Picture hanging systems are used by house owners, businesses, education providers, and art installers to easily and quickly install artwork on walls. Picture rails, picture hooks, and hanging wires are all components of a picture hanging system. Picture rails are installed along the top of a wall and provide a stable base for attaching picture hooks. Picture hooks are then used to hang artwork from the picture rail. Hanging wires are also attached to the picture hooks and extend down to the bottom of the frame, where they are secured.
The Artiteq click rail picture hanging system is composed of 5 components:
In this article, we will explore how each of these components works.
The Artiteq Click Rail
Supplied in a multitude of lengths and color finishes, the Artiteq Click Rail is the most flexible picture rail you will ever find!
Its essential but sturdy design features an aluminum extrusion that you can decide to order in 100cm, 200cm, or 300cm lengths.
Not quite sure what length you need? Not a problem!
Artiteq Click Rail can be easily cut to any length by simply using a manual or electric drop saw.
This picture rail is available in three color finishes:
- aluminum, ideal for achieving that industrial look that you may be looking for
- black anodized, if you have black walls or stone/brick walls for a stunning final effect
- White and white primer: designed to fit elegantly and discretely on your walls.
You may be wondering what is the difference between white and white primer?
Simply explained, the white primer matches perfectly with bright (cool) white walls and ceilings or it can also be painted in any color that you like!
If your white walls tend towards a beige tonality (warm white), then the Click Rail White is your best picture rail.
Picture Rails: Can I Use Them to Hang a Heavy Picture or a Mirror?
The answer is yes, but it also depends on following the installation recommendations from Artiteq.
The Artiteq Click Rail is designed in a way that you can hang on each meter of rail up to 30Kg of pictures, photos, artworks, etc.
Do you need more? Check our Click Rail PRO for a whooping 50Kg/meter load capacity.
How is this achieved? Thank you to the Artiteq CLICK & CONNECTS.
The Click & Connects are part of the “Install Kit” that each rail is supplied with.
Each Install Kit includes:
- Click and Connects clips
- Universal wall plugs and screws
- 2 End Caps
The Click&Connect are heavy-duty nylon clips that are attached to the wall by means of universal wall plugs or wall mates and screws.
In order to achieve the maximum load capacity and ensure a safe and long-lasting installation, it is essential than each meter of rail is supported by not less than 3 Click and Connects.
Once the Click&Connect are installed on the wall, the Click Rail will just “click” onto them.
THE Artiteq END CAPS
If you don’t install from wall to wall your hanging rail requires end caps . This component has at least 2 functions:
- preventing the hanging wire from sliding off the rail.
- ensuring the best aesthetical result
Are you planning on installing your picture rails over an angle? Then you should also check the Artiteq Corner Connectors, which ensure the best results in terms of the final appearance of your installation.
How Do I Install an Artiteq Picture Rail?
The process is indeed very simple:
- Preparing: Get your walls ready: repair, plaster, and paint.
- Measuring: Measure the width of your walls. Mark your hanging rails to size. Remember to include the end cap or corner connector in your calculations if you’re not installing the track along the whole wall.
- Cutting: The picture hanging rails are easy to cut; cut them to size and, if needed, attach your end caps and corner connectors.
- Drilling: Mark your drilling spots on the wall for the clips that attach your rail to your wall; drill 3 holes per meter with one at each end of your track.
Tip: it is important to make sure you drill holes in a straight line: either use the rail to draw a straight line or use a chalk line or a laser line generator.
- Attaching: Choose fixings that suit your wall type, or simply use the Artiteq Universal fittings. Please note that the universal fitting is designed for concrete, brick walls, and plasterboard (13mm thickness minimum). If you have thinner plasterboard, wood, or other material we recommend using specific attachments.
- Screw the click and connect attachment clips to your wall. Use your fist or a rubber mallet to click/tap your hanging rail onto the click and connect clips – too easy!
How to Install a Picture Rail in Presence of Cornices
Have you got cornices on your walls or are you planning on installing some? Perfect!
Click Rail picture rail can be beautifully implemented into the classic crown molding and thus helping you achieve a perfect design that combines both sophistication and functionality.
How?
One ingenious trick that we learned from our art installers is to install the Artiteq Click Rail just under, or even better, behind your cornice.
Picture rail below the cornice
If you have a cornice already in place, you don’t have to remove it. You can have your picture rail beautifully installed just under it.
The installation steps are essentially the same as shown above, and possibly easier. In fact, you can use the cornice as a reference and push the click and connect against it. Make sure that one of the clip’s wings is against the cornice and use a pencil to mark the clip position, through the hole in the clip.
And voila’ – you just have to repeat this every about 40cm, in a straight line, to have all the marks that you need for the subsequent drilling.
Once you have all your clips in place on the wall, just click the rail onto them, helping yourself with a rubber mallet. Be careful not to accidentally hit the cornice with your mallet!
As the cornice and the walls may not be perfectly straight (the picture rail is!) you may want to use white gap filler to smooth possible imperfections.
The final result will look amazing, and the picture rail will hardly be noticed as it will seem like it is part of the cornice!
Picture rail behind the cornice
If you don’t have a cornice in place yet, but you are planning on installing one, you may have the opportunity to experiment with an even more sophisticated design. This will amaze all of your visitors, guaranteed!
- The first step is to determine how much of the Click Rail you want to expose behind the crown molding.
- Then cut a block of scrap wood to use as a gauge. This will help to position the track at the same distance from the ceiling in all locations. Note that the gauge is against the track clip and not the track itself.
- As before, mark the wall where each Click&Connect connector needs to be placed – 3 connectors per meter of rail as recommended by Artiteq.
- Use a stud finder to locate the studs. You can place the connectors at studs whenever possible. These can be drilled with a small pilot hole only. Where no studs are present, the hole can be drilled larger to accept a screw anchor (also known as wall mate).
- Insert the wall mates and/or the universal plugs into the pre-drilled holes.NOTE: If you are lucky enough to locate the wall header, this may be your best option. As you will have to mount the connectors a bit higher on the wall, you will need to check that your drill/electric screwdriver allows for that or get special attachments. You don’t want to hit and possibly damage the ceiling with the head of your drill!While this would hide more of the track behind the molding it would also make it much easier to fasten the connectors to the wall. Each of the screws holding the connector clips would be based on wood as they would each contact the wall header. Not a single plastic screw anchor would be needed.
- Apply a connector (clip) with the supplied screws for the first track length.
- Click the picture rail over the connector and you are halfway done!
How do I Connect Two Picture Rails Over a Corner or Edges?
When you reach an inside corner, make sure to insert the Corner Connector to the track ends before mounting it to the wall.
NOTE: the Corner Connectors add to the difficulty of finishing corners nicely. If you have enough skill to take on the mounting of crown moldings with mitered corners, you probably have the skills to mount the track without Corner Connectors and mitering the track corners as well.
- continue this process until you have run a lap around the entire room.
- Next, prepare to add the crown molding. We suggest using a very lightweight synthetic molding.
- The crown molding can be held in place with a bead of construction adhesive on the portion of the track where the molding would come in contact with – and an occasional finish nail.
- Next, install the crown molding. In the picture, you can see the molding reaching an outside corner and the moderate difficulties with placing molding over the Corner Connectors. (This is a view from below the track looking up.)
- Once all the steps before are completed, all it is left to do is fill the holes and caulk the gaps.–> TIP: Use paintable and flexible caulk for a smooth finish. Since these are made of different materials, the caulk will keep the paint from cracking at the seam between the track and molding.
For a perfect job, remember to caulk the seam between the track and molding as well!
This procedure is guaranteed to create a very nice, finished look.
THE Artiteq HANGING WIRES
The hanging wires are one of the components that provide a solid connection between your hanging object and the rail.
Te Artiteq hanging wire has a patented system based on a metallic head which is inserted into the rail first and then twisted (hence the name “Twister”). The wire is thus fully engaged and can be slid back and forth so that you can position your painting/poster/print anywhere along your wall.
The Twister hanging wires are available in two different materials, which give them different load capacity and appearances:
- Perlon: commercial name for heavy-duty transparent Nylon. These wires offer good load capacities and are nearly invisible.
- Stainless steel: for higher load capacities, extended lifespan, and a more “industrial look
The twister hanging wires comes also in different measures:
- Choice of two diameters (thickness): 1mm or 2mm
- Choice of 5 lengths: 100, 150, 200, 300 or 500mm
This leads to the following load capacities for the Artiteq Hanging Wires:
- Diameter: 1mm
- Material: Perlon
- Load capacity: 5kg per wire
- Diameter: 1mm
- Material: stainless steel
- Load capacity: 10kg per wire
- Diameter: 2mm
- Material: Perlon
- Load capacity: 20kg per wire
- Diameter: 2mm
- Material: stainless steel
- Load capacity: 20kg per wire
The Hooks
The hooks are the component in charge of stably engaging with your object and transmit its weight to the hanging wire, and ultimately, to the rail and the wall fixings. The Artiteq Hooks have a patented auto-grip mechanism, and the wire is simply passed through them. They have a little button on top which is normally up and it keeps the internal clamp engaged to the wire.
Whenever you press the button down, the clamp will disengage. That allows them to slide up and down the twisters, so you can adjust them to de desired height and make sure your artwork is straight. One good solution is to attach them to d-rings as shown in the picture below.
Hang Logic offers 4 different types of hooks and they suit both Perlon and stainless steel hanging wires :
- Micro Grip for 1 mm wires – automatic grip device – 10Kg max load capacity
- Micro Grip for 2 mm wires – automatic grip device – 20Kg max load capacity
- Ratchet Hook (for 2 mm wires only) – automatic grip device – 15Kg max load capacity
- Mini Hook (for 2 mm wires only) – manual grip device (screw) – 4Kg max load capacity
Conclusions
Artiteq’s picture hanging system is a clever, elegant, and affordable solution to display your artworks, photo collection, posters, etc. in a flexible way.
The Click Rail is incredibly easy to install and can be adapted to situations where some other building elements are already in place e.g. cornices, internal and external corners, etc.
The Twister Hanging Wires and Hooks are two key components of the system as they allow you to rotate your painting display at any time, and as often as you please. Their robust, patented design allows you to explore different appearance options and load capacities..
Time for an upgrade?
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Whether you are looking for something simple to keep your walls tidy and pristine or comprehensive systems to create an impressive art display, we are just a phone call away.
Contact us today by calling us on 0432 924 305 or email us at [email protected] for a FREE consultation. Or, if you prefer to work things out yourself, sift through our frequently asked questions.
