A British homeowner's guide
Brick walls give character to British homes, from Victorian terraces to converted warehouses. They also make hanging a picture harder. Brick is hard, old mortar can be crumbly, and a hole in brick feels very permanent.
This guide explains how to do it properly, in period houses with soft lime mortar, in modern houses with hard bricks, and in rented homes where drilling may not be allowed.
The quick answer
To hang pictures securely on a solid brick wall, drill with a hammer drill and a masonry bit, fit a wall plug and drive in a screw. For the strongest hold, drill into the brick itself, not the mortar. Match the fixing to the weight of the picture and the kind of brick.
Why brick is different
A picture hook and pin will not go into brick. Careless drilling can chip the face of an old brick and makes a great deal of dust. The mortar in a period house may crumble under load, and a tenancy agreement may forbid drilling altogether. Knowing this beforehand saves expensive mistakes.
Tools
- A hammer drill, with masonry bits tipped with tungsten carbide.
- Wall plugs made for masonry, and screws to fit them. Metal expansion fixings are for the heaviest pieces.
- A spirit level, a tape measure and a pencil.
- A detector for hidden pipes and cables.
- A vacuum cleaner, to catch the dust.
- Safety glasses and a dust mask.
Step by step
Mark and prepare
Mark the fixing point with a pencil, using the spirit level. Remember that the hook sits lower than the top of the frame, by the amount the wire or cord stretches up when taut. For a group, plan the layout on paper first. Put down dust sheets, and check for pipes and cables.
Drill and fit the plug
- Start slowly, without hammer action, until the bit has made a dimple and will not wander. Then switch the hammer action on.
- Hold the drill square to the wall and press steadily.
- Drill about 10mm deeper than the length of the plug.
- Vacuum the dust out of the hole.
- Tap the plug in until it is flush with the surface.
- Drive in the screw, leaving it standing out enough to take a hook or the picture wire.
Drill into the face of the brick, away from its edges, for anything but the lightest picture. Brick grips a plug better than mortar does.
Hang the picture
Fit D-rings and wire or cord to the frame, hang it, and level it. For a heavy mirror or canvas, use two or more fixings, or a split batten, also called a French cleat, which spreads the weight along its length.
Common difficulties
Soft old brick and lime mortar
Older houses have softer bricks and delicate lime mortar. Drill slowly, with little or no hammer action, to avoid breaking the face of the brick. In a listed building, or where historic brickwork is exposed, take advice before drilling.
Hard engineering brick
Modern engineering bricks resist an ordinary drill. Use a powerful hammer drill, a sharp bit and patience, starting with a smaller pilot hole.
Uneven surfaces
On rough brick with recessed joints, a frame may rock. Small pads or bumpers behind the bottom corners steady it.
Rented homes
If you may not drill, there are alternatives. Brick clips grip the top and bottom edges of a single brick where the mortar is recessed, and need no drilling. Adhesive hooks and strips hold only on smooth, sealed surfaces, so they are rarely reliable on bare brick. A picture shelf, or a picture leaning on a mantelpiece, avoids the problem entirely.
Safety and appearance
Weight
Never exceed the load a fixing is rated for. Use more than one fixing for anything over about 5kg. If the mortar is crumbling or the bricks are eroded, have the wall looked at before you hang anything heavy on it.
Dust
Brick dust is fine and gets everywhere, and it is not good to breathe. Close the door, cover the furniture, wear a mask, and vacuum as you drill.
A neat result
Brass or matt black fixings blend well with brickwork. Position pictures to sit comfortably with the pattern of the bricks, with the frame lined up on the courses, not cutting across them at an odd height.
Conclusion
With the right tools, a method suited to your kind of brick and proper attention to weight, a brick wall makes a handsome background for pictures. Take your time, and the reward is artwork that hangs securely for years.
EasyFrame offers a wide range of made-to-measure frames, and with long experience we can advise on the right frame for your artwork. Call us on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are always happy to talk, whether or not you want to buy.