I have a single piece set of coat hooks to install on the wall.
By single piece I mean that they are 6 double hooks all attached to a single piece of metal as backing.
(source: pbimgs.com)
There are 3 holes in the backing metal and they don't line up with the studs – surprise surprise.
My current plan is to get a batten (or furring strip I believe it's called in the US) that is wide enough to hit the 3 studs, paint it nicely and screw the hooks into that.
My questions are:
- how thick should the batten be?
- how long should the screws be to ensure that the hooks can take the weight of the metal and a pile of coats, etc?
Is there a standard somewhere or some way of calculating this to set my partner's mind at rest (she's rather worried that the hooks will not take the weight and fall off the wall).
I should note that I'm aware that there is AC along one of the studs. My stud find shows it and there is a central communications box on the backside of this wall. I really don't want to hit any of that wiring…
Best Answer
I would think that if you used a nice hardwood for the wood strip that it can work well if it is 0.75 inch in thickness. Attach it to the studs with screws that are 2.5 inches long. Then use 0.75 inch screws to mount the hanger bracket to the hardwood board. Remember to drill proper type pilot holes for the screws rather than just trying to force the screws in without pre-drilled holes. It will be MUCH stronger if installed this way.
The hardwood such as oak or birch is recommended because it will hold the screws much more firmly than a soft pine board can. Would a pine board be strong enough and hold the screws OK for this application? -- Probably.