How to Hang a Heavy Mirror on Different Wall Types

A mirror falling off the wall is a proper disaster - broken glass, damaged walls, and seven years of bad luck if you're superstitious. Here's how to hang them properly, whatever your wall type.

First: Know Your Wall Type

This is the most important step. The wrong fixings in the wrong wall will fail. For a deep dive, see our complete guide to rawlplugs and wall types.

How to Identify Your Wall Type

Knock test:

• Hollow sound = Plasterboard (stud wall)
• Solid thud = Brick, block, or stone

Drill test:

• White dust = Plasterboard
• Red/orange dust = Brick
• Grey dust = Block or concrete
• Sandy/yellow dust = Stone (common in older Devon homes)

Older Exeter homes often have solid walls - either brick or stone. New builds are usually plasterboard on timber studs.

Weight Limits: What Each Wall Can Hold

Wall Type	Max Weight (Standard Fixings)	With Heavy-Duty Fixings
Plasterboard (into stud)	20kg+	40kg+
Plasterboard (cavity fixings)	5-10kg	15-20kg
Brick	50kg+	100kg+
Stone	50kg+	100kg+
Concrete block	30kg+	60kg+

Weigh your mirror first. A large mirror can easily be 15-25kg.

---

Hanging on Plasterboard

Plasterboard is the trickiest. You've got two options:

Option 1: Find the Studs (Best Method)

Studs are the vertical timber frames behind plasterboard. They're usually 400mm or 600mm apart.

How to find them:

• Use a stud finder (£15-£30)
• Knock along the wall and listen for solid sounds
• Look for nail pops or slight marks in the paint
• Measure from corners (studs are usually 400mm from internal corners)

If you can hit a stud: Use a standard wood screw (at least 50mm long) and a picture hook rated for the weight. Job done.

Option 2: Cavity Wall Fixings

If you can't hit a stud (or the mirror position doesn't align), use cavity fixings:

• Spring toggles - Best for heavy items (15-20kg per fixing)
• Hollow wall anchors - Good for medium weights (10-15kg per fixing)
• Grip-It fixings - Easy to use (10-15kg per fixing)

Golden rule: Use at least two fixings and spread the weight.

Don't Use:

• Standard rawlplugs (they'll pull straight through)
• Picture hooks alone (fine for light frames, not heavy mirrors)
• Single fixings for anything over 5kg

---

Hanging on Brick Walls

Brick is much more forgiving. A properly installed rawlplug will hold serious weight.

What You'll Need:

• Masonry drill bit (6mm for most fixings)
• Hammer drill (makes life much easier)
• Brown rawlplugs (or red for heavier items)
• Coach screws or heavy-duty picture hooks

Step-by-Step:

1. Mark your holes with a pencil
2. Drill into the brick (not the mortar - mortar is weaker)
3. Insert rawlplugs - they should fit snugly
4. Screw in your hooks or screws
5. Hang the mirror

Pro tip: For extra security, drill at a slight upward angle. This helps the hook grip under load.

---

Hanging on Stone Walls

Stone walls are common in older Devon properties - Victorian Exeter homes, country cottages, and converted barns.

The Challenge:

Stone is harder than brick and can crack if you hit it wrong. You might also hit lime mortar, which is softer and crumbly.

Best Approach:

1. Use a masonry bit and go slowly
2. Let the drill do the work - don't force it
3. If you hit a void, try a different spot
4. Use longer fixings (stone walls are often uneven behind the plaster)

For lime mortar: Consider using a resin anchor system. Drill the hole, inject resin, insert the fixing. Much stronger in crumbly mortar.

---

Mirror Hanging Options

Picture Wire + Hooks

Best for: Medium mirrors (under 15kg)

Run picture wire between D-rings on the back of the mirror frame. Hook over one or two hooks on the wall. Easy to level and adjust.

French Cleats

Best for: Heavy mirrors (15kg+), frameless mirrors

A French cleat is a two-part system - one piece screws to the wall, one to the mirror. They interlock and spread weight evenly. Very secure.

Direct Mounting

Best for: Frameless mirrors, bathroom mirrors

Screws go directly through holes in the mirror, covered with chrome caps. Needs precise drilling but looks clean.

---

Getting It Level

Nothing looks worse than a crooked mirror. Here's how to get it right:

1. Use a spirit level - Don't trust your eyes
2. Mark both fixings before drilling
3. Double-check the distance between fixings matches the mirror
4. For wire-hung mirrors - Hang, step back, adjust, repeat

Pro tip: Take a photo with your phone. It's easier to spot if something's not level in a photo than in person.

---

When to Call a Professional

Consider professional help if:

• The mirror is very heavy (over 25kg)
• You're not sure about the wall type
• The mirror is valuable or antique - One mistake is expensive
• You don't have the right tools
• It's over a fireplace or bed - Needs to be secure

We hang mirrors every week - from small bathroom mirrors to 2-metre statement pieces. Usually takes 20-45 minutes depending on the wall type.

---

Want it done right? We hang mirrors and pictures all over Exeter. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.