Hang a picture frame on a solid brick or block wall

Mark a level spot, check for pipes and cables, then drill and plug the brick or block wall to hang your frame safely.

AB-01Confirm your wall type and choose a spotThis guide is for solid brick or block walls only. If a tap on the wall sounds hollow and dull-to-sharp in a regular pattern, or a magnet won't stick anywhere, you likely have plasterboard on studs or dot-and-dab instead, and the fixings below won't apply. Decide where the frame will hang, then use a pencil to mark the exact point where the hanging hook or wire will sit.

1 each · Pencil

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AB-02Check for pipes and cables before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the 'safe zones' near sockets and switches. Run a detector over the marked spot, but still treat the wall as if something could be there — cheap detectors miss deep cables, armoured cable, and pipes behind thick plaster. Find your stopcock now (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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AB-03Drill the holeFit a 6mm masonry drill bit and set your drill to hammer mode if it has one. Drill straight into the mark to a depth of 40mm, holding the drill level and square to the wall. Pull the drill out every few seconds to clear dust, and stop if the resistance suddenly changes, which can mean you've hit a pipe.

1 each · 6mm masonry drill bit

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AB-04Fit the wall plug and screwPush a 6mm Rawlplug (or equivalent) fully into the hole, tapping it gently with a hammer if needed until it's flush with the wall. Drive a 40mm screw into the plug, leaving about 8-10mm of the screw head standing clear of the wall for the frame's hook or wire to hang on. Check the plug feels solid and doesn't spin loosely in the hole; if it does, drill a fresh hole slightly to one side and start again.

1 pack of 10 · 6mm wall plugs (Rawlplug or equivalent)

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1 pack of 10 · 40mm screws

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AB-05Hang the frame and check it's levelLift the frame onto the screw, using the hook or wire on the back. Hold a spirit level across the top edge of the frame and adjust until the bubble sits dead centre. Step back and check it looks straight from a distance, not just up close.

1 each · Picture frame with hanging hook or wire

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AB-06Tidy upBrush or vacuum up any brick dust from the floor and skirting below the hole. Wipe the wall down with a damp cloth if there's dust residue around the fixing. Put your tools away and check the stopcock and consumer unit are back to normal if you touched either.

1 each · Dust brush or vacuum

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