When hanging shelves and pictures in your Tulsa rental home, it is crucial to do so as safely as possible. Household accidents and falls result in over 30 million doctor’s office and emergency room visits each year. To avoid injury, make sure you know and follow proper safety guidelines.
Taking the time to do the job correctly is one of the things to remember about hanging shelves and pictures safely. To avoid having shelves that are both ugly and dangerous, make sure to take time installing it. Properly installed shelves can last for years. You need to know where you want to place the shelves or pictures before you even begin. Afterward, you need to gather the proper tools and materials.
Most homes today have drywall for their interior walls. Drywall 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. To find them, you will need a stud finder. It is important to place shelf supports and picture hangers on wooden studs to keep the shelves and pictures from falling. This will prevent wall and floor damage as well as minimize the chances of injuring someone.
Next, plan out the placement of your shelves and pictures. Use a measuring tape, pencil, and a level to ensure that your installation will result in proper placement. Use proper safety precautions, especially 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 output may look out of balance or unprofessional if done incorrectly. 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, 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 all right to overestimate the weight, just to be safe. To place screws, anchors, and brackets in the studs and walls, you might need a drill driver or other power tool.
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. Asking for a friend’s opinion on your placement and measurements never hurts, either.
If screws, drills, and power tools are not your kind of thing, you still have options. Pictures can also be secured to the walls by other methods such as double-sided adhesives. Choose the right adhesive for 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 Tulsa rental home in no time.
Need a new rental home to hang your art? Check out our current selection of rental listings and call Real Property Management Tulsa at 918-532-7020 to speak with one of our Tulsa property managers today.
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