How to Hang a Picture | Wickes, by Wickes on YouTube. 4 min 27 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 27 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Hold the picture against the wall and set the height so your eye line falls about two thirds up the frame. Mark the centre of the top edge with a pencil.
Run a pipe and cable detector over the wall where you plan to drill. Move the fixing point if it picks up a cable or pipe.
Turn the frame over and measure the drop from the hanging mechanism to the top of the frame. If it uses a cord, pull the cord taut first.
Measure that drop down from your first pencil mark and mark the fixing point. Nudge it a little higher so the top of the frame still covers the original mark.
For a light picture on plaster, line a pinned picture hook up with the mark and tap the nail in gently with a hammer.
For a heavier picture on masonry, wrap tape around the drill bit to mark the plug depth. Drill at the mark, push in the wall plug and tap it flush with a hammer.
Drive the screw in and stop with the head sticking out a few millimetres, so the picture has something to sit on.
On a stud wall, find the stud with a stud detector and push a carpenters awl in to confirm. Screw straight into the stud, leaving the head proud.
Over a hollow section, fit a spiral fixing plug or a hollow wall anchor, then drive the screw into it and leave the head protruding.
Hang the picture on the hook or screw and rest a spirit level on top of the frame. Shift the frame until the bubble sits between the lines.
Tips and common mistakes
Weigh the picture before you buy fixings, because plasterboard alone holds very little weight.
Always pull the cord taut when you measure the drop, or the picture will hang lower than you planned.
Wear eye protection when drilling and never drill where the detector beeped.
Get a second pair of hands for large frames so you can check the level before letting go.
Questions
Can I hang a heavy mirror on plasterboard?
Not with a plain screw or pin hook. Use a hollow wall anchor or a spiral fixing plug rated for the weight, or fix into a stud if one is close by.
How high should a picture go?
Aim for the centre of the picture at about eye level, which is roughly two thirds up the frame. Above furniture, keep the bottom edge around 15 to 20 cm above the top.
What if my detector finds a cable?
Pick a new spot at least a few centimetres to the side and scan again. Never drill into a wall where the detector signals a live cable or pipe.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
