The last thing you want to see is your new draperies in a heap on the floor because you did not mount traverse rod brackets properly. This can happen if you are installing the traverse rod brackets onto plaster, drywall or even concrete or brick. It does not take a lot of time or effort to mount the brackets securely. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Decide where you wish the bottom hem of your installed draperies to be. For floor-length draperies, allow 1 inch to avoid having the draperies touch the floor. Measure from that point upward; subtract 3/8-inch to determine the height for the top of the traverse rod bracket.
2. Determine the width of your draperies by laying them flat on a table or the floor overlapping the centers. Measure from the last pleat on your left to the last pleat on the right. This will be the width of the traverse rod brackets. Measure the flat section from the last pleat to the edge of the draperies. This will be the projection measurement for the bracket, generally 3 to 4 inches.
3. Measure across the top of the window and mark the required width measurement. Intersect the width mark and the height mark. This is the location for the top of the traverse rod bracket.
4. Locate the studs on both sides of the window with a stud finder. If the intersecting line for the height and width of the bracket falls onto the wall studs, the bracket will install directly onto the studs and does not require anchors.
5. Mark the screw holes for the traverse rod bracket and drill pilot holes through the drywall into the stud. Attach the brackets to the wall with a screwdriver. Measure from one bracket to the other across the top of the window; divide the measurement by two for placement of the center bracket. Install the center bracket, using drywall anchors if the measurement does not fall on a stud.
6. Install drywall anchors if the placement marks for the traverse rod brackets do not fall on a wall stud. Mark the screw locations on the wall. Drill the holes into the drywall or plaster, using a drill bit slightly smaller than the diameter of the anchor. Use a hammer to lightly tap the drywall anchors into the drilled holes. Mount the traverse rod brackets with screws into the anchors. Do not over-tighten the screws---this will distort the anchor and lessen its holding power.
7. Drill holes into concrete or brick walls with a masonry bit; consult the anchor packaging for the recommended size of drill bit. Tap masonry anchors into the drilled holes and screw the traverse rod brackets into the anchors.
Tags: traverse brackets, drywall anchors, last pleat, Measure from, traverse bracket, across window, anchors into