11 Wall-Mounting Tips That Are Ruining Your Home’s Structure
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It’s easy to hang things on walls: a sleek TV, fancy floating shelves, or new artwork. But if not done correctly, hanging can have disastrous consequences for your home’s structural integrity.
Wall mounting mistakes can cause permanent damage that isn’t immediately noticeable but will get worse over time. Avoid these pitfalls to keep your walls and your home in great shape.
Using the Wrong Screws and Anchors
The wrong screws and anchors for your wall type can cause serious problems. Light duty anchors in drywall for instance won’t hold up heavier items and will cause holes and damage. To ensure not to hurting anything, always check the weight capacity and compatibility of the mounting hardware. To prevent cracks and instability choose stronger anchors in plaster and masonry walls. Proper screws and anchors protect your items and walls.
Ignoring Wall Studs
Not mounting items on wall studs can cause sagging or even falling objects and major wall damage. Heavier items need studs to support them, so check where they are before drilling. Otherwise, you can expect your mounts to loosen over time. Don’t compromise wall strength by using a stud finder or knock test. As always, studs should be your first choice regarding secure mounting.
Shelves and Mounts Overloading
Straining your walls beyond the weight limits of shelves and mounts tends to exceed weight limits and can be hazardous. Brackets can lose overloading, drywall can crack, or mounts can rip right out. If you’re in doubt, always opt for sturdier mounting hardware and weight guidelines. Spread weight out to avoid excessive stress of a single point. According to ScienceDirect, load capacities protect both your wall’s structure and belongings.
Skipping Pilot Holes
If you’re not drilling pilot holes, screws can be difficult to install and can even crack drywall or plaster. Screws go in smoothly and align properly if pilot holes are drilled. It saves you from unnecessary wall damage. Without them, screws can strip the wall material and make mounts insecure. Drill pilot holes take extra time for precise, safe mounting. It’s a small step that stabilizes your mounts and reduces damage risk.
Installing on Weak Drywall Alone
It’s just that drywall doesn’t have the strength to hold heavy items without extra help. Without anchors or studs, mounting directly onto drywall can be disastrous and cause sagging or tearing. To avoid weak, unstable mounts, mount into studs or anchor to them. You know, even lighter items need to be placed securely. The idea is to prevent any damage by showing that your walls can support it.
Weight Distribution Neglected
With improper weight distribution, mounting large items improperly can weaken walls over time. If you put too much weight on a single screw or anchor, you can puncture and damage it even more and with each addition. Mounting multiple mounting points gives you better weight distribution and lessens wall stress. Make sure all anchors are load-bearing so they don’t break. Balanced mount keeps safety and wall integrity in balance.
Using Inappropriate Tools
Misalignment and poor mounts are often the result of poor tool choices, such as a weak drill or a bit that is not matched to the rotor. If the tools aren’t up to the job, it can be too easy to make inaccurate holes that weaken your wall. Buy good wall-specific tools and make sure they’re compatible with your chosen mounts. Good tools help prevent the walls from taking a beating and the mounts from going smoothly and securely. Try to make your walls clean and damage-free by being precise.
Too Near Corners and Ceilings
Mounts placed close to corners, ceilings, or unsupported sections of drywall might increase the chance of damage. Mounting too close to walls strains drywall, which often has weak spots at the edges, and walls are weaker at the edges as well. Make sure that there’s enough space so that walls can bear the weight without bending or splitting. Respecting wall limitations prevents structures from gradually wearing out.
Failing to Check for Pipes and Wires
It’s possible to mount something and not check behind the wall for pipes and wires, and then you’ll likely hit them and have to pay to have them repaired, possibly causing a safety issue. If you drill blind, you can get electrical shocks, leaks, or damaged wiring. If you want to drill, use a stud finder with electrical and plumbing sensors or hire a professional. It’s a step that ensures you’re safe and doesn’t accidentally damage your home system. It’s important to know what’s behind your wall when mounting it.
Wall Movement
Because of humidity, temperature changes, and settling, walls naturally shift, and mounted items will also shift over time. Drywall can tear if objects pull on it, or it can crack, and without flexible mounts, your wall can be damaged by objects. If you have heavy items, use mounts that allow for slight movement so that you can adjust for seasonal changes. Recognizing wall movement maintains the wall’s durability and the mount’s security.
Failure to Repair Small Damages Quickly
Small cracks, holes, or dents left unaddressed leave your wall vulnerable and grow worse with time. Minor imperfections are enough to make spots that grow with each mounting try. Inspect and repair damaged areas as needed to keep walls strong to mount future projects (DIY). Minor repairs prevent major structural problems. Long-lasting mounts require good walls.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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