I'm dealing with a bit of a mess in my rented closet. My wooden closet rod recently snapped in half, leaving one sturdy half still attached, but there's a large wooden stake sticking out from it. I'm not sure if it's safe to try and replace the rod myself. Plus, my shelf is bending and pulling away from the wall—it's a disaster! I've seen that everything seems to be fastened in with a staple gun, which likely isn't the best method. I really want to fix this properly without having to take everything out or call my landlord. Here are some photos to help illustrate the situation: [photo compilation link]. Any advice on how to safely repair both issues would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
It sounds like you've got quite the project on your hands! Don't worry too much; you're not alone here. First off, to deal with the broken closet rod, yes, it's definitely time to get rid of that snapped piece. Since it's a rental, an adjustable metal or hardwood rod would be a great choice. Just measure the length you need before you shop. If the leftover piece is stuck, a hacksaw can help get it out—just be careful! For your shelf, try tightening any screws you can find, and think about picking up some L-brackets to reinforce it. They're affordable and quite easy to install. Moving things around bit by bit can be helpful if you don't want to take everything out. Keeping things secure is key, especially if staples were used initially! Once you get the hang of it, fixing these kinds of things can be kinda fun! Let me know how it goes!
Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely planning on looking for that adjustable rod. For the shelf, I actually found that it's not secured at all. I might have to pre-drill and attach it to the wood trim, but I'm not sure if that's safe or how to do it without cracking anything. Should I be anchoring the brackets to the studs instead?