Be creative and make a shower curtain rod like no one else's.
Making your own shower curtain rod will probably not save you any money unless you can find scrap materials because there are many shower curtain rods on the market for under $10. The advantage of a do-it-yourself curtain rod is that you can match the rod to your d cor and create something unique to your bathroom. This is an easy project, with the most challenging part being affixing the shower curtain rod holders into the wall or ceiling so they will withstand the considerable pressure put on the rod when the shower curtain is pulled back and forth. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the exact distance your shower curtain rod will span.
2. Select a material. You can make a shower curtain rod out of any sturdy material that is long enough. Some possibilities are wooden doweling, PVC pipe, copper tubes, galvanized steel and black iron pipe. Whatever material you choose needs to be strong enough not to bend when you install it across the 6-feet or so of space a shower curtain rod must span. For wood doweling or PVC pipe, you would need material at least 1 inch in diameter. For copper you would buy pipe at least 3/4 inch in diameter. Galvanized steel and black iron pipe could be 1/2 inch in diameter.
3. Research what kind of shower curtain rod holder you will use. This could be something as simple and inexpensive as plastic closet pole cups. Or you could use commercially available curtain rod holders, which begin around $4 a set and go up from there. Another option is to make your own holders using pipe fittings. You could, for example, use 3/4-inch copper split ring hangers or 3/4-inch copper bell hangers with copper tubing. Also consider mounting your curtain rod from the ceiling using commercially available hangers. Determine how long your shower curtain rod needs to be, taking into account the holders you have chosen. Have your home improvement, plumbing or hardware store cut the curtain rod to the right length.
4. Paint your curtain rod, if you want to. The principles here are the same no matter what material you are using: Clean the curtain rod, removing any grease or dirt that may be present. Use a degreasing cleaner if necessary, or water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid. Dry the rod. Roughen the surface using 180-grid sandpaper or #00 steel wool. Apply a spray-on coat of a primer made for the material you are painting. Let the primer dry. Spray on two coats of paint specifically labeled for the material. Copper tubes and black iron pipe are materials you might want to leave as is. If you do not want to paint a wood dowel, seal it with a clear sealer or it will absorb water and warp.
5. Install your curtain rod holders or brackets in the wall or ceiling. You cannot just screw the holders into drywall and expect them to hold. Use plastic anchors, molly bolts or toggle bolts. Anchors are the least sturdy; toggle bolts the most. Use the strongest one that is compatible with your holders or brackets. Install the curtain rod.
Tags: shower curtain, your shower curtain, black iron, black iron pipe, curtain holders, inch diameter