How to Hang Art on a Brick Wall
Hanging art on a brick wall usually requires drilling into the brick and securing hangers every time you want to hang an individual piece of art. One way to get around having to drill all those holes is to hang picture rail. Picture rail is a wood molding mounted horizontally to the wall. Once the picture rail is mounted, simply suspend your artwork from the rail using wires or decorative cords. With a picture rail, you can easily change pictures around, raise and lower the heights of your artwork and make minor adjustments in positioning your pictures without having to drill another hole. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Picture rail
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Electric drill and bit
- Countersink
- Ladder
- Level
- Masonry drill bit
- Safety glasses
- Dust mask
- Masonry anchors
- Hammer
- Screw driver
- Wood putty
- Picture rail hooks
Instructions
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1
Layout the picture rail and drill holes every three feet. Make sure none of the holes drilled into the molding will rest over a mortar joint between two bricks. Countersink the drilled holes. A countersink bit drills a funnel-like shape so when the screw is twisted into the wall the head of the screw will rest below the surface of the picture rail.
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2
Measure down from the ceiling anywhere from 12 to 20 inches and mark the wall. For standard height ceilings, measure down 12 inches. For rooms with high ceilings, as in Victorian homes, measure down 16 to 20 inches.
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3
Set the first length of picture rail at the mark on the wall. Put a level on the top edge of the rail and level it. Use a pencil to mark the drilled holes in the molding on the face of the brick wall.
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4
Drill into the brick wall at every pencil mark. Lock a masonry drill bit into an electric drill. A masonry drill bit has special abrasives glued to the tip of a steel shank and this bit will grind into the brick to make the hole. Put on safety glasses and dust mask. Set the point of the drill bit in the center of the pencil mark and start drilling. Drill to the depth of the masonry anchor.
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Tap a masonry anchor into the each drilled hole with a hammer until the anchor is flush with the wall.
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Hold the picture rail up against the wall. Center the drilled holes in the picture rail over each masonry anchor and insert a screw through the hole in the molding and into the masonry anchor. Twist the screw in until its head rests below the surface of the picture rail. Putty over the screw heads with wood putty.
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7
Repeat all steps for each additional length of picture rail.
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8
Hook picture rail hooks over the top edge of the picture or rail molding. Add picture hanging wire or cord to length to the back of the each picture and hook the wire or cord over the picture rail hook.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase picture rail molding kits that come with inside and outside corners already mitered so you don't have to make those cuts.
Finish the picture rail molding before it's mounted by painting, staining or varnishing.
You can purchase wood drill bits that are a standard drill bit and countersink bit all in one.
Take all standard precautions when working on a ladder.
