Hang pictures on exposed brick with brick clips

A quick, no-drill way to hang picture frames on real exposed brick, once you've checked the wall and clip weight limit.

BC-01Check you actually have solid exposed brickKnock gently on the wall. A dull, solid, dense sound means real brick behind. A hollow or ringing sound means it's a stud wall with brick-slip cladding, or a dot-and-dab lining, and brick clips will not grip properly there. Real exposed brick has mortar joints that run all the way through, not a printed or glued-on finish.

BC-02Check the brick and mortar are soundLook closely at the brick edge you plan to hang from. The mortar joint below should feel firm, not crumbly or soft. Avoid a cracked brick, a badly repointed patch, or old lime mortar that flakes when pressed - move along to a firmer spot. Painted brick usually works fine, but rub back any thick, flaking paint first.

BC-03Pick the right brick clip for the jobBrick clips hook over the top lip of a single brick course, so no drilling is needed. Check they suit your brick size - a standard UK brick is about 65mm high with a 10mm mortar joint, giving a 75mm coursing gap. Check the pack's weight rating too, usually 3-5kg per clip. Use two clips spread across a wider frame, or move to the drilled fixing in step 8 for anything heavier.

1 pack · Brick clips (pack of 4)

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BC-04Mark your position and check it's levelHold the frame in place, or measure from its top edge down to the hanging wire, and mark where the clip needs to sit. Use a spirit level to draw a light pencil line so both clips, if you're using two, land on the same brick course.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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BC-05Clean the brick edgeBrush away loose dust, grit or old mortar crumbs from the top of the brick with a dry stiff brush. A dusty or crumbly edge stops the clip gripping properly and can let the picture slip later.

1 each · Stiff dust brush

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BC-06Hook the clips onto the brickPush the clip firmly over the top of the brick so the hook sits flush against the vertical face and the arm rests on the top of the brick. Give it a firm downward tug to check it's properly seated before letting go.

BC-07Hang the picture and check it sits levelLower the picture's wire or D-ring onto the clip's hook. Step back and check it's level and sitting flush. Brick faces are uneven, so add small self-adhesive foam pads to the back corners if it rocks or leans forward.

1 pack · Self-adhesive foam pads (pack)

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BC-08For heavier frames, drill and plug insteadIf your frame is heavier than the clip rating, drill into the brick itself - never the softer mortar joint - with a 6mm masonry bit to 40mm deep, fit a matching wall plug, and drive in a screw, leaving a 5mm gap for the wire. Before drilling, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, and know where your consumer unit is. Cables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, and a cheap detector can still miss deep or shielded ones, so if you have any doubt at all, isolate the circuit or shut off the water first.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm

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1 pack · Wall plugs, masonry (pack)

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1 pack · Screws, 25mm (pack)

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1 each · Hammer drill

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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BC-09Tidy upVacuum brick dust from the floor and windowsill - it's gritty and can scratch flooring if trodden in. Wipe the wall down with a dry cloth. Keep any spare clips or plugs, they're handy for the next picture.

1 each · Dust sheet

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