Picture / mirror mounting

A large mirror in the hallway, a gallery of photos above the sofa, a heavy framed painting, or a TV right next to it. Hanging pictures and mirrors sounds trivial, but a mirror weighing well over ten kilos on the wrong plug can come down in the night, and a crooked gallery spoils the whole room.

What the handyman does

• helps settle the height and layout, usually with the centre of the picture at eye level;
• checks the wall and avoids cables and pipes that may run where the drill would go;
• picks fixings to suit the weight and the wall: expansion plugs, plasterboard fixings, hooks or a hanging rail;
• hangs, levels and checks that the picture or mirror holds firmly.

Mirrors and heavy frames

A frameless mirror is mounted on special clips or bonded to the wall with mirror adhesive, which does not damage the silver backing. Ordinary silicone or grab adhesive can leave dark patches on the mirror over time. Heavy framed pictures are better hung from two points or a rail, so they do not tilt every time someone brushes past. In plasterboard, the handyman looks for a stud or uses fixings that open out behind the board.

A photo gallery

With several frames, it is best to lay them out on the floor first or tape paper templates to the wall. The handyman keeps the gaps even and the frames on one line, centre or bottom. If you like, prepare a photo of a layout you like and attach it to the job.

Common questions