How to Hang a Large Painting on a Wall
A large painting is often the main point of focus in a room, so it needs to be placed just right, especially if there are pieces of furniture nearby. Fortunately, paintings on canvas are comparatively lightweight, but a painting done on plywood or Masonite can weigh a lot more than a canvas painting. Works on paper are usually framed behind a piece of glass and on occasion one of these may weigh a lot and also take up a lot of wall space. Placing a painting is an important decision, but once completed here's how to hang a heavy painting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Magnetic stud finder
- Electric drill
- Drill bits
- Tape measure
- 1-by-4 piece of fir or pine
- Crosscut saw
- Round-head wood screws (2 1/2 inches long, 8 gauge)
- Electric screw gun
- One threaded hook with an almost closed curve (with a 1-inch long thread)
Instructions
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Hanging the Picture
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1
Lift the painting by the wire that is attached to the back of the artwork to get an idea of how heavy the painting is. Also make sure the wire does not stretch beyond the height of the painting and that the wire is properly installed to remain taut and hold the weight of the painting.
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2
Measure the length of the wall, where the painting will be hung to find the center point. Mark this center point on a wall with a pencil at your eye level.
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3
Locate the two studs that are nearest the center point. This is done by using the stud finder to locate the vertical support, then checking the results by driving a 16-penny nail into the wall with a hammer. It is possible, but unlikely, that a stud will be located right behind the center point.
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4
Determine the height that you wish to hang your painting. To do this you need to measure the available space (this might be from the top of your sofa to the ceiling) as well as the height of the painting. Then subtract the height of the painting from the available wall space. Divide this number in two and now you have the distance between the top of the painting and the ceiling.
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5
Lift the painting by the wire to determine the distance between the taut wire and the top of the painting. Add this numerical value to the distance that you calculated in step 4 to arrive at the distance from the wire to the ceiling. This is the elevation where you will attach the wire from the painting to the wall. Mark this distance on each one of the two central studs with a pencil.
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6
Measure the distance between the two studs and add 4 inches to the measurement. This is the length of the 1-by-4 that will support your painting.
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7
Cut the 1-by-4 to the calculated length using a crosscut saw.
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8
Attach the 1-by-4 to the two studs with 2-inch round head screws. Do this so the middle of the board falls exactly at the height where the taut wire will hang as calculated in step 5. First drill a pilot hole with an electric drill and then insert each wood screw with the electric screw gun. Use three screws for each side of the board.
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9
Using the center point of the room and the distance from the ceiling for the point of attachment, drill a pilot hole for the threaded hook that will support the picture.
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10
Insert the hook into the pilot hole and hang the painting.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure all pilot holes are slightly smaller than the shank of the screw that is to be installed.
Stretched wire is the preferred method for hanging most artwork.
A painting does not have to be placed dead center ( lengthwise or heightwise) in the room. The location can be adjusted to suit the eye.
Make sure the mounting equipment on the painting is correctly installed and that it can safely support the weight of the painting.
Long and narrow paintings need to be double checked to insure that the hanging wire is installed correctly.
Metal brackets located at the top of a painting should be replaced by wire that is stretched tight across the back of the painting between two hooks.
