Instructions: –
You’ll need yellow wall plugs, a drill with 5mm masonry bit and a dustpan & brush Set the drill to the hammer setting. Apply firm and steady pressure to your drill, making sure you’re at right angles to the wall’s surface Once the holes are drilled, insert the wall plugs. They may need a light tap with a hammer until they’re flush with the wall’s surface Screw in the cup hook until tight Hook over the light string and secure with a cable tie as required
Contents
- 1 How do you hang lights on a brick wall without drilling?
- 2 Do Command Strips work on brick?
- 3 What do you use to hang Christmas decorations on brick?
- 4 What is the best way to hang something on brick?
- 5 Can you screw into brick without a plug?
- 6 Can you hot glue lights to brick?
- 7 What is the best way to hang something on brick?
How do you attach string lights to brick?
Hang string lights in minutes! – Don’t be surprised if it takes you longer to unpack or untangle your lights than to hang them! Getting the lights securely hung with DécoBrick is fast and easy. First, install a number of DécoBrick hangers along the row of bricks at the height where the lights will hang.
How do you hang lights on a brick wall without drilling?
Two ways to hang art on a brick wall without drilling holes Q: A couple of years ago, I had the drywall removed in a few rooms in my home to expose the brick walls behind it. I live in a late-19th-century rowhouse on Capitol Hill, and I absolutely love the new look.
- I have a pretty extensive art collection, however, and I like to move the pieces around from time to time.
- Now most of the pieces are just sitting around on the floor.
- Is there a way to re-hang these pieces without drilling holes into the brick? A: Devices called brick clips or brick hangers allow people to hang pictures, mirrors and other objects on walls without drilling into the brick.
Two examples are Brick Clips by a company called Tuopu (10 for $14.99 on ) and OOK Brick Hangers (two for $2.48 at ). Hardware stores and home centers carry similar products with different names, especially in the lead-up to winter because the clips are often used to support strings of holiday lights.
- The clips are designed to grip bricks where they project beyond the mortar.
- Designs vary, but there is always a saw-toothed edge at the top and two metal tabs at the top or bottom that spring into place against the lip of an adjoining brick.
- The clips are rated to support different weights up to 30 pounds, but if you need to hang something heavier, you can use two or more hangers.
A bigger issue is making sure the fasteners will work with the bricks in your wall. The fasteners are all labeled for the suitable brick height, because the saw-toothed and spring-fit grips won’t work if the bricks are too tall or short. And that’s not the only issue.
The bricks must have relatively square edges, and the mortar between bricks must be far enough back from the face of the brick. The Tuopu fasteners require a setback of one-eigth of an inch, according to the listing on Amazon. The OOK fasteners need at least a quarter of an inch, and preferably a bit more, said Al Marchetti, product manager for OOK, a brand owned by the Hillman Group.
The picture you sent shows numerous bricks with chipped edges and with mortar joints that appear to be close to the face of the bricks. So these fasteners might not grip your wall well, especially if you want to hang pictures in precise locations. They might work if you’re willing to hang pictures only where you can find bricks with intact edges on the top and bottom.
When a brick wall isn’t suitable for clip-on hangers, another option is OOK’s Plastic Hardwall Hangers (three for $2.39 at,) Each hook has three thin nails pre-started into the back, ready for you to tap into brick with a hammer. You’d have to test whether your bricks are soft enough to hammer into, but there’s a good chance they are.
Bricks used for walls are usually softer than the super-hard bricks suitable for outdoor paving, because those need to be fired at higher temperatures to make them less porous and therefore more frost-resistant. The nails used for the Hardwall Hangers are less than one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, Marchetti said, so they don’t crack bricks and they don’t leave noticeable holes if you later decide to pry off a hook.
- There is another alternative you may want to consider, especially because you want to change your artwork periodically: Install picture rail, a type of molding, usually around two inches deep, that runs horizontally across the wall.
- The top edge sticks out from the wall, creating a crevice where you can slip in a special clip that has a hook on the front to hold the wire on the back of a painting or mirror.
Before easy-to-patch drywall replaced lath-and-plaster as the standard wall finish, picture rail was a common part of the trim in living rooms and dining rooms because it allowed people to hang pictures wherever they wanted without having to hammer into the plaster, which could cause cracks.
- Traditional picture rail is wooden and often installed 12 to 20 inches below the ceiling.
- Especially in a room with a low ceiling, it can also go nearly against the ceiling or at the lower edge of crown molding.
- In Craftsman-style interiors, it usually runs at the same height as the upper edge of door and window trim, creating a unified look.
Today, there are also picture rails made of metal, which look especially good in interiors with modern styling. The website carries different styles of molding and picture hangers that work with them. Picture rail would need to be installed securely, which means fastening it to the bricks with nails or screws.
How do you attach outdoor Christmas lights to brick?
Brick without using nails – What to use: If you don’t fancy drilling and hammering into the mortar on the front of your house, the easiest way to hang Christmas lights is to use a glue gun, Hot glue is weatherproof, quick to apply and easy to remove come January.
How do you hang outdoor decorations on brick?
Download Article Download Article You might find it scary or even impossible to hang something on a brick wall, but it can be done. If you need to hang heavy objects or ensure the object is secure on the wall, use screw-in anchor hooks. All you have to do is pre-drill holes into the mortar or brick, then screw in the anchor hook.
- 1 Purchase anchors rated for the weight you want to hang. Set the object on a scale and record its weight. Purchase anchors that are rated for things at least this weight, and preferably above.
- For instance, if you are hanging a framed picture that weighs 7 pounds (3,200 g), then purchase anchors that are approved for 10 pounds (4,500 g).
- You can find anchors suitable for brick at any hardware store.
- If you are hanging a large or heavy item, you can try using multiple anchors. For instance, you can try hanging a 10 pounds (4,500 g) framed picture using 2 anchors rated for at least 5 pounds (2,300 g).
- 2 Get a drill and set of masonry bits that match your screw size. Look for these at a hardware store if you don’t already have them. Use a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the width of the screws you are using, to ensure a snug fit.
- For instance, if you are using anchors with screws that are 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) wide, then use a drill bit that is only 3 ⁄ 16 inch (0.48 cm) wide.
- Packages of anchors will list the width of the screws.
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- 3 Choose whether to drill into brick or mortar. If possible, choose the mortar between the bricks, since it is softer than brick and easier to drill into. You can drill directly into the bricks themselves, it will just take a little more time and effort.
- It is also preferable to drill into mortar since bricks are often hollow and will not create as secure of a support.
- 4 Mark where you will drill holes. Use a marker or pencil to plot out each hole you need to drill. Make sure that the holes are at least several times the width of a screw apart from each other. If you drill holes that are too close together, the mortar or brick can become weakened and crack.
- If you are hanging a fairly light object, just plan to have one anchor in the middle.
- You can place one anchor on each side of a larger object to provide more support. Measure the height of each screw location before drilling the holes. Place a level on the line between the 2 marks to make sure that they are even.
- 5 Drive the drill bit into each mark. Keep the drill bit at a right angle to the wall, and work slowly. Remember to use a bit that is narrower than the screw you want to use.
- Drill slightly deeper than your screws/anchors are long. For instance, if your screws are 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) long, drill about 0.8 inches (2.0 cm) deep.
- Reverse the drill bit when you’re done to get the debris out of the hole. You can also insert a pipe cleaner into the hole and use it to pull the dust out.
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- 1 Insert a screw into the anchor’s plate. Your anchor should be a hook on a plate with a hole in it. Use a screwdriver attachment on your drill. Drive the screw through the hole in the plate, and into the hole you predrilled into the wall.
- Some anchors also include a washer to put between the screw and the anchor plate.
- 2 Screw in hooks, alternatively. Other anchors are basically screws with hooks at the end. In this case, just turn the hook’s screw into the hole you predrilled in the wall.
- 3 Tighten everything by hand. If you used anchors with plates, take a screwdriver and give each screw a few turns by hand just to double check it’s secure. The screw should not jiggle. If you used screw-in hook anchors, make sure that the hook on each is facing upright and is tightly attached to the wall.
- 4 Hang the item on the brick wall. If you are hanging something like a framed picture, it may have a wire that you can catch on the anchor hooks. Other objects will have a hole, hanger, eyelet, or something else that you can fit the end of the anchor hook into.
- If your object has nothing to help it hang on a hook, take a trip to the hardware store. You should be able to find a variety of hangers you can attach to your object.
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- 1 Use “pinch” hangers. This variety of hanger is sized to fit just over the height of an average brick. The back of these anchors have clamps you can set on the top and bottom of a brick on the narrow space where it sticks out past the mortar. Squeeze the clamps, and the anchor will stay on the brick.
- Since these anchors aren’t fastened securely into the brick or mortar, however, they’re not meant to hold heavy items.
- 2 Stick adhesive hooks to brick. Remove the backing from the hanger to reveal its sticky surface. Push this firmly onto the brick to fasten it in place.
- Use adhesive hooks that are labeled “heavy duty” to ensure they stick well to the brick.
- Don’t hang anything on these hooks that is heavier than they are rated for.
- 3 Apply pieces of double-sided tape to the wall. Use industrial strength double-sided tape to ensure it can stick well to brick. Remove the backing from 1 side and press the sticky surface firmly to the brick. Take off the backing from the other side and press the object you want to hang on top.
- Even industrial strength double-sided tape is best only for light objects, like pictures in cardboard frames.
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Add New Question
- Question Is it better to drill brick or mortar? Peter Salerno is the owner of Hook it Up Installation, a professional installation company, which has been hanging art and other objects around Chicago, Illinois for over 10 years. Peter also has over 20 years of experience installing art and other mountable objects in residential, commercial, healthcare and hospitality contexts. Installation Expert Expert Answer I always drill into the mortar as close as possible to where the hanging piece needs to go. You can always fill in mortar if you make a mistake, but once you have a hole in your brick, it’s always going to be there.
- Question What size anchor fits a #10 3″ masonry screw to hang shutters? Thatoneperson101 Community Answer #20 2″.
- Question I have a really smooth brick wall with nowhere to hang anchors and cannot use sticky stuff, I cannot drill into it, so what should I do? You can try to use some types of temporary wall putty or poster tack that isn’t sticky and comes off with ease.3M and similar companies also make wall hangers that have strong adhesive backs but remove easily and supposedly leave no marks (but read the manufacturer’s label first).
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement Article Summary X To hang something on brick, you’ll need to get an anchor rated for the weight of the object.
For instance, to hang a picture frame that weighs 7 lbs (3.2 kg), get an anchor rated for weights of up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg). Fit a drill with a masonry bit that is very slightly smaller in diameter than the screw or anchor. If possible, drill into the mortar between the bricks. Mark the spot where you want to drill with a pencil.
For larger objects, you may need to drill multiple holes. Hold the drill at a right angle to the wall and drive it in slowly. Make your hole slightly deeper than the length of the screw or anchor. Reverse the direction of the drill bit to clear debris from the hole as you pull it out.
Do Command Strips work on brick?
Will Command™ Products stick to brick? No. Command™ Products are intended for mostly smooth surfaces such as those listed above. However, our products will stick to painted, smooth cinder block (the type found inside many school and office buildings).
Does double-sided tape work on brick?
Gorilla® Double-Sided Tape is made with a strong adhesive that is thick on both sides for a heavy duty bond. This tape is great for securing items indoors and out. Gorilla® Double-Sided Tape sticks to smooth and rough surfaces including carpet, rugs, flooring, wood, stone, brick, metal, vinyl, plastic, paper, and more.
What do you use to hang Christmas decorations on brick?
Download Article Download Article Garlands come in a variety of different styles and make excellent Christmas decorations. If you want to hang garland on a brick wall, there are several methods that you can use. If you have evenly-spaced bricks and don’t want to damage your wall, hang brick clips on raised bricks to attach your garland.
- 1 Purchase some adhesive hooks that are designed for bricks. Adhesive hooks, or command strips, are plastic strips with hooks on them that have a strong adhesive on the back. Most adhesive hooks are designed to hold less than 20 pounds (9.1 kg), so make sure that you get some heavy-duty clips if you’re hanging a heavy or large garland.
- Adhesive hooks are the best option if you don’t want to drill into brick but you can’t find brick clips that match your brick pattern.
- Purchase some adhesive hooks from your local hardware or big box store. They can also be purchased online.
Tip: Some adhesive hooks are not designed to be removed. Purchase permanent hooks if you plan on leaving a garland up for a longer period of time.
- 2 Mark the locations that you want to hang your hooks with a pencil. Place at least 1 hook for every 2–6 feet (0.61–1.83 m) of garland. Use a measuring tape to space out each hook equally if you’re going for a symmetrical look by measuring the same distance between each of your hooks.
- Different adhesive hooks have different weight thresholds, usually between 2–30 pounds (0.91–13.61 kg) each. The higher the weight threshold for a set of hooks is, the further apart you can place them.
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- 3 Peel the adhesive off the back of the strip and position it on your brick. For each location that you’ve marked off, peel off the cover for the adhesive tape on the back of each hook with your fingernail. Hold the hook up against the brick to position it and slowly lower it against the wall.
- The cover for the tape should come off relatively easily, but if it doesn’t, use a small knife to peel the corner open.
- If you misplaced the hook but you haven’t pressed down yet, you may be able to reposition it.
- 4 Apply pressure to the front of a strip to set it in place. Once you’ve positioned a hook, place both hands on the opposite ends of the hook so that one is on the top of the hook and one is on the bottom. Apply equal, firm pressure into the hook for 5-10 seconds to adhere it to the brick.
- 5 Thread the garland over the hooks to hang it up. Run the garland’s center branch or twine over each of the adhesive hooks. Start in the middle so that you can adjust each side to make it even. If you ever need to remove or adjust any of the hooks, you can either pull on the tab in the bottom of the hook, or use a dull knife to pry it off from the bottom.
- Some hooks come with small strips that stick out of the bottom to remove them. Pull this strip directly down to remove a hook.
- If there isn’t a removal strip attached to the hook, use a flat, dull kitchen or putty knife to get leverage under the hook. Pry it up 1-2 millimeters and then remove the hook by pulling it off.
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- 1 Check your brick wall to make sure that the mortar is recessed. If the bricks on your wall stick out at least 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm) past the mortar, you can hang clips around the bricks to hang your garland. Brick clips hook around the edges at the top and bottom of a brick and rely on the brick’s weight to keep the clip in place.
- Brick clips are an excellent option if you don’t want to drill into the mortar or put any adhesive material directly on to your brick.
- Brick clips will only allow you to hang a garland horizontally if your bricks are in even rows.
- 2 Purchase a set of clips based on the size of your bricks. Measure the height of a brick on the wall where you plan on installing or hanging the garland. You can purchase brick clips from a local hardware store or online retailer. They come in different sizes, so read the label on a package carefully to ensure that the clips are designed for bricks that are the same size as the bricks in your wall. Tip: Brick clips can usually be adjusted to fit a range of 0.2 inches (0.51 cm) in either direction, so if your brick’s height is 3 inches (7.6 cm), you can likely use brick clips designed for bricks that are 2.8–3.2 inches (7.1–8.1 cm).
- 3 Position the top of the clip flush against the top of the brick. Hold the brick clip slightly above the brick you’re attaching it to and slide it down so that the top of the clip is on top of the brick. Once the top of the clip is hanging on the top of a brick, slide the bottom under the bottom of the brick.
- It’s easy to reposition a brick clip if you don’t like how it’s placed. Pop it off of a brick by pulling the bottom down while pulling it off.
- Use a stable ladder to reach bricks that are high off of the ground.
- 4 Place 1 clip for every 2–6 feet (0.61–1.83 m) of garland. You can arrange your hooks however you’d like. If you’re hanging the garland around a door or fireplace, place 2 symmetrical hooks above fixture or door. If you’re hanging the garland horizontally, place all your clips along the same row of bricks.
- For example, if you use 3 brick clips, you will have 3 distinct dips in the garland on the wall where you’re installing it. The more clips you add, the less distinct the dips will be.
- 5 Thread the garland’s twine or branch over the hooks to hang it up. Start with the centermost hook and run the garland through the hook on the brick clip. While it is hanging on the centermost hook, adjust the length hanging off of each side by carefully pulling on an end to make the garland center.
- If the hooks on the brick clips are too big for the twine of your garland, leave 2–4 feet (0.61–1.22 m) of garland hanging off of each clip on both ends. The weight from the garland will keep the rest of the twine or branch in place.
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- 1 Mark off each screw location in the mortar of your brick wall with a pencil. If you want your hooks or screws to be symmetrical, use a measuring tape to place your marks in equidistant intervals. If you plan on using hooks to hang your garland, keep each screw location on the same horizontal plane by using a level to ensure that each gap is even and flat.
- You can use any kind of pencil to mark the location of each screw.
- 2 Purchase some wall anchors and hooks or screws. You can purchase hooks, anchors, and screws at a local hardware store or online. Choose hooks or screws that will fit between your bricks without touching them. In most cases, a screw with a 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) head will be perfect. Screws and hooks should fit at least 1 1 ⁄ 2 inches (3.8 cm) into the mortar.
- Check a package of wall anchors to ensure that it will fit the threading of your screw. Most wall anchors will fit several types of screw though.
- If your garland is under 3 pounds (1.4 kg), you don’t need to use wall anchors. Unless your garland weighs more than 30 pounds (14 kg), any plastic wall anchor that fits your screw will work.
- Hooks are better for garlands with thicker leaves or tinsel.
- 3 Place a drop cloth on the ground or over furniture to catch dust. Before you drill into your brick wall, set out a drop cloth along the wall where you plan on drilling. If there is any furniture along the wall, you can either move it out of the way, or cover it. Drilling into mortar will send dust flying all over the place, and cleaning it up can be a pain if you don’t have a drop cloth. Warning: Do not drill directly into your brick. You could risk splitting the brick, and mortar is easier to fill in if you ever want to repair your holes. Always wear protective eyewear, a dust mask, and gloves when drilling into mortar. The dust can be a lung and eye irritant.
- 4 Drill pilot holes into the mortar for the wall anchors. Hold a masonry drill bit up to the length of your wall anchor until you’ve found a bit that is at least 1 ⁄ 32 inch (0.079 cm) thinner than the wall anchor. Attach the drill bit to your drill by unscrewing the bolt at the top and sliding it in.
- A pilot hole refers to any incision that you make so that a screw or fixture can be screwed in more easily.
- 5 Insert your wall anchors by screwing them into your pilot holes. Use a screwdriver or drill with a fitted drill bit to screw each wall anchor into a pilot hole. Drill each wall anchor in so that it is flush with the mortar.
- You can use a can of compressed air to blow away any mortar dust if you’d like. This will keep the anchors from shedding dust particles over time.
- 6 Drill your screws or hooks into the wall anchors. Drill your screws into the wall anchors so that 1–3 inches (2.5–7.6 cm) of the screw are sticking out. If you are installing hooks, screw the threaded side into the wall anchor by hand and stop once the threading is hidden in the wall. Rotate the open end of each hook until it is pointing up towards your ceiling.
- 7 Run your garland over the screws or hooks to hang it up. Start in the centermost hook so that you can adjust the length on both sides to make it even. If you’re hanging the garland with hooks, run the center of the garland through the center of each hook.
- If you find your garland slipping off of a hook, consider wrapping the garland around the hook or taping a leaf or branch to the top of the screw. Garlands aren’t typically very heavy, so it won’t take much tape to keep garland hanging.
- You can always fill in holes in the mortar by mixing water and mortar in a bucket or tray and use a trowel to apply it.
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Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Avoid drilling directly into brick since you won’t be able to patch up the hole. Always drill into the mortar instead.
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- Ladder
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Pencil
Brick clips
Adhesive hooks
- Drill
- Protective eyewear
- Dust mask
- Gloves
- Wall anchors
- Screws or hooks
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 59,155 times.
What is the best way to hang something on brick?
Whether you’re looking to hang artwork on an indoor brick wall or a trellis on the outside of your house, you will need to find some way to hang those items. Hammering nails into a wall using just a hammer isn’t an option because the brick is too tough.
- Either the nails will bend, or the brick will shatter.
- However, there are other options.
- You can use nails by drilling holes first, or you can drill and place wall plugs and screws into the brick or mortar.
- Sleeve anchors are another good option if you’re willing to drill.
- For drill-free hanging, you can use double-sided tape, Velcro, even construction adhesive, or brick clips.
Below are six possible things that can help you hang items on brick walls.
Can you screw into brick without a plug?
(Image credit: Luke Arthur Wells ) Drilling into brick is an easy DIY skill to pick up, and one that’ll come in useful for a multitude of home improvement tasks. From putting up a shelf, curtain pole, a TV, a picture or mirror — you’ll need to learn how to drill into brick for mounting anything on your walls.
If you’re a DIYer novice, you need to know you can’t screw directly into brick. You need to drill a hole, insert a rawl plug – a type of fixing which will hold your screw in place – and then screw into this. This process is much easier in a brick wall than plasterboard, which may require more specialist fixings.
All you need to do is arm yourself with your best cordless drill and a few other toolbox essentials and you’re ready to take on this task. Here’s a step-by-step guide and what you need to know about the process.
Can you hot glue lights to brick?
Attaching Christmas Lights to Brick with Hot Glue – When decorating your home for the holidays, there are several different ways to attach your lights to the perimeter. One of the most common ways is to use standard clips, and those work very well for a variety of different materials and designs.
However, certain surfaces can make attaching lights a bit of a challenge. Brick can be particularly tricky, especially when trying to line areas such as windows and garages. However, hot glue can be the answer to your problems. Hot glue is perfect for attaching Christmas lights to brick, concrete and stone, but should not be used on most stucco surfaces.
Hot glue is an excellent option for affixing Christmas lights to your brick home or business, and it can be used in both hot and cold climates. Because hot glue is so convenient and effective, Jason from Christmas Designers made a video showing a sample installation using hot glue.
What will adhere to brick?
Choosing the right brick adhesive – Probably the most important factor you need to consider when selecting your brick adhesive is whether your bricks will be exposed to the elements and whether they form part of your landscaping. If you are working with bricks which are positioned outdoors, you will need to make sure your exterior brick adhesive can withstand the temperatures and weather in your region.
Products like Loctite PL 500 Landscape Block Adhesive, which can be applied in all kinds of weather and bonds wet or dry, are specially formulated for use as a landscape brick glue. Other products, such as Loctite PL 375 Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive, can bond to a variety of surfaces and are suited for both indoor and outdoor use, but are not appropriate for landscaping walls and similar applications.
Stronger formulas, including Loctite PL Premium Fast Grab, can help you save time because your project will require less bracing.
What is the best way to hang something on brick?
Whether you’re looking to hang artwork on an indoor brick wall or a trellis on the outside of your house, you will need to find some way to hang those items. Hammering nails into a wall using just a hammer isn’t an option because the brick is too tough.
Either the nails will bend, or the brick will shatter. However, there are other options. You can use nails by drilling holes first, or you can drill and place wall plugs and screws into the brick or mortar. Sleeve anchors are another good option if you’re willing to drill. For drill-free hanging, you can use double-sided tape, Velcro, even construction adhesive, or brick clips.
Below are six possible things that can help you hang items on brick walls.