Wall hangings and decor are the perfect way to add unique elements to our spaces. They have the power to give texture, color and other aspects that might be missing from a room, working to bring your entire vision together.
However, as part of ensuring our spaces reflect our personalities, our wall hangings should be durable and reliable to stay put for as long as we need them to. This is where having the right fastener comes in, helping to protect walls from damage and keeping pictures and other items secure. Tractor Supply is here to help, offering insights and guidance as to what type of anchor, hanger or hook you should buy.
Anchors for Securing Materials
Anchors are components that provide added strength and durability to wall hangings. They work by creating a barrier inside walls to secure screws and nails, preventing them from falling out. Depending on the type of wall material you have, different anchors may work better for certain surfaces, such as:
Concrete Anchors
When you want to hang something on harder wall surfaces, such as block, concrete or brick, traditional nails and screws won’t have the durability needed to protrude through these materials. In this case, you need a concrete anchor, which is specially designed to drill into harder materials, offering a stronger hold and allowing you to hang heavier items without worry. Concrete anchors are available in many forms, including:
- Mechanical anchors: These are your most common anchor type, featuring many designs, including sleeve anchors, expansion anchors and wedge anchors, to secure heavy-duty items.
- Chemical anchors: Also called anchoring epoxy, these come as a liquid rather than a fastener, meaning you apply it inside pre-drilled holes so it can harden and expand in the wall interior.
- Adhesive anchors: These use both a type of glue and metal anchor component to secure items to masonry, concrete or brick surfaces, making them suitable for hanging lightweight objects.
- Concrete insert anchors: These feature a hollow, tube-shaped body, outward-facing flange and a traditional expander plug at the end, and they must be pushed into pre-drilled holes in concrete materials to expand.
Hollow Wall Anchor
If you’re looking to hang something on drywall but can’t seem to find a stud, use a hollow wall anchor to give wall hangings support and decrease the chances that screws or nails fall out. Because drywall and plaster are softer wall materials, traditional fasteners won’t hold as successfully, meaning you need a hollow wall anchor to give walls added strength before using a fastener. The different kinds of these anchors include:
Toggle Bolts
Toggle bolts are a type of drywall anchor suitable for hanging heavy objects. They are designed with two wings, made with either steel or plastic, on either side of the bolt, which fold together to fit through pre-drilled holes. After placing them through the hole, the wings will pop back out inside the wall, bracing it against the surface and giving it durable holding power.
Plastic Expansion Drywall Anchors
Plastic expansion drywall anchors are your most common drywall anchor, great for hanging lightweight items weighing less than 40 pounds. They are very affordable and easy to take down and cover up when you’re done. To install them, simply pre-drill a hole and tap the anchor into it. As you drive screws into the anchor, the plastic will expand and create a wedge against the wall’s interior, providing a stronger barrier and hold for hanging items.
Self-Drilling Anchors
These kinds of anchors are stronger and look like large-sized screws, featuring wide threads and a Philips drive on the head. The sharp end allows you to cut into drywall materials as you drill. After installing, insert a smaller screw into the center, and the anchor will expand inside of the wall. Self-drilling anchors can hold anywhere from 50 to 70 pounds, making them ideal for hanging heavier items.
No-Drill Anchors
These are an easy-to-use alternative to plastic drywall anchors, forgoing the need to have a pre-drilled hole. Made with thin metal materials, these anchors install using a hammer to pound the anchor into the wall, then a screwdriver to drive the screw portion into the wall. As it rotates, the anchor wings will spread inside the wall, giving it the power to hold up to 60 pounds.
Hanging Accessories and Parts with Hangers and Hooks
Whether you need to replace hanger components on the back of picture frames, are looking for ways to organize your garage or need easy-to-use solutions for hanging lightweight posters or pictures, we carry a variety of hangers and hooks, perfect for any size and weight of wall hanging. Our fasteners are made with many materials, from steel to brass to aluminum, meaning you can find something that holds up and looks great in your home. The different options for hangers and hooks include:
Picture Hangers
Maybe you just handcrafted a picture frame for a loved one and need a reliable fastener so they can hang their gift with ease. Perhaps your favorite frame lost a hanger, and you need to replace it with a new one. Whatever the case, picture hangers come in many styles, such as:
Sawtooth Hangers
These are a common type of picture hanger, great for hanging lightweight items, anything up to 25 pounds. They feature small teeth on the bottom of the fastener and are raised slightly from the back of picture frames, allowing nail and screw heads to catch onto them and hang. While many picture frames already come with this hardware, others may not. To install them, simply screw the two sides onto the frame and you’re ready to start hanging.
D-Ring Hangers
These hangers feature a small D-ring attached to a piece of metal, which comes with pre-drilled holes so you can insert screws and secure them to picture frames. D-rings are ideal for hanging large, heavy items, and their construction allows wall hangings to lay flush against the wall.
Depending on the weight of your piece, you may only need one D-ring hanger, positioned in the middle of the frame. However, for larger pieces, you should have two D-rings on either side of the frame, keeping them secure and level on the walls. Alternatively, install them at a slight angle on both sides of the frame, and connect them using picture wire so you can hang them from the wire instead.
Monkey Hooks
Monkey hooks are another type of picture hanger, only requiring you to drill a small hole into the wall. After inserting these hooks into the wall, they use their self-locking mechanism to stay attached and secure, allowing you to hang any size and weight of picture. For larger items, you should have a large-sized monkey hook, while smaller, more lightweight hangings only need small-sized hooks.
Hardware Hooks
Hardware hooks are versatile fasteners that can help complete virtually any project. Use them to hang essential items, or you can get creative and find different ways to store accessories and tools on walls.
S-Hooks
S-hooks get their name from their shape and can be used for a variety of applications. Once originally utilized for hanging meat in butcher shops, today, S-hooks are versatile for hanging purses and jeans in closets, pots and pans in kitchens and shower curtains.
These hooks are made with many materials, including metals, such as steel, brass, stainless steel or plastic. They also feature a variety of sizes and styles, allowing you to find something with ease.
Ceiling Hooks
Maybe you want to hang plants above windows to add a green touch to your space. Or maybe you need hardware to hang decorative lights on ceilings. Either way, ceiling hooks give you the holding power needed to hang items safely on ceilings and other spaces. They are designed with a screw on one end, allowing you to drive and cut into wall materials, and a hook on the other end so you can hang items.
Utility Hooks
When it comes to organizing our garage spaces, we often forget about the power of vertical storage, which involves using our walls to store items and keep them out of the way. Not only does this allow tools to be readily available, but it also means you won’t have to buy multiple bulky storage cabinets to store items, which can take up workspace in your garage. Your solution is utility hooks, designed to hold heavy-duty items and equipment, such as gardening tools, bicycles or chains.
Just like ceiling hooks, these feature a screw on one end, making it easy to secure them into walls. The other end has a hook with an added vinyl coating to reduce pressure and impact, helping to prevent damage to items.
Thumb Tacks
Not all of us are handy with screws, anchors and other wall hanging parts. When you need simple solutions for hanging lightweight posters and pictures onto your wall, rely on a thumb tack. These types of fasteners can be installed into softer wall materials, such as drywall, by simply pushing it in. They’re designed with a larger head surface, usually made with plastic or metal, allowing greater comfort when using your thumb to push the fastener into the wall.
While thumb tacks work great for lightweight, basic hanging applications, they may not be suitable for securing heavier items. They also won’t be able to push through brick or concrete wall types. In this case, you’ll need a heavier-duty fastener.
Braces and Brackets
From attaching shelves to walls to securing corners and weak points on woodworking projects, you may need a brace or bracket to ensure durability and reliability in your build. Look through our options for braces and brackets, including:
Shelf Brackets
Shelf brackets are designed specifically to hang shelves, and come in many styles and configurations, depending on the type of shelf you want to hang. The most common type of shelf bracket is an L-bracket, which features an L shape. One leg is installed underneath the shelving unit, while the other attaches to your wall. Each shelf uses two L-brackets on either side, keeping it level, secure and ready to hold items.
Floating brackets are built smaller, with a peg on one side and a flattened piece on the other. The peg installs into the wall, and the flattened portion sits underneath shelves to give them support. Their small size creates an invisible appearance, giving shelves a floating look.
Corner Braces
Corner braces are ideal for woodworking projects to secure corners and provide added durability. External braces go on the outside of projects, giving them enhanced stability and offering an aesthetic touch. Choose from options made with steel, plastic or other metal materials to give your piece a visually unique element.
These types of braces can also be installed inside of projects, which is better for adding structural integrity rather than a fun look. Interior braces are made with wood or metal materials, and they provide enhanced support for weak areas.
Mending Braces
Mending braces, or mending plates, differ from corner braces in their shape, which comes as a flat plate, T-shaped or L-shaped bracket instead of a bent L-shaped configuration. But similar to corner braces, these types of brackets also add structural integrity to woodworking projects, from shelving to furniture to picture frames.
Plates feature pre-drilled holes, making it easy to install them onto projects, as well as countersunk constructions, allowing you to hide flathead screws to give hardware a cleaner look. Use these types of braces to fix splits in wood, as well as provide added support to areas where two materials join.
Browsing for Anchors, Hangers and Hooks
We all want our wall hangings to be loud and proud on our walls, working to show off our personal tastes and preferences. However, you can only accomplish this with the right anchors, hangers and hooks. You don’t want to end up in situations where pictures crash onto floors and become damaged, so be sure to complete your research before purchasing a wall hanger. The different considerations to make when browsing your fastener options include:
Material and Finish
Anchors, hangers and hooks feature many different materials, each of which is designed to hold up better depending on what you plan on hanging and where you intend to hang it. For example, if fasteners will be outdoors, they must be able to withstand the elements and the temperatures that come with it.
Aluminum and brass are top choices for hangings that need durable fasteners, offering corrosion resistance from moisture and other elements your project may become exposed to. These are for lighter-weight pictures that don’t require much holding strength, and they are a more affordable metal compared to other types.
Steel is another popular metal for wall hangings, but may require added finishes to give them the resistance they need to handle the outdoors. For instance, stainless steel finishes can work to prevent corrosion, as well as zinc and galvanized options. Powder-coated, nickel-plated and polished fasteners allow for added durability, as well as scratch resistance. If you’re looking for something with a bit of color, braces, brackets and hardware hooks are also available in different neutral-colored finishes, from white to black to brown and gray.
Some fastener options can also be made with nylon or plastic materials, which hold up and prevent corrosion from damaging and weakening components. However, these types of fasteners may be better for handling lightweight wall hangings.
Fastener Size
When it comes to choosing the right fastener for your project, you must ensure the size works for the type of item you’re hanging, including the hanger’s length and width. For example, if you’re hanging a heavier picture frame or object, a smaller, shorter screw or nail won’t do the job, as it doesn’t have the grip strength or traction to keep items secured to walls.
On the other hand, you also don’t want fasteners to be too wide, as this can create unnecessary holes and damage on your walls. You must find a fastener that’s a suitable size for the type of object you plan to hang, as well as purchase any additional accessories that give fasteners added grip and traction in softer wall materials, such as anchors.
Weight Capacity
Different types of fasteners and fastener materials may hold up better for heavier wall hangings than others, meaning not all hangers and hooks will accommodate the weight of the item you’re hanging. Because of this, you must consider your wall hanging’s weight, as well as the type of wall material you have, to ensure everything stays up as it should.
For anchors, especially hollow wall options for softer drywall materials, you must have one when hanging anything larger than a small picture frame, including TV mounts, towel racks, coat hooks and ceiling hooks for hanging plants and other items. This provides added resistance against heavy weights, and reduces pressure on screws and nails, meaning hangings are less likely to fall.
For other fastener types, such as picture hangers and hooks, you should find one that’s designed for heavier items, such as D-rings or toggle bolts. Generally, you should choose a fastener with a weight capacity that’s much higher than the item you intend to hang. This provides added peace of mind that your objects will stay hanging as they should, and they won’t fall off your wall.
Wall Material
Another important aspect to consider before purchasing an anchor or hanger is the wall material you’re working with. For instance, traditional screws and nails won’t break into harder wall surfaces, such as concrete or brick, meaning you’ll need something more heavy-duty to hang items from these walls.
Additionally, drywall and plaster wall types, especially areas without studs, may be too soft for your artwork, causing pictures to fall over time. Because of this, you must use a hollow wall anchor alongside a screw to give wall hangings the support they need to stay up. Always research the best types of hangers for your wall type, and make sure to purchase any additional accessories you need to ensure a secure, durable hang. Doing so prevents potential wall damage from hanging items that are too heavy onto an incompatible hook.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anchors, Hangers and Hooks
How high should I hang my pictures?
The biggest mistake many people make is hanging their pictures too high, which can make room setups and aesthetics appear off. The best place to hang frames is at eye-level. However, eye-level can look a lot different from person to person, so you want hang pictures about five feet high. If you’re looking to hang pictures above furniture pieces, you should install them about eight to ten inches above the furniture item. These placements allow pictures to be the focal point of your room, and you can elevate your space exactly how you need it to.
How can I tell if there’s a stud behind my drywall?
The easiest way to tell if you have a stud behind your wall is by using a stud finder, which is a handheld device that detects and notifies you when it finds a stud. However, not everyone has a stud finder or uses one enough to purchase a whole setup. In this case, you can simply knock on the walls. If walls make a hollow sound, there likely isn’t a stud behind them. Walls with studs will make a deeper, louder sound when you knock on them.
Another way to tell if your wall has a stud is to look at the baseboards. These must be attached to studs to secure them, meaning you should look for small holes that indicate it's connected to a stud. Or, refer to your electrical outlets, which must be drilled onto a stud on at least one side.
Find the Parts You Need at Tractor Supply
When it comes to finding the right parts for hanging our pictures and other items, rely on the hangers, anchors and other fasteners at our store and online. From toggle bolts to hooks to braces and brackets, we have the tools you need to successfully secure wall hangings – and keep them there for good. To learn more about the selection we offer, visit your local Tractor Supply store today or browse online.