The Basics About Installing Picture Frame Hardware

If you’ve ever tried to install your own picture frame hardware, then you know it can be challenging. Luckily, most quality wall picture frames come with frame hardware installed, but if you happen to get a frame without hanging hardware this article will explain want you need to do.

The very important first step to installing your picture frame hardware is to be sure you have selected the right type and size hardware for your frame. There are two types of picture frame hardware that are most commonly used – saw tooth hangers and eye hooks.

Saw Tooth Hanger Hardware
Saw tooth hangers are best used for picture frames smaller than 11×14. The name “saw tooth” is exactly how the hardware looks – a jagged, saw blade rectangular shaped hanger that is installed at the top center point of your frame. The saw tooth helps with the alignment to keep the picture frame even on the wall. Before you install the saw tooth hanger, always know which direction you plan to hang it so the hanger will be in the right place. If you can’t “eye” the center of the frame, use a tape measure. Place a dot at the center point of the frame and center the saw tooth hanger over the dot. If you want to be sure the hanger is even on the frame, it’s best to use a level. Once the saw tooth hanger is centered and level, hammer in the two nails on each side of the hanger securely and you’re ready to hang.

Eye Hook Hardware
Eyes hooks are screwed into the wood molding of the frame. They work especially well for heavy or large picture frames. Eye hooks take a little more work to install than saw tooth hangers, but once you know how to install them, you will feel more confident in adding them yourself.

Eye hooks are placed on each side of the frame about one-third of the way down from the top of the picture frame. With a tape measure, measure the back of the frame between the top of the frame to where you want to install the first eye hook. Make a mark on the frame back where you want the eye hook screw to go. Then, use that same measurement for placement of the second eye hook. Accurately measuring for the screw placement will ensure that your picture frame hangs level.

Once screw placement has been determined, drill two very small holes to help with the installation of the screws. When the eye hooks are screwed into the frame, cut a length of wire that’s longer than the width of the frame so you can attach it to the eye hooks. Put one end of the wire through the eye hook until you have a piece of wire long enough to wrap several times around the long piece of the wire. Thread the other end of the wire through the other eye hook. Before securing the wire keep a hold of the unsecured piece of wire and hold the middle of the wire forming a triangular shape. While keeping the triangular shape in the wire to allow enough wire for hanging, wrap the short end of the wire around the long wire several times and secure it in place. The wire should be able to create a triangular shape that is snug and doesn’t extend beyond the back of the frame where it can be seen. Now you can cut off the excess wire and make sure that each end is wrapped securely.

Now you are ready to hang your wall frame. Pick the wall space where you want it to hang and have someone hold the picture so you can see if it looks good on the wall. If you have multiple wall picture frames, it is a good idea to position them on the floor and determine how they should be displayed before you hammer nails in your wall. When arranging your frames on the floor, use a string to represent the wall area so you can determine the proper spacing of your picture frames.

Be sure when installing your wall picture frame that the nail goes into a wall stud. The spacing of wall studs is 16 inches in most homes. If you are unsure or can’t find a stud, you can use a “stud finder” available at any hardware store, or use wall anchors for added support in sheetrock. Hanging a frame on a cement, brick or concrete wall is different than on a sheetrock wall. For any type of cement, brick or concrete wall, pre-drill the holes with a mason bit and use screws with wall anchors. Be sure the screw is properly secured so the frame does not fall off the wall and get damaged.

It may take some extra effort to install your frame hardware and hang your picture, but once you see your picture frame displayed on the wall, you’ll be happy with the result and glad you took the extra time to do it.

Tags: hanging frames, hanging picture frame, hanging picture frames, wall frame, wall frames, wall picture frame, wall picture frames