Hanging Heavy Art on Walls

Heavy art can be too much for regular picture-hanging hardware. To be sure of a secure installation, you need a little reinforcement. Wall anchors are simple pieces of hardware you can install with a drill. They are formulated for different weights and different kinds of walls. They typically work on a simple principle -- once the slim anchor is slipped into the wall, the very weight of what you are hanging makes the anchor expand in the wall and hold your piece. Select the right anchor for your wall -- be it drywall or plaster, for instance -- and get the proper size to hold the weight of the art.

Measuring tape
Drill
Screwdriver or drill screw bit
Anchors
Level

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the artwork across the back. For a sculpture with hanging holes, measure the distance between the holes. For paintings or flat works with wires across the back, multiply the measurement by 0.6 for the placement of the anchors in the walls. Thus, a 50-inch piece results in anchors 30 inches apart.
- 2
  Place the level on the wall where you want to hang the work.
- 3
  Lay the measuring tape across the level and mark the two spots for your measurement. In this example, they will be 30 inches apart. If you had preset hanging holes, you would use that measurement.
- 4
  Drill into the wall. Use the bit width specified for the anchor selected. Drill deep enough to fit the whole anchor sleeve in the hole. There will be a flat section on the end of the anchor that's against the wall.
- 5
  Insert the anchors in the holes.
- 6
  Drill the screws into the anchors. Use either a screwdriver or a screw bit for your drill. Most anchors are built to take both a Phillips or flat screwdriver. Leave a half inch of the screws extending from the wall.
- 7
  Place your artwork on the anchors. Tug gently while holding the artwork securely to test the hold.

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