How-To Articles

You've probably realized that using a hammer and nails is not a sustainable solution for hanging your pictures inside your home. Not only do nails leave unsightly holes in your walls, they require you to repeatedly patch, sand and paint every-time you want to change your pictures around. Let's look at other alternatives.

Recently we had a homeowner inquire with us as to how to hang an art display on a stone fireplace. This person has a beautiful stone fireplace in his home that he didn't want to mar by putting holes into either the stone or the grout work. We love it when these questions are brought to our attention so we can share our solutions.

Frames are traditionally prepared with a hang wire on the rear. It is typically mounted to the side rails of frames about 1/3 down from the top of the frame. Also, this wire is traditionally longer than it need be. There is slack in it by some inconsistent amount. When hung from a hanging system cable, or rod, this standard frame preparation will frequently cause the top of the frame to hang away from the wall, what we call face forward.

In our series, "How to Optimize Hanging Systems", we've discussed topics including how to hang framed art, managing face forward of frames, when to use two cables for picture frame stabilization, tips for how to prevent art frames from a teeter-totter effect, and eliminating the dizzying visual distraction of unbalanced picture frame tilting.

Have you ever tried to hang a framed piece of art or lovely photo and, while the piece itself is wall-worthy, its presentation is less than appealing? It tilts or leans on the wall. Right or left, it doesn't matter. It distracts from the visual.

Hanging a single piece of framed art is typically straightforward. While there can be certain aspects to consider when hanging solo pieces, as we've mentioned in our first post of this series, the tactical aspects usually arise when attempting to hang multiple pieces in a vertical format on a single cable or rod. One of these is the Teeter-Totter Effect.

Since most of the population is familiar and experienced with hanging a frame from the hang wire on the rear of a frame, it is natural for us to do the same when hanging a framed art piece from a hanging system. However, that experience does not translate to a framed art piece hanging from two cables or rods.

Frames are traditionally prepared with a hang wire on the rear. It is typically mounted to the side rails of frames about 1/3 down from the top of the frame. Also, this wire is traditionally longer than it need be. There is slack in it by some inconsistent amount. When hung from a hanging system cable, or rod, this standard frame preparation will frequently cause the top of the frame to hang away from the wall, what we call face forward.

The mere act of changing art and repositioning a display damages the one most valuable asset most of us possess, our home. The repeated hammering of nails leaves holes that need to be filled, patched and painted. This is inefficient, not sustainable and budget foolish, and sometimes the damage is simply not repairable. Think of Venetian Plaster, as just one example. Yet, this repeatedly destructive process need not continue.