Curtain rod bracket ripping through drywall

[PandaBear]

I have some heavy double curtains so over 18 years they sort of ripped through the drywall. It was not just a plastic anchor but those metal spring bracket from the back ripping an entire chunk of sheetrock / drywall out. Eventually I'll patch it but right now I want to ask you wise guys here, if it make sense to just install the rod bracket where the studs are so it will mount into the studs and will never rip out again.

Suggestion? I can go further apart and taller as my curtains are doubled up (that's why they rip out) so they will be wide enough no matter how far I go.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Invest in a stud finder. A strong magnet works well.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

If you can go inches further (not feet), that shouldn't create any onlooker double-takes from visitors in your home.

 

[CarLuver]

since the drywall is already damaged, you could put a 2x 4 horizontally in that area for screw to bite into . its pretty common in bathrooms to have them to mount towel bars etc.

 

[zzyzzx]

if it make sense to just install the rod bracket where the studs are so it will mount into the studs and will never rip out again.

Yes. And if the studs aren't in the right spot to mount the rod bracket, I would mount something to the studs, then mount the rod bracket to something. That something might be like a piece of plastic like a piece of a plastic stud.

 

[Kestas]

I've installed lots of curtains. Always try to put the brackets into studs if at all possible, both size and aesthetically.

I'm surprised the spring brackets didn't hold. Usually that is my go to. You'll have to go with the advice given above if you can't find the studs.

I have yet to get a stud finder. Until then I use oblique light from a flashlight to find the dimples from drywall screws.

 

[wpod]

Invest in a stud finder. A strong magnet works well.

When ever I try to use a stud finder the light never goes off.

 

[JRay’07]

When ever I try to use a stud finder the light never goes off.

Are you a stud?

 

[Hall]

install the rod bracket where the studs are

My OCD wouldn't allow this unless the studs happened to be symmetrical with the window opening. Then again, I guess the mounts would be hidden behind the curtain so they wouldn't need to be visually symmetrical.

 

[ripcord]

My dad solved this problem by making some mounting blocks out of 1/2" pine that were about 5 or 6 inches square, routing some fancy edges on them and screwing them into the studs. He then puttied over the screws and painted them the same color as the drywall. That gave him a solid surface to attach the curtain rods to.

 

[PandaBear]

Ok so I find the studs and moved the bracket further out to the 1st stud next to the window frame (7" or so away). They are sort of symmetrical surprisingly and my curtains are way oversized (bought on Amazon and doubled up as single set is not wide enough). As a result it is heavy and probably why the bracket screw ripped out the drywall.