3 Easy Ways To Attach Things On Cinder Block Walls
A concrete block is regarded as one of the best & sturdy building materials, however, you can come across a slight design challenge when you personalize a space. Nevertheless, attaching pictures or any other stuff on a concrete block wall is not as daunting as it might look. If you have the right products or a little bit of creativity, hanging artwork without drilling into the wall can be performed without any difficulty. When it comes to cinder block walls, making things stick to the wall, though, can be a challenging task. Due to the reason that the cinder block is as hard as concrete, it is not that easy to nail or screw into it. The cinder block surface is porous, so the tape manages to pull away. But, still, there are a number of short-term methods that will help you attach and later remove the pictures, framed prints, cards, as well as posters. There are a few long-term ways as well that will help you attach heavier items like shelves easily.
Way 1: Adhesive Wall Hooks
If you have a concrete block wall that is painted and has a comparatively smooth as well as nonporous finish, then attaching pictures may be as simple & easy as installing removable adhesive wall hooks. Undamaged adhesive picture hangers are available in a huge range of styles as well as sizes. Clean the wall with the help of rubbing alcohol, before flaking off the paper backing from the adhesive hook and press in position for 30 seconds. Give the adhesive nearly an hour in order to set before attaching the picture. Weight limits differ by product, with the strongest picture attaching hooks supporting a maximum of 8 pounds.
Way 2: Hardwall Hangers
Hardwall hangers are the kind of picture hooks that are meant, particularly, for difficult surfaces, including concrete blocks as well as brick walls. The plastic hook hangs to the wall with the help of small metal nails that strike into the wall surface using a hammer. These hooks can hold up to 25 pounds that can be raised from the wall when they are no longer needed.
Way 3: Masonry Nails
This is one of the best & reliable options when it comes to hanging things on the cinder block walls. Masonry nails are usually composed of hardened steel in order to hold out against the bending when moving into concrete, concrete block, brick, as well as mortar. They are available in a few different styles as well as a wide range of sizes. All masonry nails are powerful enough when it comes to picture hanging, however, they should go into the wall 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches deep for supreme holding power. If in case the nails will be exposed, select the style based on look. Standard masonry nails have a sturdy, ridged shank as well as a dull gray finish. Bright masonry nails usually have even & uniform shanks and shiny silver color. Trimmed or flat masonry nails appear like old-fashioned cut nails for wood, these can be used for a rustic touch.
Driving Masonry Nails
Nailing into masonry is much harder as compared to nailing into the wood, however, the basic action is the same. Follow the below-mentioned steps carefully for the best results:
- You need to use a large & bulky hammer, such as a framing hammer, bricklayers hammer, or even a small sled hammer that works exceptionally well as compared to a standard finish hammer.
- Always make sure to wear safety glasses, due to the reason that the hardened steel nails can send out pieces of metal or pull off bits of masonry grit and causing them to move sharply or quickly toward you.
- Insert the nail into a mortar joint, not into a block, which can otherwise crack.
- Keep the nail as well as a hammer as straight as you possibly can, before striking the nail, unsettled taps with the hammer are expected to scrap the mortar, making a divot that won't take hold of the nail.
- As soon as the nail is set, driving it further is extremely simple & easy, but again, keep the hammer straight so that you don't force the nail with one side facing forward, another way to scrap the mortar.