On brick, a brick clip grips the brick face itself, with no adhesive, if the mortar is set back at least 1/8 inch. Some mounting tapes name brick too: Gorilla Heavy Duty, T-Rex and Scotch-Mount Gel Tape. Command says its strips are not recommended for brick.
Brick clips
Brick Clip fasteners are tempered spring steel clips that grip the face of one brick. The maker says there should be a “square” mortar joint, with the mortar set back at least 1/8 inch from the brick. If your mortar is flush with the brick, it says the clip has nothing to grab.
| Size | Fits bricks |
|---|---|
| Standard | 2 1/8 to 2 1/2 inches tall |
| Queen | 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches tall |
| Max | 3 to 3 1/4 inches tall |
From brickclip.com. Measure the brick only, not the mortar. The maker says each clip is rated to hold up to 25 pounds.
- Place the spring end of the clip at the base of the brick.
- Push the clip up, pressing the spring, until the teeth go over the top of the brick. The maker says a screwdriver can be used as a lever.
- Push the clip flush against the brick.
- To take it off, press the spring until the teeth lift off.
Tapes whose makers name brick
| Tape | Maker’s stated limit | Notes from the maker |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Heavy Duty Mounting Tape | “holds up to 30 pounds” | Outdoor; apply above 50°F; permanent |
| Gorilla Invisible Hold Mounting Tape | “holds 1 pound per 4 inches of tape” | Outdoor; apply above 50°F; permanent |
| T-Rex Extreme Hold Mounting Tape | “hold up to 4 lbs per 4 in of tape” | Apply at 50°F and above; permanent, will cause damage if removed |
| Scotch-Mount Multipurpose Gel Tape | “holding up to 20 lbs” | Outdoor; sold as removable |
| Loctite Fun-Tak | None printed | Interior only; not for heavy objects such as mirrors and framed pictures |
From each product’s page, data sheet or FAQ. Gorilla also lists brick for its Double-Sided Tape, which it says not to use for heavy-duty items. Gorilla says its limits may vary with the surface’s texture, porosity and flatness.
Command strips on brick
Command’s FAQ says its products are “not recommended for wallpaper, brick, or rough concrete,” and its surface chart puts brick in the no row. It says to use only products that list your surface on the package.
When to drill
For anything heavy, or anything that could hurt someone if it fell, we’d use a fastener instead: see choosing a masonry anchor and choosing a wall anchor on our drill bit site.