Command hooks or similar to hang pictures

[tatteddear]

Has anyone done this successfully? Our walls are made out some sort of substance that is harder than iron and no picture hooks will penetrate it except the sort of four pronged ones you have to hammer in-but the issue with those is that they never come out without removing half the wall with them so whatever you hang you are stuck with.
I wondered if anyone had successfully used Command hooks on painted plaster walls? Or if not what else can we try?

Most photos and mirrors in my house are held up by command strips. The heaviest is an Ikea mirror that's 4.6kg according to the website. It's been up for about 2 years with no issues though I used 6 large strips which is more than they suggest.

I’ve used for years. I much prefer the 3m sticky nails to the Velcro strips. The knack for me is to leave strips to adhere to surfaces overnight before hanging anything onto them. If I do that, they have amazing staying power.

I love command hooks, I’m a hobby/semi side business framer and most of my repairs and glass replacement are due to these. Wouldn’t use them for anything heavier than an oven glove.

I would use either a rail hanging system, the hooks you already use (and accept some filling will be needed when you remove them), or picture hooks hung using a drill and drywall screw.

Most framers offer a hanging service, they are the best people to ask. I doubt any will suggest command hooks and if they do, you know to avoid them in future!

@Littlegoth 😁 I have to confess that I’ve had many smashed frames when using command strips.

But, like I say, using the sticky nails and giving the strip a long time to adhere to the surface really does work.

Saying that, I probably would hang something very heavy and valuable using them.

Yes - Command Picture Hanging Strips.

We had our walls skimmed last year so didn't want to start drilling holes to re-hang pictures. I was sceptical about using Command strips but as long as you buy the correct ones for the weight of the pictures, they work very well.

Our pictures are still firmly in place 8 months later.

@MrsMikeHeck 😆 like I said, I love them. I start at £25 for glass replacement! 😊

I use command strips and they are great but only for lightweight IKEA frames with plexiglass ever since a very messy Incident with a metal and glass frame. I wouldn’t use them for anything precious.

You could drill into the walls and use plugs but if you want to be able to move the pictures around then I highly recommend picture ledges.

I used command hook strips for my picture gallery wall. Was so easy to do (and re-do when I wanted to live one!).

8 years on and they're starting to come off the wall. The two velcro strips are still on the frames, so the velcro is strong but the adhesive that was stuck to the wall is failing with age.

I am now looking for a new way to hang them. I don't want to do individual nails/screws because I'll never get them all lined up. I want to keep the frames I have. Anybody got any recommendations?!

Ah thanks all. I might use for some of our smaller pictures then, but I'll put the heavier /more expensive ones up properly. Think I will get someone in to do it however as Pathetic as it sounds I can't hang pictures straight to save my life. In other houses it's not been as much of a problem as if just been able to stick another nail in where I've needed to but these walls are a different beast!