art of hammering nails into walls
New Delhi: When we decorate our home, hitting nails in the walls has become an essential task, whether it is installing photo frames or clocks and calendars. However, the biggest challenge in this process is that the plaster of the wall can disintegrate due to the hammer blow, which can lead to the formation of cracks or potholes. This problem is especially common on plastered walls.
The force of the hammer blow exerts pressure on the surrounding area, which can cause cracks in weak or damp plaster. Therefore, it is necessary to select the right location and method before hammering the nails, so that no damage is caused to the wall.
check the condition of the wall
Before placing the nail it is necessary to examine the place thoroughly. If there is already a crack or raised plaster, you should avoid hitting nails at that place. The corners of the wall may also be weak. A simple method is to try tapping lightly with your fingers. If there is a normal and solid sound, the spot is strong, while a hollow sound indicates weak plaster.
Select the right nail according to the surface
It is not right to use the same type of nail for every type of wall. A thin steel nail is suitable for soft surfaces such as plaster or drywall, whereas hammering a normal nail into a concrete wall may crack the surface. Care must be taken when driving nails into a brick wall and it is best to target the joint between the bricks as far as possible.
use tape and clips
Applying painter's tape over the nailing area can be an effective solution to prevent plaster from cracking. Placing a nail on top of the tape and hammering slowly keeps the surface stable. Additionally, initially using a small clip or comb instead of holding the nail by hand protects the fingers from injury and reduces the risk of the nail slipping. The most common mistake people make is that they hit the hammer too hard in the beginning, which can cause the nail to slip and damage the plaster. Therefore, the first few blows should always be done with a light hand.