An important thing to know about hanging shelves and pictures safely is to take the time to do the job correctly. Properly installed shelves can last for years. Hurriedly done jobs may make your shelves both ugly and dangerous. Before beginning the job, you need to know where you want to place the shelves or pictures. Next, you need to gather the proper tools and materials.
Is your home one of those that have drywall for their interior walls? If so, do note that this is not strong enough to hold heavy objects. To hang shelves and large pictures, you will need to anchor them to the wooden studs in your walls. You will need a stud finder to find these studs. So as not to potentially damage walls and floors or risk causing injury, you must place shelf supports and picture hangers on wooden studs to keep the shelves and pictures from falling.
Now you can plan out the placement of your shelves and pictures. To ensure that your installation will result in proper placement, use a measuring tape, pencil, and a level. The use of proper safety precautions is a must if you will be hanging shelves at a height that would require a ladder. Ladders alone injure more people than any other household accident.
For pictures, the height at which you hang your pictures is critical. The result may look out of balance or unprofessional if not done properly. As a general rule, the center of a framed picture should be located approximately 57 inches above the floor (this is eye level for the average person). Before you go to the next step, carefully measure and mark the placement of each picture.
Next, you have to determine what type of screws, anchors, and brackets you will need to support the item’s weight. For shelves, be sure to include the weight of the objects that will be stored there. It is fine to overestimate the weight, just to be safe. You might also need a drill driver or other power tool to place screws, anchors, and brackets in the studs and walls.
Make sure to educate yourself on the proper use of your drill driver before attempting to use it for the first time. If you are going to hang shelves or pictures on a brick or concrete wall, that would require a masonry bit and plastic anchors to install the screws required to hold the shelf or picture in place. Consider having someone around to help lift and steady things when you’re ready to install the shelf or picture. Getting a second opinion on your placement and measurements never hurts, either.
If you are not comfortable around screws, drills, and power tools, pictures can also be secured to the walls by other methods such as double-sided adhesives. Remember, some adhesives may be permanent or removable. It is best to choose one that suits your needs.
By taking a few precautions and choosing the right tools, you can start hanging shelves and pictures on the walls of your Norwalk rental home in no time.
Need a new rental home to hang your art? Review our current selection of rental listings and give Real Property Management Southern Connecticut a call at 203-821-7303 to talk to one of our Norwalk property managers today.