If you have a patio, you probably want to hang up decorations and possibly planters – but you might be wondering how to hang things on aluminum patios. It can be difficult to hang things when you are dealing with metal, so let’s look at the top methods.
To add decorations to your aluminum patio, you will likely need to drill into the aluminum. It may be best to get professionals in to do this if you aren’t confident with DIY, because you don’t want to risk damaging the cover’s integrity. If you prefer, you can buy hooks designed to be used with aluminum without drilling.
How Do You Hang Things On An Aluminum Patio?
To hang things on an aluminum patio, you are going to need to fasten some hooks to the patio. These need to be securely attached so that the items you hang up don’t fall and break.
This will usually involve drilling through the metal, but you need to be careful about this so you don’t damage the patio cover. You will need a pencil, a drill, some suitable hooks, some 1/8 inch toggle bolts, and a 3/8 inch drill bit.
Get Your Tools Ready
When you have all of your tools ready, hold the hook up to the cover where you wish to install it. Use your pencil to mark where the hook’s holes will be, making a visible mark on the aluminum cover so you can see where to drill.
Create Holes
Put the hook down and then use the drill to create holes wide enough for the bolts that you have. Once you have made the holes, line your hook up with them, clamp the bolt together, and slide it through the hook and into the hole until you hear it snap open when the end reaches the other side of the aluminum cover.
This should hold the bolt in place. Give it a little tug to test that it is firm. If it comes out, it hasn’t opened on the other side, so try again.
Put The Other Bolts In
Once it is securely in place, put the other bolts in, and test whether your hook is holding. It should not move or wobble, and because the bolts have a cover on them, you shouldn’t get any leakage when it rains.
Now, the only thing left to do is hang up your decorations!
How Can You Hang Things Without Drilling?
If you don’t want to drill into your patio cover, you will need to buy some special products that are designed to fix to your patio cover without a hole. What you need will depend on what kind of patio cover you have, so take a photograph before checking out your local hardware stores.
This will mean staff members have a better chance of helping you find what you need.
Many of these hooks and hangers are called Alumahangers, and they work by fitting into the grooves of your aluminum patio cover. They are very secure and can be used to hang bird feeders, planters, and even curtains without a problem.
They are easy to install and will not damage the metal patio at all, so they are well worth trying if you want to hang items without drilling holes. If you aren’t into DIY, this is definitely the best option.
They can also be taken down easily if you want to remove them or simply relocate them. This makes them ideal for temporary decorations or planters that you might later want to move. If you have drilled holes in the patio cover, you will leave these holes visible when you remove the hooks.
How Do You Hang Lights On An Aluminum Patio?
A lot of people want to light up their patios and make them beautiful places to sit for the evening – but that isn’t easy if you haven’t got any hooks to work with. The simple solution is to add some hooks along the patio cover.
You can either do this by drilling, or by using the no-drill hooks mentioned above. If you use the no-drill hooks, you will not have any choice about the spacing, but you won’t need to measure; the hooks will be spaced out along the grooves of the cover. If you use hooks that require drilling, you’ll have to measure carefully to get them even.
Once you’ve got your hooks in place, test that they are secure, and then suspend your string lights over the hooks and turn them on. This is a great way to decorate your patio and make sure that it looks warm and welcoming to everyone.
How Do You Hang Plants From An Aluminum Patio?
If you want to hang plants, it’s best to use a movable hanger if possible, because you are quite likely to find that you want to take the plants down from time to time, and this will leave little holes in the cover if you have drilled it.
The Alumahanger should be strong enough to hold up hanging baskets and other suspended planters without a problem, and it’s easier to move if you need to lift the planters down or you want to change your display at a later date.
It also means that if you no longer want that planter there, you can remove it and there will be no need to patch up the cover. Since plants are constantly changing, it’s important to consider the long-term as well as the short-term appearance.
You certainly can drill holes if you prefer. This will let you be more flexible about where you position the planter because you don’t have to depend upon the grooves in the cover. If you want to drill your own holes, simply use the method described at the start of the article and check the hooks are secure before you suspend your plants.
Conclusion
To hang things on an aluminum patio, you will either need to drill your own holes and use toggle bolts, or buy some hangers specifically designed for slotting into the grooves of an aluminum cover. Either of these methods should work well on a patio.
Did this blog post help you out? If it did please share it on social media and with friends and family!
Take a look our other most recent blog posts below:
- Bathroom Decor Ideas with Plants and Wood Accents
- Home Office Ideas For Two People
- Half Bathroom Accent Wall Ideas
- Farmhouse Bathroom Tile Ideas
- Halloween Porch Decorations