So my wife and I are looking to hang some pictures in our new apartment. Our landlord charges us to patch nail holes, so we’re looking to avoid putting any nails in the walls.
Most of our pictures are under eight pounds, so we use the Universal Picture Hanger. For bigger pictures, they have these strips you stick to the picture and the wall. I don’t like those because they require you to take the hanging hardware off the frame for them to work right.
When I would hang heavy pictures with nails and hooks, I’d use two for added support. My questions, for those who understand the physics of these things: If I used two adhesive hooks each rated to hold 8 pounds, could I hang a picture of 14-16 pounds? How much additional support does that second hook provide? Thanks!
I’ve just never had much luck with the Command products for heavier pictures and hangings. They seem to be fine for weights up to 4 pounds, but mine tend to crash and burn if I go much larger. You may have more success.
I don’t want to be insulting, but I’m going to mention that the best way to hang heavier pictures is to use a double length of picture wire. (Run the wire between the hooks and then back to make a complete loop of two strands, then twist them together. I actually solder my wire to make sure it doesn’t slip.) When you hang the picture, use one strand of the wire for one hook and the other strand for the other hook. This distributes the weight more evenly and allows you to adjust the picture and have it stay where you put it. It also changes the way the wire pulls on the two hooks/Command unit. Using a single wire causes the hooks to be pulled to the side, while using two wires brings the pressure more downwards. The difference is small, but noticeable.
Do it the authentic way like they hung pictures up until the 1900s – put the hooks in the ceiling molding, and run the wire down to the picture.
But this leaves the wire exposed above the picture, which we now find unstylish. So replace the wire with cord or nylon ribbon, which comes in lots of colors to match the wall color.
since the force is downward pressure … why not just add another ‘unused-hook’ directly below it? position one hook firmly against the wall … position another hook above (butted up) to the lower hook … use the upper hook to hang the object? then again … since the device is exerting a slight outward force of undetermined amount … i could imagine, eventually, the hook will start pulling away from the wall … so, pls ignore this reply.
My trouble with command hooks is this: You are essentially hanging the weight from the paint. That is, the amount of weight the hook can support is limited be the adhesive strength of the paint to the drywall. And then again, the next point of failure is the drywall paper to the chalk within. I have never found any reference to tell me what the downward weight-bearing capacity of those two elements might be.
So I don’t trust command hooks with any but the lightest frames.
I’ve also had the experience of command hooks pulling off my paint and part of the drywall. I would definitely never use those again.
I’d go ahead and use nails. If you don’t want to pay the landlord’s charge, it’s not that difficult to fix the nail holes on your own when you move out.
I would only them for 1-2 lbs and under, and before attaching really clean off the area where the sticky goes. They will only hold as good as the paint holds underneith, if its a bad paint job over a greasy or dirty surface…they wont hold long.
I rented a home with picture rails and it’s a very ingenious system. You can easily hang pictures or heavy mirrors securely and with absolutely no nails or damage.
There’s even light weight shelving designed to hang from picture rail.