So, you’ve bought your new wall mirror, and now you need to hang it. Once you've decided where you want it, the primary consideration is its weight. Mirrors can be very heavy, so they must be attached safely… You don’t want seven years of bad luck on you! Before you start hammering in any nails, you need to consider a few essential things.
You do not want to hang your mirror, or anything, where a nail may hit any electric cables. These cables usually run up or down vertically from light switches. You’ll want to get hold of a detector, a handheld device that locates cables, pipes, and studs in your walls. You’ll have studs only if you have hollow stud walls. Studs are the wooden struts that plasterboard is attached to, and it is on these that you will want to attach your hooks or screws for hanging.
If you have stone walls, you will need masonry nails, but for some heavy mirrors (or pictures), you might also need a screw and rawlplug, so you’ll probably need a drill too. Your mirror should come with the necessary fittings already attached or in the package, and these should be suitable for the mirror’s weight.
In addition to the fixings for the mirror and wall, other tools you’ll probably need are a tape measure, a pencil for marking the wall and a spirit level. You’ll probably want another person with you if the mirror is heavy.
You might need to attach the cord to the rings if your mirror has two D-rings and a metal or string cord. Make sure you tie an unslippable knot if it’s a string cord, or for metal, twist the cable securely together with it doubled over for at least two inches. For D-rings, you’ll need one or two picture hooks securely affixed to your wall and carefully measured so the mirror hangs straight, centred and without the hooks showing!
If your mirror has a keyhole fixing or a serrated plate on the back, you’ll need a heavy-duty nail, pin or screw with a rawlplug. Heavier mirrors tend to come with straphangers (that look a little bit like a short belt), for which you will need to attach J-hooks to the wall.
Mirror plates and flush plates are the other fixings that mirrors tend to come with – some plates are designed to be visible on the top rim of the mirror. Again, good quality screws and rawlplugs are required for these methods.
You are not recommended to use hook and loop fixings except on the lightest hangings.
We have many more easy-to-follow DIY guides to help you fix your home! Check out our tips on fitting new taps, tiling, and panelling a wall to make sure you can always look after your home.
