The perfect way to hang a picture...made easy!
The safest way to hang a picture is with a plug and screw. First, find out what kind of wall you have by tapping it. If it sounds hollow, it’s plasterboard (drywall) and you will need a drywall plug. If it sounds solid, it’s a block wall and you need a regular plug.
Most people don’t want to drill a hole in their wall, but if you bash in a nail into a solid wall it will bend, chip off the plaster and result in a huge, ugly hole. If you put a nail into drywall it may hold for now, but chances are the picture will eventually fall and break.
You will need: 2 stickynotes, a pencil, a drilling machine, drill, plug, screw and a screwdriver.
Follow these simple techniques and you will have the picture hung in no time.
1. Find the wall you want to hang your picture. Get somebody to hold it at the right height (normally eye-level at the centre of the picture). Then take one of your stickynotes notes and place it at the top of the picture in the centre.
2. On the back of the picture, pull the cord or wire so it is tight and measure the distance from the top of the frame to the wire, write this on your second stickynote.
3. Fold your second stickynote in half twice, then open it again.
4. On the wall, measure down from the first stickynote and place the second stickynote so the vertical fold is at the distance you measured. The folded note will now catch the dust and save you a trip with the vacuum cleaner.
5. Drill slowly to begin the hole. If it is solid wall, have your drill on the normal setting until the hole has started, then switch to hammer action (marked on the drilling machine with a little hammer). Bring the drill out of the hole a few times to clear out the dust.
6. When the hole is deep enough (slightly longer than the plug) take out the drill, take off the sticky note with all the dust.
7. Push in the plug gently until it is flush with the wall. Then screw in your screw leaving it proud about 5mm.
8. An easy way to locate the string is to place a fork over the screw; this will catch the cord easily.
9. Simply hang the picture, pull out the fork, stand back and do a final straighten. Simple!
OTHER TIPS!
If you are hanging the picture on a drywall, find where you want the picture to hang, then tap the wall to right and then to the left. There will be a wooden vertical beam every three-foot. If you can find one near (it will sound solid when you tap) you can put a screw directly into this without needing a hole and plug.
 Make sure you are not going to drill near a socket. By law wires have to run vertically from the floor to the socket or light fitting. But if you live in an old house the wires could go vertically. If in doubt don’t drill.
You can get away with using a drywall plug in a brick wall but not a regular plug in plasterboard wall.
Thanks to www.donalmccann.com for great shots.
www.perfectionframing.ie