How do you hang pictures from the trim of older houses?

by Fire Places on June 18, 2010

I live in a Victorian style home built in 1900. The walls are made of horsehair plaster and I know that those don’t take too well to nails… but that the trim has a lip designed for hanging pictures like in the olden days. However, with time this has become less and less, and I would like to hang a mirror above the fireplace nail-free and I have wire, but I’m not sure what other piece of hardware I would need in order to use this technique.


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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Jessica June 18, 2010 at 12:15 am

You need to form a hook in one end of the wire, hang this over the lip of the trim, and attach the other end to the mirror, usually via a hole or loop on the back of the mirror or frame.

crabtreebarton June 18, 2010 at 12:15 am

They make a mirror mastic.It would hold the mirror real well as long as the plaster is solid behind it.It is usually black like tar you simply apply a few dabs about 1/2 dollar size to the back of mirror.You will never see anything holding the mirror. Be sure to read the directions on the label.Hope this helps good luck.

jake June 18, 2010 at 12:15 am

What you have is called picture molding. And what you need is "picture molding hooks". Some of the Old House type hardware companies sell them. There are also some vendors on Amazon that sell them. If you are hanging a heavy mirror, make sure you get the heavy duty hooks and make sure the picture molding is sound in that area.

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