How to hammer nails without damaging the wall

Nails can damage walls because, as they make room for themselves, they break or compress the material under the hammer blows. The risk of damage depends on the material the wall is made of. 

In plastered walls (the most common), when hammered, the nail creates micro-fractures around the entry point. If the blow is too strong or the wall is fragile, the plaster can to chip or crack, leaving those little craters or cracks that you often see.

In plasterboard, the problem is different: it is a softer and less compact material. The nail widens the hole and weakens the internal structure, so over time it can loosen or even come out, especially if it holds weight.

On concrete or brick, however, the nail encounters a lot of resistance. If it is not suitable, it can crack the surface or not enter well, creating local cracks or crumbling.

To hammer nails without damaging the wall, there are some useful tips that shouldn't be underestimated:

• First, choose the right spot: avoid cracks, bulges, crumbly areas, or areas that sound "hollow." Even spots too close to edges or corners should be avoided, as they're more fragile. 

A simple trick is knock lightly with the knuckles:

• if the sound is full, then the area where you want to hammer the nail is solid 
• if the sound is empty, the risk is that the wall will crumble where you are planting the chioso
• Then choose the right nails based on the type of wall. If the wall is plaster or drywall, use thin, normal steel nails; for harder walls (like concrete), you'll need harder, tempered steel nails; or consider using a wall plug instead of a nail; if the wall is brick, you'll need sturdy nails, which should be driven into the mortar between the bricks, not into the brick itself, to avoid cracking.
• Protect the wall surface at the exact spot where you'll hammer the nail: place a small piece of painter's tape and secure the nail through the tape; place a small piece of folded paper between the hammer and the wall for the first few blows.
• Mark the exact spot where you intend to hammer the nail with a pencil, so you can be sure it's in the right place. Furthermore, if the nails are different, the pencil marks can help you align them correctly. 
• Stabilize the nail during the first few strokes with a clip or a comb. 
• Avoid excessively strong or crooked blows.
• Even bread can be useful for hammering nails without damaging the wall, with this simple method.

Necessary

• generous balls of breadcrumbs

Method

• Place the bread balls on the chosen spot on the wall to fix a nail
• Then place the nail on top of the crumb and start hammering. very delicately.
• The crumb acts as a temporary “thickness”: it helps to stabilize the nail and can slightly reduce slippage on the first few shots.

Read also:

• The foolish and useless idea of ​​attacking paintings with toothpaste
• Natural detergents for cleaning walls