only 16" apart and things that heavy are over 16" wide so you wouldn't see the brace behind it.

If you care about the piece you are hanging it's IMO the solution. Doesn't take much to make ANY wall achor fall out of drywall.

 

[DVCLiz]

There are great hangers and achors for those but really the best solultion is just to find the stud or attach a beam to two studs and hang the picture from there. Most studs are only 16" apart and things that heavy are over 16" wide so you wouldn't see the brace behind it.

If you care about the piece you are hanging it's IMO the solution. Doesn't take much to make ANY wall achor fall out of drywall.

Oh, thanks!! That's a great idea for the pieces I'm thinking about.

 

[cardaway]

Just curious as to where you find someone to hang a mirror? So far, I've been able to safely hang everything myself, but I'd love to know where to go if I needed to.

Mirrors should always be screwed into studs IMO. Not only to protect the mirror, but others from the mirror.

It's not hard to build brace for a mirror or find studs to attach it to. Most framed mirrors I have seen have a recessed back which makes it really easy to hide braces between studs. Most hardware stores can make or sell you a kit to hang things on braces. It's as simple as having a this piece of wood cut to go across the studs and the end cut at an angle so the one angled peice can be attached to the mirror.