How to hang a bunch of corkboards on my wall?
May 20, 2012 11:36 AM Subscribe
What's the best way to hang a bunch of bulletin boards (corkboards) on a large plaster-and-lath wall? Constraints: the boards should sit flush/flat on the wall, and should be removable / repositionable (within reason).
So I have a large wall (about 12'x8'), and a bunch of bulletin boards of varying sizes that I've slowly accumulated. I'd like to hang them all on the wall, which will almost cover it completely. I'd like to be able to move them around to different positions on the wall (within reason). When hung, they should be sturdy and not move when I tack things on them — so, for example, hanging them from steel cable is not ideal as they'll swing.
The corkboards vary from about 1.5'x2' to 4'x3'.
I'm really not sure where to start here and I'm hoping folks will have bright ideas...
So I have a large wall (about 12'x8'), and a bunch of bulletin boards of varying sizes that I've slowly accumulated. I'd like to hang them all on the wall, which will almost cover it completely. I'd like to be able to move them around to different positions on the wall (within reason). When hung, they should be sturdy and not move when I tack things on them — so, for example, hanging them from steel cable is not ideal as they'll swing.
The corkboards vary from about 1.5'x2' to 4'x3'.
I'm really not sure where to start here and I'm hoping folks will have bright ideas...
Response by poster: There is no molding at the top of the wall, there is basic 10" baseboard at the bottom.
Yeah, as long as I can take it down eventually and patch up, I can use whatever.
I don't have any fundamental objection to steel cable, I just want it to feel solid rather than swingy.
posted by sixswitch at 11:57 AM on May 20, 2012
Yeah, as long as I can take it down eventually and patch up, I can use whatever.
I don't have any fundamental objection to steel cable, I just want it to feel solid rather than swingy.
posted by sixswitch at 11:57 AM on May 20, 2012
Maybe screw a few 1x4s a few feet apart horizontally to the (vertical) studs, and then screw/nail/hang your boards from them? Then when you take it all down, you'll only have those initial screw-holes to fill. The hardest part is finding the studs.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 12:39 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by fivesavagepalms at 12:39 PM on May 20, 2012
Best answer: To make it repositionable, why not velcro? As long as each board is under 16 pounds these strips will do the job (or if heavier just use more of them). Easy cleanup whenever you want to get rid of them.
posted by beagle at 1:38 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by beagle at 1:38 PM on May 20, 2012
Best answer: It is difficult to attach things to old lath-and-plaster walls without cracking them, and cracks in lath-and-plaster tend to spread and crumble. If you go attaching nails or screws to that stuff, make sure you drill pilot holes first and for the love of God make sure you go into studs and not just the lath.
Personally I would not do this project on lath-and-plaster walls. If I did do it I would probably hang a false wall from the ceiling joists and put my corkboard on that. Or else you could do as fivesavagepalms suggests and install rails, in which case I might take the step of putting foam spacers between the rails and the wall to spread the stress some, but I'd still be worried about destroying the walls.
If this were drywall it would be a different issue.
posted by Scientist at 1:59 PM on May 20, 2012
Personally I would not do this project on lath-and-plaster walls. If I did do it I would probably hang a false wall from the ceiling joists and put my corkboard on that. Or else you could do as fivesavagepalms suggests and install rails, in which case I might take the step of putting foam spacers between the rails and the wall to spread the stress some, but I'd still be worried about destroying the walls.
If this were drywall it would be a different issue.
posted by Scientist at 1:59 PM on May 20, 2012
Best answer: Velcro sounds like the best idea. The amount of fasteners you would need for any other method put your wall at serious risk of irreparable damage.
posted by dg at 9:50 PM on May 20, 2012
posted by dg at 9:50 PM on May 20, 2012
Response by poster: Ended up going with a grid of velcro dots. Seems good so far — although I didn't account for the fact that the wall might not be flat.
posted by sixswitch at 9:29 AM on June 4, 2012
posted by sixswitch at 9:29 AM on June 4, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Are you allowed to use whatever nails etc you want in the wall, or do you have constraints?
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:43 AM on May 20, 2012