Grapple Fix Picture Hooks

Having designed a plasterboard fixing capable of withstanding high load factors, we thought the next logical step would be to design a picture hook to work in perfect harmony.

These hooks (roundels) are particularly effective when used as horizontally opposed pairs for hanging large, heavy items such as mirrors. Conventional picture hooks are not designed to work in pairs that generate lateral forces causing them to skew from their vertical position, which can be problematic. The Grapplefix picture hook installs directly into the hole in the plasterboard as there is no obscuring front flange from the fixing itself. This is highly advantageous due to the extended surface area in direct contact with the plasterboard, which produces a beneficial sandwiching effect (structural lamination) and also provides the opportunity to utilise a locating ring to assist with installation and enhance performance. Orientation issues are permanently removed. Unlike conventional hooks, the central fixing bolt resides underneath the picture wire, which acts as a further failsafe.

Our picture hook has some distinct advantages over conventional (hook-shaped) hooks, summarised below:

Advantages of our Picture Hooks

1. Ease of installation, which takes seconds. The raised locating ring on the rear face of the hook is placed directly into the plasterboard hole after the Grapplefix has been inserted and holds instantly
2. Due to the circular shape of the hook, there are no alignment issues – the hook is orientation independent
3. The central, single fastener (bolt) is below the wire, which acts as a possible failsafe mechanism – most hooks attach above the wire
4. The picture wire itself is not subjected to as much stress as it passes over the smooth circular DRAFTED inner groove of the hook, holding the wire next to the board. This reduces the lateral moment on the hook, increasing load capacity. Importantly, the wire is not subjected to sharp bends or creases, which create areas of stress as they pass over the small looped ends of conventional metal hooks, which are sometimes only a couple of millimetres wide
5. The hook only extends 9 mm from the face of the plasterboard (the bolt head is completely recessed), which is less than even small conventional hooks. This greatly assists in achieving a cosmetically pleasing flush finish where required
6. Increased load capacity. The large circular boss of the Grapplefix and the locating ring of the hook sit in the plasterboard hole preventing the tear through effects that traditional small diameter fixings suffer from. The plasterboard is sandwiched between the back plate of the Grapplefix and the large surface area of the rear face of the hook. These two surface areas are approximately equivalent. This has a bracing effect on the the plasterboard, which is the weakest part of the installation

7. If the plasterboard is unrendered the hook will mate with the fixing, completely filling the hole. Additionally, the central bolt is able to create high friction between the hook surface and the plasterboard, which greatly increases loading thresholds
8. For larger, heavier pictures or mirrors, hooks can be used in pairs set horizontally apart. Owing to the rotationally symmetric continuous groove of each hook, the resultant force from the wire is always radial to the central fastener (assuming a constant tension in the wire), resulting in an ideal design with zero moment being applied to each hook. Conventional hooks cannot do this as lateral forces create a moment that displaces them immediately from the vertical

A Note on Picture Wires

The hook works equally well for smaller, lighter loads, but when hanging significant loads (above 10 Kg), we recommend using a 7 x 7 (49 individual strands) 1.5 mm steel wire.

The breaking strain of this type of wire is usually around 140 Kg (check the specification prior to installation). It is made up of 7 bundles, each containing 7 strands. This configuration gives the wire the required flexibility.

Other wire configurations such as 7 x 19 are even more flexible (therefore allowing for increased diameters) and a 2 mm, 7 x 19 steel wire would give a breaking strain up to 230 Kg where extra safety multiples are required. Again, check the specification carefully prior to installation.

Please note that the picture hook slot is limited to wires (including any additional coating) of 3 mm (maximum) diameter.

Optimally, the ends of the wire should be as close to vertical as possible (with the two hooks positioned horizontally apart as far as possible), as this represents the configuration with the lowest resulting tension in the wire. However, this may not always be practical and is an optional configuration. The ends of the wire may diverge (as shown below – the less the better), be almost vertical (preferred) or even converge if required.

FAQ

Is your picture hook heavy duty?

Yes, the Grapplefix picture hook is heavy duty, with a highest recommended load of 50Kg for single 12.5 mm thickness plasterboard.

Has the picture hook been independently tested?

Yes. The picture hook and fixing have been independently tested by Building Research Establishment to British Standard BS 5234-2.

What is the strongest plasterboard picture hook on the market?

Grapplefix has created the strongest picture hook for plasterboard on the market today.

Can Grapplefix hooks be installed in horizontally opposed pairs?

Yes, this is one of the key design strengths of our picture hook. The hooks will not rotate inwards under load unlike traditional hooks that rip out under lateral forces when more than one hook is required e.g. for hanging a heavier or wider item. Additionally the bolts reside below the picture wire for additional security.

Can it be installed on thin 9.5 mm plasterboard?

Yes. The hooks with the shallower locating rings (2 in each pack) can be used on 9.5 mm plasterboard, which can be present in some houses, usually upstairs. These can also be used on thicker boards.

Can the picture hook be installed on double thickness plasterboards – even double 15 mm boards?

Yes. Except for 9.5 mm plasterboards, double thickness boards will require longer bolts.

How does it perform on double thickness boards?

Due to the innovative design, double thickness boards significantly increase performance from 103 Kg failure limit to 195 Kg failure limit on double 12.5 mm boards. Maximum recommended limits are half of these limits.

What size drill bit is required?

A 16 mm bit or preferably a hole saw is required

Which fixing does your picture hook require?

The red M5 short back plate fixing. The picture hook pack contains 4 picture hooks, 4 red fixings and 4 M5 bolts, plus a universal applicator tool that can be used for all Grapplefix fixings.

Can the picture hook be installed in tight spaces?

Yes, the fixing can be installed into cavities down to 20 mm.

Can the hook be installed on tiled plasterboard surfaces?

Yes. Unlike other fixings that rely on front plugs, Grapplefix fixings do not occlude the drilled hole in the tile allowing for easy hook insertion. Installation takes seconds as there are no alignment issues and no moving parts.

Can I buy picture hooks separately?

No, picture hooks can currently only be purchased in a kit. They are specifically designed to be used with a Grapplefix fixing.

Can they be used on boards other than plasterboard?

The red fixing can only be used in plasterboard. Fixings for use in other substrates will be released shortly, which can then be used with the picture hook depending on the depth of the panel. Minimum panel thickness would be 9 mm.

Do you provide a picture wire hanging pack?

Hanging packs will be available shortly.