The quick version
I hang frames, canvases, gallery walls and large mirrors level and spaced the way you want. Many San Gabriel homes have plaster walls, so I drill carefully and use hooks and anchors made for plaster, and I lay out gallery walls on paper first.
What I need in your text
- The wall, with furniture under it
- Each piece and its rough size
- The back of each frame
- Your layout idea, even a sketch
- The wall: plaster, drywall or brick
What I hang
- Gallery walls, laid out first
- Art hung from picture rails with hooks and cords
- Heavy frames on studs or cleats
- Mirrors and large canvases
- Picture ledges
- Quake-safe hooks and putty
Picture rails and plaster
With 52.3 percent of homes over 60 years old, many San Gabriel living rooms still have picture rail molding near the ceiling. Hanging from the rail avoids new holes in old plaster.
Where I do drill, I pre-drill and use anchors made for plaster.
Steps
Plan
Templates on the wall.
Choose hardware
Rail hooks, plaster anchors or studs.
Hang
Level and spaced.
Secure
Bumpers and putty.
Framing
Custom frames come from a frame shop.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about mirror and medicine cabinet installation, TV wall mounting, shelf installation or blinds and curtain rod installation.
What to send
Photos of the wall and pieces with rough sizes.
Hanging questions
Can you hang art on plaster without cracking it?
Yes, by pre-drilling and using plaster anchors.
Can you use my picture rail?
Yes, with rail hooks and cord or wire.
Can you hang a heavy mirror?
Yes, on studs or a cleat.
What does picture hanging run?
It depends on the number of pieces. Send photos for a free estimate.
How do you hang pictures on plaster walls?
Plaster cracks if you hammer nails into it. I drill a pilot hole first and use a plaster-rated hook or anchor, or a screw into the lath.
Can I hang pictures without nails?
Light ones, yes. Light frames hold on adhesive strips on smooth, clean paint. Heavy frames, glass and anything over a bed should go on real hardware.
Where this job leads
- Shelf installationShelves for the same room.
- Mirror and medicine cabinet installationHeavy mirrors in the bath.
- TV wall mountingMount the TV with the art.
- Plaster crack repairFix cracks before hanging.
Worth a read: what our picture rail and gallery walls guide says about art and picture hanging.
Guides
- Hanging art the old way and the new wayHow to use original picture rail molding in an older San Gabriel home, and how we hang gallery walls on plaster without cracking it.
- Hanging curtain rods, blinds and shelves in thick wallsHow to hang curtain rods, blinds and shelves in the thick plaster walls and deep window reveals of San Gabriel's Mission Revival and adobe-style homes.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our mounting, hanging and assembly group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.