Advice on hanging a 20kg mirror

Cyrus

Mrs Cyrus got this last week, it needs to be hung , it’s 20kg and the gap between the mounting points is 28cm so won’t hit 2 studs.

pic of the mirror, fixings supplied and mounting points attached.

any tips? Toggle fittings ? Something else

10-10-20

Wah! 20kg's not centered on studs is a problem alright. Even if it did hit two studs, it would probably be off-center on the wall anyway.

I'll suggest something slightly odd: Get a piece of reasonable sawn timber of ~32cm's (the distance required to fully span two studs) x 20mm deep (plasterboard will be 12mm + ~4mm deep anyhow). Locate the best centered studs and use a plasterboard saw to cut out the shape of the timber into the wall. Screw the timber to the wall securely and then fill-in the edges and paint the timber. Then mount to the stud which should be obscured by the mirror.

This will provide the support required and also keep it relatively close to the wall and allow you to center it as required. Yes, it makes a slight mess of the very clean carpet, but it's a good and safe trade-off for a nice mirror.

standardg60

I would fit it to sit on the skirting so that takes the weight.

Place the screws into the mounts, lift the mirror onto the skirting and then push it to the wall so the screws leave an indent to mark where you should drill.

Once one hole hits a stud you should be fine.

Padre_Pio

Can you centre the mirror on the one stud you can find? Maybe you can get a little hook that wraps around the bottom of the mirror, then use anchors to keep the top in place?

The Continental Op

I really don't see the problem with 20Kg being fixed directly to the wall. The mirror will be flush with the wall and there will be next to no weight pulling the plugs out all the weight is going down the wall. Spread the load out for better support.

These get some good reveiws https://www.amazon.co.uk/GeeFix-Plasterboard-Cavity-Fixings-Anchors/dp/B0196MJM8S/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeFyQS2NGVM

Obviously your supplied fixing screws will need to fit the fixing.

Also I'd drill the whole a lot more carefully than the guy does in the video.

meercat

mount the mirror using the supplied fixtures

find the stud and mount an L shaped bracket underneath

use this to support the weight of the mirror

mark the top of the frame and mount another bracket on top(where the stud is

you can hide the bracket behind the frame

screw the bracket to the frame to secure

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/corner-braces-zinc-plated-25-x-25-x-16-5mm-10-pack/11529?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInYv3z8rl-gIVwbTtCh08Rw8mEAQYAiABEgKnHPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Murph85

Hit one stud if possible and hollow wall anchor for the other mounting point... two hollow wall anchors would also do the job..

funnyname

https://amzn.eu/d/ayRRK1M

Rated to 40kg

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119752510#Comment_119752510

These look like the answer to be honest . Thanks all for suggestions

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119754247#Comment_119754247

ill bear that in mind !

irishMANinuk

you can get some metal plates for some structural integrity

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119754182#Comment_119754182

They do look the bees.

Only thing I would suggest is to use a screw of smaller diameter than the ones with your mirror when you're fixing through the centre hole the first time

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119756980#Comment_119756980

why so do you mind me asking?

ill report back on how the installation of them goes in case its of interest but they look very robust

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119757286#Comment_119757286

Just that if you screw the same diameter screw into plastic a couple of times there's no guarantee that it will follow the thread formed by the first one, it could form a new one again cutting the plastic again and weakening the hold.

If the first screw is smaller the second one will hold better, as long as you only screw it in once.

Bluefoam

I'm a big fan of split battens... Done right it will allow you to find at least one stud and gives more flexibility in mounting...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picture-Hardware-Aluminum-Interlocking-Mounting/dp/B08R76MGP1/ref%3Dmp_s_a_1_13?crid=GZ2D707PUJ2Q&keywords=z+bracket&qid=1666112317&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjM2IiwicXNhIjoiNC45NyIsInFzcCI6IjQuNzQifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=z+br%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-13

Cyrus

Jobs a good un thanks for all advice.

The Continental Op

Good to see it well done.

That must be worth some brownie points with the misses, just don't knock the mirror down ;-)

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119765556#Comment_119765556

I wouldn't like to see a child grabbing it though. Instinctively I don't trust plasterboard as regards any sort of strength.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119765695#Comment_119765695

yeah i get you, ours are big enough now that it shouldnt be an issue and its a spare bedroom which doesnt see much traffic.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119765695#Comment_119765695

You could easily put your full weight on that mirror with those fixings and it shouldn't damage the plasterboard.

However I could see someone pushing it to one side or the other and it coming off as they tried to straighten it.

A single fixing plate in the middle of the bottom of the mirror wouldn't show to much and stop any sideways movement or any chance of it coming off the main hooks.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119765910#Comment_119765910

No doubt they're good to bear the specified weight downwards. But if pressure is exerted outwards, has plasterboard sufficient integrity to stop them pulling through?

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119766470#Comment_119766470

Hence my suggestion for the inclusion of a fixing plate at the bottom. It covers what I think is far more likely, side to side movement and it also stops leverage from lifting the mirror outwards at the bottom. But this isn't a shelf where you can easily apply leverage to the fixings. You'd have to grab the mirror and try and pull it off the wall. Even if you did I suspect with two of those fittings you'd have some difficulty. I'd go as far as to say its much safer than many large TV screens on their original stands sitting on a TV cabinet.

meercat

Nice job. Looks good

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119766530#Comment_119766530

i was just thinking that, my 75" tv which is on a unit on its own stand would fall a lot sooner than that mirror would if someone went at it!

looksee

Love those fixings, when I think of all the large untidy holes from attempts to hang things I would have loved some of these. Though I did once cobble together a slightly similar idea with a bit of timber and a length of cord to repair a rather large hole in plasterboard. Only thing I would be concerned about would be using a flat bit, if it tore up the surface and fractured the edge of the hole there is not a lot of flange on the round bit to lock it in place.

The Continental Op

Only thing I would be concerned about would be using a flat bit

Those flat spade bits are the work of the Devil. The problem is they are the cheapest drills to drill larger diameter holes in wood (and other soft material) but they can do a really bad job and just about break your wrist if you go at wood too hard with a larger one.

The OP's bi-metalic hole saw was the perfect tool for the job.

The Continental Op

btw I've just noticed from the OP's last picture of the drill, bit and instructions that the instructions show the "eye" for the hook is adjustable by 3mm up or down which I've never seen before, seems a good idea?

irishMANinuk

found them on amazon theyre called mirror brackets https://www.amazon.co.uk/mirror-brackets/s?k=mirror+brackets