Fixing a very heavy picture on a plasterboard wall? Help!

zildjian09

I have just had a massive picture framed - the picture itself was 5 foot by 3 foot, obviously now a bit bigger because of the frame. I'm not sure how much it weighs but it's got glass in it and it's big and heavy and i need to put it on an internal plasterboard wall _pale_

i'm really scared that the wall won't hold it and i'll end up with a smashed picture and half the wall missing. please can someone who knows what they are talking about help me?! firstly, will the wall hold the picture??!!

1) what are the best fixings to use? I was going to use rawlplugs but then i saw on the internet that a self drive plasterboard fitting called redidrive will hold a heavier weight? what spacings do i need between each fixing to give the maximum support?

2) what fixings would i use to use the studs in the wall to hold the picture? can you put rawlplugs/redidrive into a stud or is that for plasterboard only? do you need a certain type of fixing for scewing into studs?

3) is there a company or someone that could put this picture up professionally and know exactly what they are doing? i know someone who fits kitchens and bathrooms so i'm guessing he is used to putting cabinets on plasterboard walls so i was going to ask him to do it but i'm scared he won't have enough experience with something this heavy!

as you can tell, i am very scared and wishing i'd never bothered to have this picture framed! please can someone put my mind at rest and tell me the best way to put it up! i didn't really want to cut bits out of the plasterboard and attached a wooden bracket or anything but if that's the only way to do it then that's fine! sorry to sound thick!

any help would be appreciated!

wallbash

Don't Panic

Think how heavy large kitchen cupboards are when filled with crockery, must be heavier even then your glass /picture.

I would establish where the studs were. Place batten across a number of them , and then fix picture to batten

rrf494g

then you are very lucky, and you can screw directly into it with long(ish) screws (2 cms proud, 1cm board, 4 cms in wood= 7cms screw). Most likely the stud is not in the right place. Maximum safety would suggest fixing a wooden baton across between studs on the face of the wall, but that is not likely to be hidden by the picture, and so would be unsightly.

There are plasterboard fixings (heavyweight - B&Q). I would suggest a square piece of 18mm ply wood (smaller than the frame), which is then fixed to the wall with four or six heavyweight fixings (and screws into the stud if you overlap one). The frame can then be hung by fastening into the ply.

You can do the maths on the weight as the fixings will have a rating shown on the packet.

27col

If you have stud work then I cannot see that it would be a problem. Just make sure that the wood screws you use are long enough to go well into the studs. If it is dot and dab then do as rrf494g suggests. Every extra screw fixing you can use will reduce the point load by a good amount. As wallbash says, think of the weight of a cupboard full of crockery.

knowloads

Butterfly bolts on each corner using picture D hooks (Flat plate with 2 screw holes and a keyhole style hole). will give 4 fixings But try and find the stud work first.

Paul_the_Painter

I've used the Redidrive (or similar) as well as hollow wall anchors to hang mirrors 5 foot by 4 foot with no problems at all.

Wall anchors - better if you are NEVER going to move it (harder/impossible to get out), but you are able to be more precise when installing. (well I find it easier)

Redidrive - quicker, easier to remove - for example if repainting and moving picture.

Both will hold around 30kg PER FIXING, 2 gives you 60kg, and there are safety factors built into those numbers.

Out of interest, on a wall I was taking down, I put in a Redidrive fixing, and attached a cord to it, made a loop that hung around 6 inches off the floor, then stood in the loop. It took my entire 80kg weight, and didn't look like it was about to shift!

zildjian09

thanks for all your replies.

sorry to sound thick, but can you screw the redidrive ones into the studs? if not, what fixings do you recommend for putting into the studs?

I have found this on the internet, you can use it for plasterboard walls too - does it look ok? i was going to buy two as the picture is so big and it should distribute the weight better:

http://www.picturehangers.co.uk/framers-mirror-and-picture-hangers/mirror-picture-hanger-457mm-18.html

Paul_the_Painter

Redidrive or similar can only be used into plasterboard, if you find the stud, you can just use a 2 inch long wood screw.

diable

I had some leaded glass framed and you think a picture is heavy ;o)))) I also wanted them to sit flush to the wall.

What I did was to use some fittings that look like a keyhole (can't remember the proper name for them) fitted to the frame and frame recessed, managed to line them up (luck I suppose) with the studs in the wall and used two screws for each frame. Stayed up for years.

Something similar to this,

zildjian09

ok, so i have bought two of these for my picture:

http://www.picturehangers.co.uk/framers-mirror-and-picture-hangers/mirror-picture-hanger-457mm-18.html

however, i have seen on the internet that someone doesn't recommend using Redidrivas within a few inches of each other because it will weaken the plasterboards - anyone know if this is correct?

as i have bought the above, there will be a number of fixings within a few inches of each other. i was going to try and locate the studs in the wall and use wood screws for this but then shall i use redidrivas or wall anchors or a mixture of both for the rest of the fixings?

i thought i had this all sorted but now i'm confused again! is it ok to use wall anchors and/or redidrivas quite close to each other?

thanks

wallbash

Your purchase ( over the top for a picture) will span a standard stud wall spacing of 16'' or 400mm centre.
Just use a couple of screws into the studs,as I pointed out in posting #2 you can pick up your 'heavy' picture, try picking up a kitchen cupboard. check how small the standard fixings are for them.