When hanging shelves and pictures in your Leeds 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. Knowing and following proper safety guidelines is very important to avoid injury.
If you are going to be hanging shelves and pictures safely, you must take the time to do the job correctly. If you do not want shelves that are both ugly and dangerous, make sure you don’t install them in haste. Properly installed shelves can last for years. Before you start the job, you need to know where you want to place the shelves or pictures. Next, you have to gather the proper tools and materials.
Check if your home is one of those that have drywall for their interior walls since 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 will probably need a stud finder to find them. To avoid damaging walls and floors and perhaps even injuring someone, it is important to 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. Use a measuring tape, pencil, and a level to ensure that your installation will result in proper placement. It is very important to use proper safety precautions when 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 before proceeding to the next step.
Next, 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. You may overestimate the weight, just to be safe. To place screws, anchors, and brackets in the studs and walls, you will probably need a drill driver or other power tool.
Ensure that you have educated yourself on the proper use of your drill driver before attempting to use it for the first time. Hanging shelves or pictures on a brick or concrete wall will require a masonry bit and plastic anchors to install the screws required to hold the shelf or picture in place. Ask for help when you’re about to install the shelf or picture. Ask someone to help lift and steady things while you work. Getting someone else’s opinion on your placement and measurements never hurts, either.
Pictures can also be secured to the walls by other methods such as double-sided adhesives. This is an option you can go for if screws, drills, and power tools are not something you are comfortable working with. 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 Leeds 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 Victory a call at 205-793-0700. Our Leeds property managers would be glad to speak with you.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
