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May 19, 2009
Looking for Contractor
I live in a high ceiling brownstone and I had a handyman install a closet rod across the wall of my bedroom for my wardrobe to hang from. It lasted about a week and then fell out of the wall under the weight of my clothes. He came back yesterday morning to fix it, which he did, and told me to wait 2 hours before I rehung anything. I waited 12 hours. It happened again, only now all of the middle brackets hung on the dry wall (not on studs) are coming out of the wall.
I'm looking for someone who can reinforce the existing closet rod so that it works or advise me on how to install a new one and then do that installation. The room is about 14 feet long and I am in Fort Greene.
Comments
The problem is probably that they were not using the appropriate screws for the drywall. I don't know what they're called but you need special drywall hanging materials and/or you need to put the nails/screws into the studs behind the walls so that there is support. Another option is to install a wooden plank behind the closet rod and screw that into the studs and then attach your closet rod to the wooden planks.
How much are you looking to spend on this reinforcement project? I may know someone who can do it for you.
Posted by: theklahy at May 19, 2009 12:09 PM
A wood cleat into the studs is most likely the best solution. Even the best drywall gizmos would have a hard time w/ the torque of that bar & the weight of the clothes.
Posted by: Arkady at May 19, 2009 12:12 PM
I'm sure you already you know this by now but that "handyman" is an incompetant douche. If it was possible, I'd demand my money back, but since that won't happen, just spreading the word that he's a hack and couldn't be trusted to hammer a nail straight.
1.) A fix by using the metal or wood studs to srew it in would fix the weight load problem. Then you'd have to patch-up the drywall mess. Or...
2.) Cut a piece of thin board (1/2" - 3/4") and the width should equal the screw points from the top and bottom. Align it and screw the board to the wall via the studs. Paint it white and the use your closet rods to screw anywhere along the woodboard for support. Done... but might be a little more expensive.
Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at May 19, 2009 12:39 PM
I tried doing this, but with a bike hook. Firstly:
1. You cannot do this on drywall. Even with an anchor. If it was a piece of artwork of an equivalent size, you could, but since the force is both outwards and downwards (like with my bikes) all drywall anchors will come out - even the metal toggle bolts.
2. You CAN do this on dry wall if you are willing to put up a big piece of wood across the dry wall, and screw that to the drywall with many anchors, and then screw the rod to the wood instead. The bigger the piece and the more anchors, the better.
3. Best way is to put it through your studs. However, I have metal studs that don't hold screws. I hope yours are wood.
Posted by: Frudo at May 19, 2009 1:59 PM
what all the above said, plus why not get a real rack system with real supports. closetmaid.com stuff is available from Lowes.
Posted by: denton at May 19, 2009 2:30 PM
Add a couple brackets. Obviously you aren't using enough given the weight of your clothes.
And of course, shift the hangers and drill into the wood studs, not empty sheetrock.
If you have to use sheetrock anchors because you have to wood studs, you'll need to compensate by using more brackets.
Posted by: IronBalls at May 19, 2009 4:01 PM
Add a couple brackets. Obviously you aren't using enough given the weight of your clothes.
And of course, shift the hangers and drill into the wood studs, not empty sheetrock.
If you have to use sheetrock anchors because you don't
have to wood studs, you'll need to compensate by using more brackets.
Posted by: IronBalls at May 19, 2009 4:01 PM
Your handy man is not. Post his name as a warning. To do it yourself... If you have wood studs, screw the brackets to them with a #6 or #8 x 1 1/2" or longer flat head or pan head COARSE threaded screw. If metal studs screw a 1x4 solid wood cleat to the metal with 2 1/2" FINE thread screws then screw the brackets to the with wood a #10 or #12 x 1" or longer COARSE flat/pan head screw. If the load is really heavy you will need to use a toggle bolt or molly in the 1x4.
Posted by: edifice rex at May 19, 2009 6:05 PM
Rex sounds like he knows his stuff. Maybe you should hire him to repair your closet.
I'd start by offering a six pack of cold beer and fifty bucks, though Rex sounds like a detail oriented fellow and might not appreciate the cold beer as much as he would extra cash. . .
Posted by: IronBalls at May 19, 2009 8:53 PM
Try Eric the Handyman at handymaneric.com. He hangs this kind of stuff all the time.
Steve
www.thetinkerswagon.com (I'd offer my services but am in the middle of a project).
Posted by: thetinkerswagon at May 19, 2009 9:21 PM
another solution is to get closet made bars from Home Depot. These allow to spread load more even across the wall. But still you need somebody who knows how to use stud finder. (This skill is 2 on 1-10 scale).
If you have metal studs, you need to get metal framing screws. Look at the handyman trying to get screw in metal stud. If he holds driver by the handle - he does not know what he is doing.
Posted by: bobjohn at May 19, 2009 10:25 PM
http://www.smartclosetsolution.com/
what you need is a closet system, if you willing to spend the extra and have a real closet, even just rods but it will actually hold for a lifetime.
Posted by: liketherichandfamous at August 31, 2009 10:16 AM
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