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Ceiling Curtain Rods: Great Option But Be Careful When Installing Them - Tips To Know
Ceiling curtain rods can be a welcome addition to any living space, but installing them requires a little planning and preparation.
The first step to installing any ceiling curtain rods would be to read the included instructions. Reading the included installation instructions for the particular model of ceiling curtain rods from start to finish at least once ensures that any special tools or considerations unique to that particular product are well understood. One never wants to be halfway finished with a job only to discover that they need to make a hasty trip to the hardware store for some tool they do not own.
In order to install most ceiling curtain rods one should have the following: a power drill with a 4- to 6-inch extension tip fitted with an appropriate drill bit, a pair of safety glasses, a ladder and someone to help hold the ladder, measuring tape, a few pieces of paper, a roll of transparent tape, a handful of wall anchors, and a pencil.
One useful tip is to have a battery powered drill instead of one powered via an electric socket. The extra weight of the wire can make achieving proper alignment difficult after the first handful of screws have been driven in, and often results in a stripped screw. If the property is a rental or if one is considering selling the property, this might present a minor, but easily avoidable, problem.
For anyone considering saving a few dollars and simply using a phillips screwdriver for the task, be prepared for a lengthy task and sore wrists. Consider purchasing a battery-powered screw driver, which can be found at most hardware stores for $40 or less.
Place paper along the area where the holes for the rod brackets will be placed and secure them with tape. Then use the measuring tape and pencil to mark where the holes for the rod brackets will need to be drilled on the paper, leaving the wall completely unmarked. For best results plan on placing the frame between 1- and 2-inches from the window or sliding glass door and 3- to 5-inches above the frame of the window or sliding glass door. These are general guidelines but the goal is to ensure that the top of the window or sliding glass door is completely covered by the curtains.
If there are any questions about height issues now is the time to resolve them. Measure twice, drill once as they say when installing ceiling curtain rods. While in the measuring mood, one should remove a switch plate or electrical socket in the same room as the curtains in order to measure the depth of the drywall. This particular piece of knowledge will come in handy in situations where the screws provided with the ceiling curtain rods will be insufficient to penetrate the drywall plus penetrate deep enough into a support structure to be effective.
Make sure to position the ladder in such a way that leaning is not necessary when holding a curtain rod mount against the wall. Do not plan on using the wall for support. The best practice is to move any furniture out of the way before hand and have a friend, family member, or neighbor hold the ladder. It is a good idea to have the wall anchors ready at the top of the ladder in the event that the drill doesn’t find a study or other adequate backing.
Once the ceiling curtain rods are in place don’t forget the obligatory self-congratulatory pat on the back. The new ceiling curtain rods were certainly worth all the effort!
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