A Bit of Background Info
I wrote two detailed blog posts that took a long time to finish. For this blog post, I want to go back to basics and do something simpler. I had the idea of researching easy or what should be easy home improvements, and one of them was a curved shower rod. The curved shower rod upgrade appealed to me because of my small bathroom size.
To Follow or Not to Follow (the Instructions)
The instructions go off of using wall anchors, which I did not need to use because my walls are plastic and held the shower curtain fine without them. Because I didn’t use the wall anchors, I decided the wall template was unnecessary. However, I should have used the template to at least mark out my drill holes because if you do not use the template, the holes could be too low. Although the template helps with height, the template did not help to determine how far back the curtain rods should be installed.
The Start of the Road Block
Because of the curvature of the shower rod, installing the curtain rod in the same spot as the previous shower curtain rod will cause the shower curtain rod to stick out. After learning from my mistake, I offset the current rod an inch. Despite the extra inch, the shower rod still sticks out and takes up space. Ideally, I could offset the curtain rod another inch so that it doesn’t stick out into the bathroom floor.
Calling the project easy is in itself complicated. On one hand, the project requires little skill and on the other; it is a very time-consuming installation.
The Second Road Block
One of the greatest challenges to installing a curved rod is the physics involved. Because of the shape, the curtain rod naturally wants to flip into a “u” shape. Using the included wall anchors makes the process slightly easier because the screws just have to go into the anchor. When using just drywall screws, then the process becomes trickier as you have to drill the screws into the wall while holding the shower curtain rod.
Ideally, this project should be done with an extra set of hands. If a person can hold the curtain rod and another can put the screws in place, then the process becomes much easier.
I gain space outside of the shower near the edges, which is important for me because that is where the sink is at. However, the shower rod also sticks out, making the bathroom feel smaller. The inside of the shower feels bigger, however, only marginally so.
Locating a Quality Curtain Rod
I also had trouble finding a quality shower curtain rod and so I stuck with Moen, as it was a name brand. The shower curtain rod has sharp edges which cut into the paint slightly for me. I painted over plastic, which means the paint on my walls are more susceptible to damage, so the curtain rod will probably not do that for everyone.
Overall, however, the build quality of the shower curtain rod is fairly nice. A common complain with the Moen shower curtain rod is it is prone to rusting. To prevent the shower curtain rod from rusting, I would use shower curtain hooks that have the rolling wheels to prevent scratching. I believe using the incorrect hooks exposes the bare metal of the curtain rod.
To the Conclusion and Beyond
The aesthetic of the curve shower rod is nice, but it does not fit into the category of simple home upgrades for me. I could install a toilet and take roughly the same time as the shower curtain rod. Yes, the toilet took more technical skill, but it also provided a much better return on investment. Likewise, the light switches, which were less technical and easier than even the toilet or the shower curtain rod and again provided a better return on investment. Stay tuned in on the blog as I turn this into a series to find the best home upgrades that are actually easy.