Our outer walls are essentially plaster over slump block/brick. Can anyone suggest a simple and reliable way to hang pictures? At the local hardware store, the clerk recommended a small diameter masonry drill and masonry screws -- they'll work, I'm sure, but it seems a bit radical.
Any alternate suggestions?
Northe (In southern Arizona where slump block and baked adobe walls are the norm)
At the local
It may sound a bit radical, but it's really not. When I moved into similar construction I was sure concrete nails would work; what a mess. The drill-and-screw method is actually the most efficient, does the least amount of damage, and holds the best. It's way easier than trying to pound into that stuff.
Or else you could paint murals directly on the walls. :-)
--svs
Brick-clips! These hold a lot of weight, and they are moveable ... you can take them off, and re-position them. They're sold at most home improvement stores and in catalogs. -- pj
In article , " snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote: At the local
It may sound a bit radical, but it's really not. When I moved into similar construction I was sure concrete nails would work; what a mess. The drill-and-screw method is actually the most efficient, does the least amount of damage, and holds the best. It's way easier than trying to pound into that stuff.
Or else you could paint murals directly on the walls. :-)
--svs
They don't work on plaster over brick.
I am not familiar with any other method.....other than possibly putting up some wood or something similiar outside the plaster and hanging anything to it rather than the brick.....but if you do end up using the screws and the wall is an exterior wall.......remember to use a sealant over the screw thread to properly seal it from any moisture , etc that might work its way in. Cheers,
Dean
Another alternative is it hang them for a wire attached at the ceiling so they are suspend.
I've used something like this:
It fits inbetween the bricks, on the mortor joint. there is a toothed edge to hold onto the brick, and a spring that keeps it in place when you remove the weighted object.
Just works for me, so no clue if it will work for you. I think I got mine at Home Depot, or Lowes.
Good luck,
tom @
Four strips of duct tape. You can paint it to be the frame.
Glue on picture molding, and hang the frames with wire and hooks.
The hardware guy's recommendation is the best idea you'll find. If it's a pretty hefty picture, you should use more than one screw.
Liquid Nails. But be sure you really, really like the pictures.
I've had great luck with the masonry screws. I forget the brand, but the screws are blue and the package includes the correct size masonry drill bit. I've put up some large, heavy framed old maps (the largest is 5' x 4' with heavy glass and frame) and they are solid and safe.
Vin -
I appreciate your advice. Since there's no molding from which to hang wires, I'll try the screws. What I do want to investigate is whether there are some that are smaller in diameter than the ones I got at the hardware store.
Northe
Check! Good suggestion!
Northe
Actually, there are those 3M hangers with the Command adhesive tabs
-- although the ones I've seen are more like coat hooks than picture hangers. I've used them from time to time.
Northe
Smaller in diameter? Why? How thick are the ones you initially saw or bought? Close to what screw size? #8? #10?
As someone else noted, I've got plaster over the bricks, so I'm not sure how I'd find the right places for them. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
Northe
That's certainly a reasonable approach. When my wife looked at this house before we bought it, there were _lots_ of pictures on the walls, and they seemed to be on hooks/screws of some kind -- no picture molding. The sellers took their pictures, and agreed to take care of patching and repainting -- I can see some spots on the walls, but have no idea of what they used.
Northe
Thanks! That is probably the simplest and tidyist method. As I noted elsewhere, I'll see what are the smallest diameter screws that I can find.
Northe
3/16" -- after a quick look, they may be the smallest diameter available.
Northe
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