French Cleat or Z-Clip? French Cleat? Z-Clip?
Finding it hard to decide? Don’t worry, they’re the same thing… basically. The primary difference is the material the two are made from – the French Cleat uses wood, and the Z Clip uses aluminum. The only other major difference between the two is, because of their materials, the Z Clip can often support more weight. Making them super popular and versatile.
Speaking of popular, the aluminum Z-Clip extrusion is one of our most popular profiles. We get requests for it all the time. Its simplicity makes it so popular. It helps hang and stabilize things (like artwork and cabinets, respectively). Attaching Z Clips is simple, too. It’s cost-effective and offers super speedy mounting and removal. They’re also strong and secure and can be used on a variety of surfaces.
They’re simple and effective. What more could you want from your aluminum extrusions?
Who doesn’t need something hung on occasion? That’s why the Z-Clip works across almost any industry.
Here are some of the most common use cases for Z-Clips:
Residential – Z Clips are perfect for your DIY enthusiast whether you need hanging storage for your tools (as an alternative to a pegboard or slatwall) or want to hang a TV or custom piece of art more securely than nails and string.
Interior Design – Enable the creativity to easily swap out artwork and pictures or create extra hanging storage that’s functional. Use Z Clips to design the space that works for you.
Commercial – Easily change and mount monitors, artwork, and other things based on your needs. Are you a high-tech office always grabbing the latest screen to cast your presentations? Or how about an art gallery with new exhibits all the time? Z Clips make the changeover a breeze.
Signage – Since the Z Clips bread and butter are hanging things, it makes them perfect for signage. The lightning-fast mounting and removal combined with Z Clips’ sturdiness, enables you to confidently hang your sign while easily swapping it in and out depending on your needs. Having a sale at your store and want to promote it more, change your signage easily during the duration of the sale. And just as easily swap it back when it’s done.
Displays and Exhibits – Just like with signage, using Z Clips for displays and exhibits enables you to confidently hang stuff (signage, product, etc.) in your booth and change it freely based on your demands. Highlighting a new product one week? Display that. Easily make that change hassle-free. Take your displays and exhibits to the next level with aluminum Z Clips.
Architectural Millwork – Z Clips do more than just hang things. They’re really all about stabilization. Stabilize cabinets or other woodworking pieces to walls with Z Clips. Z Clips are an architectural millworker’s best friend when it comes to ensuring their projects are secure.
As already addressed in this blog, aluminum Z-Clips are used for a variety of purposes. You can choose from mill or anodized finishes. But additional finishes are available via custom order.
Or grab our Z-Bar picture hangers or a French cleat hanging system which are available as a box of 250 in 2″ lengths or a variety of lengths in feet.
Hang confidently with Z-Clips from Extrude-A-Trim.
Find the perfect finish for your project with awning rails, sliding track channels, chalk trays, channel caps, corner beads, counter edges, T-edges, J-Channels, mirror trims, ticket mouldings and more.
Learn everything you need to know about all the different aluminum channels. It’ll almost be like you have superpowered knowledge of aluminum channels.
Aluminum angles transcend industries because of its multitude of capabilities – structurally and architecturally. Learn what makes this extrusion so synonymous with almost every industry where you us aluminum extrusions.
Aluminum solid bars do more than you think. They are industry agnostic and can easily float between structural and architectural uses. Learn more about this versatile extrusion now!
In the final post of the year, we take a look back at the cool things to happen to Extrude-A-Trim in 2024. Plus, we take a quick glimpse into 2025 and beyond.
The choices for aluminum round, square, rectangular, and telescopic tubes make the uses nearly endless. Read about the versatility and strength – the super abilities – of aluminum tubing.
Ever wonder how aluminum extrusions are finished? Or what’s the difference? Discover the differences and learn about all our aluminum extrusion finish options now.
Different alloys, names, and numbers might seem confusing when trying to find the correct extrusion. But we’ve simplified the differences between structural and architectural extrusions.
Is it a Z-Clip or a French Cleat? Or What’s the difference between an F-Channel, corner moulding, and a sign frame extrusion? Are they just different names for the same thing? Or are they completely different?
Extrude-A-Trim is going to the 2024 International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta! Stop by booth C2330 to chat with our experts and check out our vast selection of aluminum extrusions.
Whether you’re looking for retail displays to grand showcases at tradeshow exhibits, or organizing your millwork, woodwork, and cabinetry areas, slatwall inserts could be the perfect solution for you.
With a new warehouse in Pompano Beach, Florida, Extrude-A-Trim can now help its US customers get the right specialty aluminum extrusions at the right price, right now.
© 2025 – EXTRUDE-A-TRIM® is a registered trademark of Extrude-A-Trim Inc.
All drawings and part numbers are the property of Extrude-A-Trim Inc., and may not be copied or reproduced or altered in any way without the expressed written approval of Extrude-A-Trim Inc.
2321 NW 30TH Place
Pompano Beach, FL. 33069
Tel: (954) 884-0302
360 Carlingview Drive
Toronto, Ontario. M9W 5X9
Tel: (416) 798-1277
Pickup & Delivery
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
© 2025 – EXTRUDE-A-TRIM® is a registered trademark of Extrude-A-Trim Inc.
All drawings and part numbers are the property of Extrude-A-Trim Inc., and may not be copied or reproduced or altered in any way without the expressed written approval of Extrude-A-Trim Inc.
