Hanging Canvas Issues

[Scott1sh]

Hi all,

I live in a 1950s council flat and I’m trying to hang a medium canvas (about 3 lbs / 1.3 kg). I’m not sure if the walls are plaster over brick or solid concrete — they look like plaster, but when I drill or hammer I hit something extremely hard just a few millimetres in.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Adhesives (Command strips, Gorilla tape): They held for a while, but eventually failed and tore off chunks of paint/plaster. I’ve attached a photo of the damaged section where the tape ripped the surface.
• Nails: Standard picture nails bent after a few millimetres.
• Hammer drill: With a normal masonry bit, I only got a few mm in before hitting something very hard. The plaster around the hole started breaking away instead of the bit cutting through.

Interestingly, I’ve got three A2 prints hanging fine on the same wall further from the window side using Command strips — but near the window, adhesives fail and nails bend.

I’m wondering:

• Do I need an SDS drill for these walls, or will better masonry bits be enough?
• Are masonry picture hooks with hardened pins worth trying for a 3 lb canvas?
• Or should I go straight to wall plugs + screws for reliability?

Any advice on the best fixings, drill bits, or techniques for these tough council walls would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

SDS drill. Do you know what the construction of the walls is? Not really is probably gonna be the answer, you could start by asking a few neighbours if there are any you are playing with. Are you the owner or a tenant?

 

[Scott1sh]

SDS drill. Do you know what the construction of the walls is? Not really is probably gonna be the answer, you could start by asking a few neighbours if there are any you are playing with. Are you the owner or a tenant?

Not 100% sure

1st floor flat in a block of 6 (2 flats per floor), Scottish council flat

Its the wall between the bedroom and living room, so research indicates solid blockwork partition with plaster finish

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

SDS then, if you think you'll use it enough ....

 

[Tigercubrider]

I would try a small and increasing masonry drill bit first, if you don’t have access to an SDS.
It’s worth a go.
A 3lb canvas is pretty light. If you can get the screws deeper then the canvas frame into the wall and use enough, it will stay up.
A couple of inches/50mm is fine