Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
I have a ceiling that literally cannot be drilled into. An experienced handyman couldn't do it with high quality masonry bits.
I'm wondering if there is any easy way to reinforce a curtain rod, so that it will span a longer distance without slouching.
There isn't much room on either side.
Best thought I've got is to put a valance across the top of that opening, and put a middle support from the valance to the rod. Or switch to a 1" rod.
A larger, round rod might let you put a dowel in the middle of it - but simply using a larger, round rod might itself be adequate, and simpler. Those C shaped "rods" are terribly weak.
Use different materials. McMaster-Carr has a catalog full of them. Anything from aluminum to carbon fiber.
Even easier, you might try 3/4" or 1" EMT thinwall electrical conduit tubing. (Actual dimensions 1-1/16 and 1-5/16 respectively). They build geodesic domes with the stuff, their technique is to crush each end in a vise or press, and fasten to the flattened ends. About $7 for a 10 foot stick.
I find heavier pipe isn't necessarily stiffer. EMT is designed to span some distance, pipe is not.
