How to Hang Drapery Rods on Sheetrock Walls
Draperies can add sophistication to the interior of your house, as well as provide more practical benefits, such as blocking sunlight, drafts, and noise. Hanging drapery rods isn't a particularly difficult task. Ideally, the rod brackets are mounted through the drywall and into wall studs, but that isn't always possible. However, special fasteners are available that allow you to securely mount your drapery rods into the Sheetrock or dryall covering the walls when no wall stud is nearby. When hanging drapery rods, ask a friend to help. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Ruler
- Finishing nail
- Hammer
- Hollow-wall anchors
- Wood screws
- Carpenter's level
Instructions
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1
Hold your drapery rod up, with the help of a friend, to check for placement and height where you'd like to mount the rod. Mark lightly on the wall with a pencil where the rod's bracket will be placed. Measure with a ruler to ensure that the brackets will be equally spaced on both sides of the window.
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2
Hold each bracket up to the wall at its marked position. Mark the locations of the bracket screw holes on the wall with a pencil.
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3
Hammer a small finish nail into the wall where each of the screw hole markings were made. Note what the nail encounters -- whether it hits solid wood or passes through the drywall and encounters empty space behind. Remove the nail after testing each hole.
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4
Insert an appropriately sized hollow-wall anchor into the drywall at each screw-hole location where your nail test showed nothing solid behind the drywall. Insert the anchors according to the manufactuer's directions; for instance, some anchors screw in, while others are hammered in place. Once the anchors are in place, screw your bracket into the anchor.
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Place your drapery rod bracket into position, matching the screw holes with the wall anchors. Screw the bracket screws through the bracket and into the wall anchors.
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6
Place your drapery rod on the brackets to finish the installation.
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Tips & Warnings
When positioning the drapery rod, check the position with a carpenter's level.
If you hit a wood stud behind the drywall, you don't need a wall anchor. Tap a small hole through the drywall and into the wood stud with a finishing nail at each screw hole's location. Screw the bracket to the wall with wood screws that are at least 1 3/4 inches long.
Hollow-wall anchors come in a variety of styles and in sizes designed for holding different weights. For a secure installation, consider the weight of your drapery rod and draperies when choosing the anchors.
