Method for Hanging in Brick

Steven6095

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
Posts
1,352
Loc
Nicholasville, KY
Hi. I can not beleive I have never run into this before.

What would be the best way to hang a picture (30in by 30in) to a brick wall?
Preferbly with wallbuddies.

Anchors with washers to hook the wallbuddies to?

Thanks
Steven
 
Generally you hang art on brick walls in the mortar joints rather than into the brick or block.

You can use a masonery bit and install lead anchors and bolts and hook the WB's to the heads of the bolts. You can also use masonery anchors which are made by Elco (UMS may carry these, I think.) and drive them into the masonery joint. They are designed for wire hanging but you may be able to modify them for WB's by bending the hanging clip outwards. I think that UMS sells "brick clips" but I am not familiar with these and whether or not they will serve your purpose.

I would also suggest checking at your local friendly Lowes or Home Depot hardware dept. and see what they carry.

Framerguy
 
May I add my two cents worth?
I was advised by a gentleman at Home Depot that one drills in to the brick itself, not the joint, as the hole will weaken the mortar joint.
Was I advised incorrectly?
Thanks!
Julia
 
I've used United's brick clips with success, although they did scare me. I hung a 48" wide Royo on my fireplace at home for 6 months before trusting them enough to sell one to a customer. Customer's eyes do light up when I show them though - a total pain to an easy solution in 1 easy step.

I came across these and they seem too good to be true... http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?prod_id=908830&cm_ven=1hd.com2msn&cm_cat=shopping&cm_pla=prod&cm_ite=prod

Anyone have experience with those?
 
Originally posted by Julia:
May I add my two cents worth?
I was advised by a gentleman at Home Depot that one drills in to the brick itself, not the joint, as the hole will weaken the mortar joint.
Was I advised incorrectly?
Thanks!
Julia
Julia,

I don't believe that advice is quite accurate. Bricks are "buttered" with mortar over the entire surface whereas block are mortared on their edges because of their hollow construction. I have used lead anchors on a few brick hangings and, if you use a good mortar bit, it should drill a straight hole large enough to accept the lead anchor without wallowing out the hole and allow the anchor to pull out. And it shouldn't affect the overall joint strength at all, at least in a brick wall. Actually, I can't imagine it weakening a block joint either as there is alot of mortar still in that long joint to secure the block. You are only drilling a half inch hole in a joint that is structurally sound along the entire length of the brick or block.

FGII
 
Originally posted by johnny:
I've used United's brick clips with success, although they did scare me. I hung a 48" wide Royo on my fireplace at home for 6 months before trusting them enough to sell one to a customer. Customer's eyes do light up when I show them though - a total pain to an easy solution in 1 easy step.

I came across these and they seem too good to be true... http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?prod_id=908830&cm_ven=1hd.com2msn&cm_cat=shopping&cm_pla=prod&cm_ite=prod

Anyone have experience with those?
johnny,

Those look alot like the brick anchors I described in an earlier post. The only difference is the anchor I used and still carry in my shop has an orange plastic "shock absorber" mounted between the nail head and the hanger that is supposed to allow the nail to penetrate the mortar joint without chipping it out. Personally, I have no first hand knowledge of these working any better or worse than other methods of hanging on brick.

FGII
 
I worked in construction for many years before framing and used a great product that I continue to use now for just this application.

Use a product called Tap Con. It is a hardened screw designed to drill into the mortar after drilling a hole of the correct diameter. Usually the drill bit and the screws can be purchased in the same package. The WORST thing you could do is drill in the brick. Mortar is repairable with more mortar. Brick is not as easily filled.

By the way, did you know that last year there were 100,000 ¼” drill bits sold in the U.S. but not a single person wanted a ¼” drill bit?


They wanted a ¼” hole. ;)

Just a thought.
 
Hey FramerGuy I do appreciate your help and it has helped me
My comment was more of a "good grief" kinda thing about nothing can be easy sometimes
Thats all! I value your experience!
 
I drill the mortar and use plastic anchors with wafer head (sometimes called lath or truss) screws. No washers needed. For wired frames I sometimes screw through 50lb hooks, the hooks bridge the mortar joint and it's easier to get the wire onto them. For hanging a picture I don't recommend drilling the brick, too hard to repair later if they decide not to hang a piece there anymore. For heavier items it may be better to drill into the brick as the brick is typically much harder than the mortar and is better able to hold an anchor.

Julia; I think your friend at HD is full of ****. The only time that drilling the mortar would be a problem that I can think of is on the exterior of a building where water could get in. Especially in climates that have a freeze/thaw cycle.Then eventually the mortar could crumble around the anchor....maybe.

Kevin; I've used the TapCon's in concrete with good results but I've never tried them in mortar. I always figured the mortar would be too soft to hold the screw. Will have to give that a try.
 
When a customer asks me how to hang a picture frame on their brick wall, I give them TWO cement nails... one withe the head i grounded off. I tell them to use the headless nail to drill the hole at aboout a 45 egree angle into the morter, then drive the cement nail with the head into the wall. This will hold well over a hundred pounds, the hole is very small and the nail CAN be removed without any problem.
 
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