Hanging Basics

Don't get hung up by the confusing array of objects used to attach things to a wall. The one you choose will depend on two things: the weight of the item you're going to hang and the composition of the wall (plaster and lath, dry wall, or masonry). The ordinary nail still does a good job of supporting light weight items. However, as you drive a nail deeper and deeper into a wall, it often creates a bigger and bigger hole. Eventually, it may loosen and even fall out.

If you use expansion anchors or expansion bolts, be sure to get the right size. They must match the thickness of the wall they're applied to. To check, drill a small test hole. Fiber, lead, and plastic anchors, all small cylinders made from different materials, insert into drill holes. As you twist in a screw, these anchors expand and grip the wall securely. When you redecorate and want to remove them, tap them into the hollow center of the wall. Other types of anchors generally not recommended for use at home, as they stay in place so tightly that only demolishing the wall will get them out.

Hanging objects from the ceiling is like hanging them on the wall, except that you are working directly overhead. You'll be working mostly from a ladder and usually with a helper, especially when suspending heavy objects. Most things made to be hung from a ceiling, such as lighting tracks, suspended lamps, and chandeliers, are light weight and don't pose many problems. Heavier objects, on the other hand, need extra support.

Before hanging anything from a ceiling, do a little homework. Determine the type of ceiling you have and the weight of the object to be hung. Most dry wall ceilings safely support up to 50 pounds. Lath-and-plaster ceilings can handle 75 to 100 pounds. From 100 pounds to a limit of 200 pounds, hang everything from a joist. Concrete presents problems, but once you hang an object, concrete will hold 200 pounds per anchor. If you have radiant concrete ceilings, don't hang anything from them. You are likely to disturb the heating wires and could suffer a serious shock.

When you hang on something that weighs more than 75 to 100 pounds, you need to do it from a joist. Tap the ceiling with your knuckles until you hear a solid sound. If you're not confident that you've found a joist, drill a small hole straight through the ceiling to confirm its position. Failing this, drill again through the same hole, but at a slant. Insert and rotate straightened coat hanger until you hit a joist. Keeping your thumb fixed on the hanger; mark the spot on the ceiling that corresponds to the distance the hanger has gone into the ceiling. Then drill a hole for the screw.

All these methods will help you to understand the hanging basics.