One of the most important things to remember when 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 starting, you will need to know where you want to place the shelves or pictures. After that, you have to gather the proper tools and materials.
Nowadays, most homes have drywall for their interior walls. This material 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 might need a stud finder to find them. If you do not want to damage floors and walls or you wish to minimize the chances of causing injuries, make sure that you place shelf supports and picture hangers on wooden studs to keep the shelves and pictures from falling.
Next, 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. If not done the right way, the outcome may look out of balance or unprofessional. 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). Carefully measure and mark the placement of each picture. After doing this, proceed to the next step.
Now you have to determine what kind 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 need a drill driver or other power tool for you 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. Should you need to hang shelves or pictures on a brick or concrete wall, that might require a masonry bit and plastic anchors to install the screws required to hold the shelf or picture in place. It’s a great idea to have someone to help lift and steady things once 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. Choose the adhesive that best meets your needs. Remember, some adhesives may be permanent or removable.
By taking a few precautions and choosing the right tools, you can start hanging shelves and pictures on the walls of your Leander rental home in no time.
Need a new rental home to hang your art? Take a look at our current selection of rental listings and give Real Property Management Longhorn a call at 512-580-3099. Our Leander property managers would be glad to speak with you.
