Forbidden to Hang Pictures

[Novice Hame]

I really do apologise for having to ask this, but all will become clear when you read this post.

You see my husband’s parents were the sort who did everything for him. Mine weren’t and so I learnt that in order to hang a picture you hammered a nail or picture hook into the wall. My husband on leaving home got a DIY book and it says (I have read this with my own eyes) that if you knock a nail into a wall you can electrocute yourself.

Now, I’m of the opinion that the author has written this to cover his backside in case someone decides to hammer in gurt big 3 or 6 inch nails, but an itty bitty picture hook or one of those tiny nails which has the diameter of about a millimetre should be fine. However, I am the one who doesn’t know much about DIY, so the book wins.

This has come to a head because our son says he wants his class photo to hang on the wall and I would really be grateful if people could tell me if I’m right and it will be fine to hammer in a picture hook or tiny nail to hang it.

 

[weimaraner95]

Technically you could hit a wire, any sockets or switches in the area you want to hang, what type of wall is it?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Whilst ideally you would know what your wall is made of, I would recommend these: https://www.toolstation.com/hard-wall-picture-hooks/p76226?store=T4&gStoreCode=T4 generally they work OK in most surfaces for lightweight pictures and zero danger of electrocution. Just bang it in the wall when he's not there, then tell him to login here for some home truths.

Of course in the unlikely event your wall conditions happen to not suit these kinds of hangers and the picture falls off the wall bringing a chunk of plaster with it we may set your DIY journey back by a decade or something!

 

[Novice Hame]

It’s a bog-standard wall, the outer walls are brick - I’m afraid that’s all I know, but I don’t think we’ll need a rawl plug

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Then just go for it with the type I linked to, you can buy them anywhere. If you're really worried you can always try one on a bit of unexposed wall next to a skirting or behind a bed etc. They can be easily removed by pulling them out with a pair of pliers and typically just leave four tiny holes. Google 'Hard wall Picture Hook'.

 

[Koolpc]

You could buy an electric wire locator if need be.

I have never bothered. If no plugs/sockets in line of where you want to put up then generally you are 99.9% safe to hammer/drill that location..

 

[Dereekoo]

Looking around my house I have numerous pictures and signs hung off a single pin or double pin hook as per pic on standard plastered brickwalls and plastered stud walls and in over 50 years have never hit a wire/pipe/etc etc . and also used to hang larger objects with with a screw and plug located in central triangle of a double hanger

 

[foxhole]

If there is a risk of shock get your husband to hold the nail .

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Buy yourself, a cable and pipe locator, learn how to use it, and make a point of using it before banging any nails, screws, or fixings in. Cables, should only be installed in what are known as 'safe zones', but it's not a guarantee that someone hasn't ignored the rule...

Where is it Safe to Drill? Electrical Safe Zones

Discover the importance of Electrical Safe Zones for safe drilling in your DIY projects. Understand where its safe to drill

bepractical.co.uk

The actual diameter of the nail, will make little difference to the risk in hammering it into a wall.

 

[ericmark]

As @Harry Bloomfield has linked, there are safe zones, I did get caught out putting a water supply in for the fridge, someone had not followed the safe zones, and I found out the hard way. And even with RCD protection, one still gets a good belt. But I still put up pictures etc.

 

[mattylad]

If it's not a heavy picture command strips and hooks work exceedingly well, these do not puncture the wall.