When hanging something on a wall, whether it’s a shelf, curtain pole, picture or flowering basket, you need a strong fixing to make sure the item stays attached. At all times check for hidden pipes and electric cables with an electronic detector before drilling into a wall. Here are a couple of examples.
Putting up a hard and fast shelf.
The simplest shelf supports are non-adjustable brackets, which are perfect for putting up an individual shelf. Space the brackets according to the shelf material, its thickness and the load the shelf is going to be supporting. Brackets are fitted with the longer arm against the wall and the shorter one under the shelf, so the length of this longer arm will determine how closely shelves can be fitted one above another should you wish to put up more than one shelving.
1. Hold the shelf against the wall and mark where you want the underside to go. Then mark where the initial bracket is required to be, including the distance to the next bracket. Check the marks are level using a spirit level.
2. Hold the initial bracket up to the mark, checking it is vertical, and mark the wall inside the fixing holes. Repeat with the second bracket. If there are in excess of two brackets, fit them between the outer brackets, equal distances apart.
3. Drill into the wall, insert wallplugs if you have a masonry wall, and screw the brackets in place. Lay the shelf across, and make a mark inside the holes in the brackets for the fixing screws underneath it. Take the shelf down and drill pilot holes for your short screws, but make sure not to go right through the shelf. Replace the shelf and screw home the fixing screws.
Putting up a curtain track.
When putting up a curtain track or a pole, either buy the correct length or get one longer than you require and cut it to fit. The screws supplied with your curtain track may not be long enough to achieve a secure fixing. In that case, use longer screws and wallplugs, or screw into sound ceiling timber. The window top or ceiling may not be quite level, so mount the track parallel to whichever is the most horizontal.
1. Decide on the correct length of track to match your curtains and cut it to length by using a fine-tooth hacksaw. Remove any burrs from your cut ends with a craft knife or a file. If the window is wide and the curtains thick, the track will need to reach further than if the material is lightweight. Calculate just how much the track will reach beyond the recess. Use a ruler and pencil to extend the top line.
2. Measure 25mm in from your end of the pencil line and 50mm up; this is exactly the fixing position for the end bracket. Repeat to find the position of the other end bracket. Mark the remaining fixing positions at equal intervals between both end brackets, measuring 50mm up at the top of the window recess every time
3. Check at each fixing position that you have no hidden pipes or cables. If all is clear, drill the fixing holes and insert wallplugs of the proper size for the screws. Screw the mounting clips into position, following the manufacturer’s instructions. The bracket latches that the track fits into needs to be facing forward.
4. To fix the end stops, slip one over each end of the track and tighten the retaining screws.
5. Place the track into the slot in the end brackets. Push the bracket latch until you hear a click. Clip the remaining track into place in the same way.
Author Resource:
Believe me when I say that I understand how hard it can be to do these tasks that I have written about in this article. I have carried out these tips to many painting projects over the years but in the beginning when I first began in the painting trade there was a whole lot to learn. For my training I went to a company called - painter london - They taught me everything that I know these days.
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