Some pictures may be heavier than others, so ensuring they are given the proper support to stay on the wall is important. For example, a simple finish nail with or without a picture hanger may be just fine to hang small, lightweight pictures of 1 to 30 pounds on drywall, plaster, and paneling.
For most prints and most walls, standard nails or picture hanging hooks work just fine.
A single 1 1/2-inch (4d) or 2-inch (6d) finishing nail will support most pictures, even when nailing between studs. The trick is to drive the nail into the wall at a steep angle, at least 45 degrees. That will provide much greater holding power than tapping the nail straight into the wall.
Nails. Hammer and nails are the easiest and quickest way to get a framed picture on the wall. For smaller frames they are often sufficient - if you want to hang the frames in the same place for a long time.
The answer is simple: screws are much stronger than nails. If the item you want to hang is light-weight, use a nail. If it's heavy, use a screw. The rule of thumb is this: when in doubt, use a screw.
Yes. You can use nails on drywall to hang lightweight pictures or hangings. Generally, a nail inside the drywall can hold weight up to 10 pounds. So, whether you are using nails or screws for your drywall, one important thing is to install them with proper care.
Lighter or smaller items, including picture frames, canvases, shadow boxes, clocks, decorative plates can safely be hung with a nail without a stud. Make sure to choose a nail sized according to the weight of your piece. Our DécoNails™ for example, are specifically designed for hanging items up to 20 lbs in drywall.
A thin nail in hollow drywall will leave even a light picture frame on the floor, but use the right hardware and technique, and your vertical drywall might be able to hold as much as 100 pounds.
The type of fastener you use can also influence the amount of weight the drywall can hold. If you opt for picture hangers or simple nails, then stick to objects that are less than 20 pounds.
That depends on the type of nail, and whether it's driven into a stud. A 16-penny nail, driven 2–1/2 inches into a stud will hold a couple of hundred pounds. A 4d finish nail driven only into the drywall will hold only a pound or so.
Double-sided tape or Command Strips
Double-sided tape is ideal for hanging light picture frames. If you're looking to mount heavier picture frames, it might be best to go with other alternatives like command strips to make sure that your picture frames are secure.
Choosing the right No More Nails tape
As the entire purpose of a good double sided tape is to end the need to drill holes in your walls, you want to get the strongest product. Unibond No More Nails On A Roll can grip and support up to 120kg per roll, making it the perfect candidate.
Use Picture Hanging Strips
We recommend using specialty sticky strips which contain a pressure-sensitive adhesive that holds until you're ready to remove it, leaving no residue or damage. Using picture hanging strips is one of the most popular ways to hang pictures without nails.
If you're putting a relatively small hanging frame on the wall, you can probably get by with one small nail, but larger works of art will require at least two heavy-duty nails at a minimum.
While nails have more flexibility, screws have more tensile strength. Tensile strength refers to a material's ability to resist breaking under pressure. This makes screws better for projects when joined pieces are under tension or bearing weight, like porch railings or kitchen cabinetry.
Fifteen to twenty pounds is probably the maximum amount, no matter the type of hardware used. This isn't because of the hardware or the wall, but due to gravity. This weight limit is equal to a small ceiling fan, hanging a plant, or heavier ceiling fan unless blocking is used.
Start by taking a pack of VELCRO® Brand HANGables® Picture Hanging Strips (Large). Designed for hanging heavy pictures and mirrors, these large picture hanging strips can hold up to 16lbs per pack. Attach one half of each set to your picture frame, and the other half to the wall and press down firmly.
For small projects, you'll likely find that drywall nails work just as well as screws and are most cost-effective. Nails work best for wall installations, rather than ceiling installations.
The cause of nail pops in walls is the expansion and contraction of the wood frame behind drywall. Homes are built with wood framing that you attach drywall to.
For hanging pictures on drywall with no stud, you can use drywall anchors (also called screw-in anchors.) Drywall anchors are ideal when you don't have access to a wooden stud and you need to screw directly into your drywall. The anchor will give your screw extra stability and will prevent it from coming loose.
To use nails, mark each spot on your wall where you want to hang something. Hammer in the nail about 3/4 of the way into the wall. Then, hang your item. If you're hanging fabric or an unframed piece, and you don't mind putting small holes in it, you can hammer the picture directly into the wall as well.
"When you hang something heavy on the wall that isn't on a stud, you risk drilling into sheetrock. The artwork may be too heavy and the wall alone can't support it," she explains.