How to hang artwork on brick wall

How to hang artwork on brick wall

Hanging artwork on a brick wall might seem like a big task, especially if you’ve never done it before. But it's not that bad and only requires a few extra steps. Once you know how to do it, you won't let that wall intimidate you ever again. Just follow these steps on how to hang a picture frame on a brick wall and you should be all set!

You'll need:

  • Your artwork
  • Painter's tape
  • Drill
  • Masonry Drill Bit (sized to fit your screws or anchors)
  • Screws + Anchors
  • Level
  • Marker
  • Hammer
  • Tarp or newspaper (optional)

Step 1: Prep your area and plan your wall

Move any furniture away from the brick wall so little pieces of brick don't land on it and so you have room to move. You can lay down a tarp or newspaper if you want to protect your floor or have an easier time cleaning up.

Next, plan out your wall. Are you hanging a gallery wall (many frames) or just one or two frames? Either way, it helps to plan where you want to hang your piece(s). Use painter's tape to try multiple layouts to see what your wall will look like before you commit and start making holes in the wall.

Step 2: Mark the location on the wall where your holes will go

Now that you know where the artwork will go on the wall, you'll want to figure out where the holes need to go. To start, it's important to figure out how many holes you'll need to hang. Is it a large piece that has a wire across? In that case, one hole will do the trick. But if it has multiple D-rings or sawtooth hangers, you'll need as many holes as there are hooks. Two screws are usually necessary for artworks 30" x 40" or larger to ensure balance and proper support.

Once you've figured out how many holes you need, take a marker and note where your frame will attach to the wall. Make sure that you account for how high or low you want the piece to hang. It's also a good idea to use a level to make sure that any holes you make are even.

Step 3: Drill into your marked locations

Next, grab your drill and masonry drill bit. A masonry bit is designed specially for concrete, stone, and brick. For smaller artworks, an anchor is likely not necessary. In these cases, use a masonry drill bit that is equal to the width of your screw.

For large artworks, an anchor is recommended to make sure the screw stays in the wall and to provide extra security. The weight of a large artwork can pull it out of the wall if there's no anchor in place. When using an anchor, use a masonry drill bit that equals the width of your anchor.

Drill deep enough to accommodate the length of the screw or anchor that you’re using, making sure to move slowly to avoid overheating your drill. You may need to take breaks. Do this in each area that you’ve marked. Once you’ve drilled the holes, remove the debris with a dry cloth.

Hammer the anchors in the holes you just made if you're using them.

Step 4: Drill your screws into the anchors

Next, take your screws and drill them into the anchors, making sure you leave enough screw away from the wall to hang the cord on or to attach the screw eyes to. 1/8 to 1/4 inch of extra space is usually just enough to hang your piece.

Step 5: Hang your artwork and make sure it's level

Tighten your screws and then hang your piece. Once it’s up, make sure it’s level. If this whole hanging process seems daunting—or you’re unwilling or unable to make holes in the brick walls of your space—you could give brick clamps a try. Both handy and inexpensive, these hooks grab onto your brick without any tools. Make sure you measure your brick before you buy since they’re available in a range of sizes.

AndreyCherkasov / Shutterstock.com

Brick walls can bring a modern flair to any room and there is just something cool and industrial about them. However, when it comes to any sort of decoration or renovation, brick walls are a major pain to deal with, unlike changing a light fixture, which sounds hard but actually is easy-breezy. Which brings us to the following topic of how to hand pictures on brick walls. The task may sound simple, but believe us, it’s not just hammering a nail to a wall.

For your convenience, we’ve created this easy to follow guide with all the needed steps on how to hand a picture successfully on a brick wall.

How to hang a picture on a brick wall

Every self-respectable DIY-er knows that the key to a successful decoration project is preparation. With that being said, here is what you need to do:

Step 1: Gather the tools for the job

The main tool that is required in order to hand a picture to a brick wall is a drill. Still, there are a few other items you need to get before you begin your decoration project such as:

  • Masonry bit – you need this to drill in the holes.
  • Wall anchors – this is for hanging your chosen pictures.
  • Picture hooks or screws – you don’t have to buy these separately, because they are generally sold with the wall anchors.
  • Screwdriver – you can’t go without a good screwdriver. You’re going to use it to secure the wall anchor.
  • Protective eyewear – nobody likes dust in their eyes, so put on some glasses.
  • A vacuum cleaner – drilling means a lot of brick bits and dust. Prepare your hoover so you can immediately tidy up after you are done with the project.
  • A piece of chalk or a marker – it’s better to mark the area you’re going to drill beforehand. This way you won’t end up with a wall that resembles swiss cheese from all the wrong holes you’ve made.

Step 2: Pick your drilling spot and mark it

Ideally, your drilling spot should be in the mortar in between the bricks. Drilling directly into the brick can cause cracks that are hard and expensive to fix. On top of that, bricks are often hollow on the inside and they may not be able to provide proper support for your picture.

Create a mark with a piece of chalk on the area you want to hang your picture and then proceed with the drilling process.

Step 3: Choose a proper masonry bit

Make sure that your masonry bit is the adequate size for the width of the wall anchors. You can try using a drill bit that is ever so smaller than the actual diameter of the wall anchors. Remember the screwdriver we listed earlier? This is where you get to use it to place the anchors in the drilled hole.

Step 4: Drill the anchor hole

Once you’ve marked the spot for your picture, create a hole with the drill. Make sure to put on your protective eye gear first, so you don’t feel like you are in a sandstorm in the middle of the Sahara desert.

Step 5: Insert the wall anchors and tidy up

Screw in the anchors, adjust your picture on the wall and vacuum all of the dust from the ground. That’s it, you are done!

How to hang pictures on brick walls without drilling

If you don’t feel like drilling and cleaning dust, you can always use pinch hangers. However, this solution isn’t very sturdy and your lovely art piece can end up smashed on the ground.

The only secure way to hang a picture on a brick wall without drilling is to invest in some double-sided industrial tape.

Get a professional to do it for you!

As you can see for yourself, the job of hanging a picture isn’t actually that complicated, but it has its specifics. If you aren’t confident enough that you can do it yourself or just don’t want to risk your perfectly good brick wall getting cracked, why not hire a professional to complete the task for you?

Fantastic Services offers time-saving solutions from the smallest decoration jobs to the most complicated renovation projects. The trained experts we work with, carry all of the required tools to complete the task, so you don’t need to go buy an expensive drill, only to create a single hole. Hurry up and book our service today!

Let's get in touch!

Benefit from a professional picture or mirror hanging!

Takeaways

  • Make sure to buy the right masonry bit for the wall anchors
  • Mark the surface with a marker or chalk before you create the hole
  • Aim for the mortar, otherwise, you’ll have a cracked brick wall
  • Use protective gear so you don’t get dust in your eyes

We hope you found our nifty guide on how to hang pictures on brick walls helpful, and like always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts and experience in the comment section below. Happy decorating!

  • Last update: August 24, 2021

Posted in All Articles, Home Improvement

How do you hang something on a brick wall without drilling?

A: Devices called brick clips or brick hangers allow people to hang pictures, mirrors and other objects on walls without drilling into the brick. Two examples are Brick Clips by a company called Tuopu (10 for $14.99 on Amazon) and OOK Brick Hangers (two for $2.48 at Home Depot).

What is the best way to hang pictures on a brick wall?

Adhesive hooks and mounting tape are the best ways to hang something on a brick wall without drilling. They're very easy to install and removable so they won't damage the brick. But they're also the weakest option. Check the label to see how much weight your hooks or tape can handle and weigh your picture.

What is the easiest way to hang something on brick?

If you need to hang heavy objects or ensure the object is secure on the wall, use screw-in anchor hooks. All you have to do is pre-drill holes into the mortar or brick, then screw in the anchor hook. You can also use anchors that stick to or clamp to the wall, but these are best for light objects only.

Can command strips be used on brick?

Will Command™ Products stick to brick? No. Command™ Products are intended for mostly smooth surfaces such as those listed above. However, our products will stick to painted, smooth cinder block (the type found inside many school and office buildings).