How to Hang a Heavy Mirror With a Wall Anchor

Turn the mirror face down on a flat surface. Measure from the upper corners of the back of the frame and mark the vertical portions of the frame precisely 3 inches from the upper corners.

Position the cleat horizontally on the frame so the top of the U-shaped rail is aligned to the marks on the frame and the open side of the track is facing downward. Pass the tip of a pencil through the screw holes on the cleat to mark pilot-hole positions of the vertical portions of the frame. Remove the cleat.

Install a drill bit in the drill. The bit must have a smaller diameter than the threaded shanks of the screws in the mirror cleat kit. Drill a pilot hole through each mark in the frame. Avoid drilling completely through the frame.

Reposition the cleat on the mirror frame, aligning the screw holes in the cleat to the pilot holes in the frame. Screw the cleat securely to the frame.

Measure and mark the wall 3 inches below where you plan to position the top center of the framed mirror.

Position the cleat horizontally on the wall, centered to the mark, using a carpenter's level. The bottom of the U-shaped rail is aligned to the mark on the wall and the open side of the track is facing upward. Mark the pilot-hole positions of the screw holes on the wall. Remove the cleat.

Drill pilot holes through the marks into the wall. Install winged wall anchors into each pilot hole. Gently tap the anchors with a mallet or hammer so their openings are flush with the wall. Reposition the cleat on the wall, aligning the screw holes in the cleat with the wall anchors. Screw the cleat to the anchors, using a drill and driving bit.

Lift the mirror and hold it parallel to the wall. The cleat rail that is attached to the mirror should be 1 or 2 inches above the portion of the cleat that is attached to the wall. Lean the top of the mirror so it rests gently on the wall. Slide the mirror downward so the two tracks of the mirror cleat set interlock, securely holding the mirror on the wall.