My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang
curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns
out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she
was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the
way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the
studs, I guess.

How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the
surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod
that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward
(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)

Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?

The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT side of the
laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for the drain to
reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose? Is it
common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too short.

On Friday, June 21, 2013 3:27:08 PM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang

curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns

out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she

was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the

way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the

studs, I guess.



How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the

surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod

that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward

(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)



Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?

Steel studs, like wood studs are spaced many inches apart.
Not sure what the conventional spacing is on steel studs,
but wood is 16". So, the easiest thing is move over a few
inches one way or the other. If that isn't possible, then
just drill a starter hole into the metal stud for a sheet metal
screw.






The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT side of the

laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for the drain to

reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose? Is it

common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too short.

No reason you can't extend it provided you do it in a sound
fashion. There are limitation on how HIGH a washer can
pump, but having it move water an extra 10 ft or whatever
is no problem. As to what to use, can't help you there.
I would try goodling for extra long washer hose or similar.
You just don't want to do some hack job with a patch, for
obvious reasons.

On Friday, June 21, 2013 3:27:08 PM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang

curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns

out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she

was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the

way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the

studs, I guess.

Yes, the sheetrock would be attached directly to the studs.

They make drywall screws for steel studs. Very fine thread and a drill-type tip. You can start them with a screw gun, but you should finish with a hand screwdriver to avoid over-tightening and stripping the hole. Any home store should carry them.

Another option, for heavier materials, is to use wood blocking behind the stud, but that means opening the wall, inserting a piece of wood and fixing the wall afterwards.

You can also use toggle bolts, which require a larger hole through both the drywall and the stud, so whatever you are hanging has to be big enough to hide the hole or you need to do a repair job on the hole to make it smaller..

For curtains, you could consider a piece of wood that spans 2 studs above the window, attached with long drywall screws, allowing you attach the curtain rod brackets to the wood. Obviously you wouldn't just screw a piece of beat up pressure treated 2 x 8 to the wall. You would include the wood as part of the design, perhaps routed and painted a contrasting color, etc.




How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the

surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod

that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward

(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)



Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?



The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT side of the

laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for the drain to

reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose? Is it

common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too short.

You can buy longer drain hoses. Just Google it or buy this one, it's almost 12' long:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-6M-LONG-WA...4#ht_918wt_883

On 6/21/2013 4:01 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:


On Friday, June 21, 2013 3:27:08 PM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang
curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns
out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she
was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the
way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the
studs, I guess.

Yes, the sheetrock would be attached directly to the studs.
They make drywall screws for steel studs. Very fine thread and a drill-type tip. You can start them with a screw gun, but you should finish with a hand screwdriver to avoid over-tightening and stripping the hole. Any home store should carry them.
Another option, for heavier materials, is to use wood blocking behind the stud, but that means opening the wall, inserting a piece of wood and fixing the wall afterwards.
You can also use toggle bolts, which require a larger hole through both the drywall and the stud, so whatever you are hanging has to be big enough to hide the hole or you need to do a repair job on the hole to make it smaller.
For curtains, you could consider a piece of wood that spans 2 studs above the window, attached with long drywall screws, allowing you attach the curtain rod brackets to the wood. Obviously you wouldn't just screw a piece of beat up pressure treated 2 x 8 to the wall. You would include the wood as part of the design, perhaps routed and painted a contrasting color, etc.

Since this is an apartment, I can't cut into the sheetrock. I'd forgotten about
drywall screws for metal studs. These are exterior walls, so I don't know if
they are light or heavy gauge steel. Will the screws care? There are two types
in stock at my local Lowes. One has a drill point. Most of the others don't. I
guess both will work.

http://goo.gl/QbmID

I'm going to take a drill and some bits just in case. Hopefully I can drill
through the metal.

Thanks (also to trader4) for the hose information. I'm going to wait to Monday
to go to a local industrial supplier to get hoses. That's where my appliance
repair guy goes. They're hopefully better and cheaper than the Lowes hoses. With
right angle inlet hoses and a longer drain hose, I should be able to put the
washer in place without rotating it.

Now I need to figure out the best way to install the dryer vent hose (spiral
wire with tin foil covering) without crimping it. The dryer has to be very close
to the wall, and the exhaust vent doesn't quite line up with the dryer outlet.

On 6/21/2013 3:27 PM, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang
curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns
out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she
was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the
way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the
studs, I guess.

How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the
surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod
that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward
(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)

Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?


Hilti hollow wall anchors.
http://www.hilti.com/holcom/page/mod...lProdOid=10870

They are the cats meow, IMO.

If you must remain on a stud, then use the appropriate drill size
(usually 1/2") and drill through the metal stud. Insert the anchor,
which will attach behind the stud wall, snap off excess and it'll
provide great support. If you do not hit a stud, it's still the same
installation method. Drill, insert, snap off and screw in item. I use
these anchors all the time. Very seldom do I use any other.

On Friday, June 21, 2013 12:27:08 PM UTC-7, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang

curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns

out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she

was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the

way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the

studs, I guess.



How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the

surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod

that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward

(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)



Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?



The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT side of the

laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for the drain to

reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose? Is it

common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too short.

Are you sure that what’s behind there is a metal stud and not an electrical conduit, water or gas pipe etc.?

mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang
curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns
out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she
was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the
way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the
studs, I guess.

How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the
surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod
that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward
(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)

Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?

The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT side of the
laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for the drain to
reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose? Is it
common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too short.

Hi,
I'd first ask resident building manager(care taker) and her neighbors.

On 6/21/2013 6:05 PM, wrote:
On Friday, June 21, 2013 12:27:08 PM UTC-7, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang

curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns

out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she

was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the

way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the

studs, I guess.

Are you sure that what’s behind there is a metal stud and not an electrical conduit, water or gas pipe etc.?

Now that's a scary question. I'll know in about two hours. Thanks for bringing
it up.

On 6/21/2013 6:28 PM, Tony Hwang wrote:
mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang
snip

Hi,
I'd first ask resident building manager(care taker) and her neighbors.

I did ask the apartment managers (who asked their maintenance guy). They
confirmed that the construction is metal studs and that the washer/dryer rooms
are stupid.

DerbyDad03 wrote in
:



On Friday, June 21, 2013 3:27:08 PM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying
to h
ang

curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall.
It
turns

out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how
dee
p she

was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about
half
the

way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached
directly t
o the

studs, I guess.

Yes, the sheetrock would be attached directly to the studs.

They make drywall screws for steel studs. Very fine thread and a
drill-type tip. You can start them with a screw gun, but you should
finish with a hand screwdriver to avoid over-tightening and stripping
the hole. Any home store should carry them.

Another option, for heavier materials, is to use wood blocking behind
the stud, but that means opening the wall, inserting a piece of wood
and fixing the wall afterwards.

You can also use toggle bolts, which require a larger hole through
both the drywall and the stud, so whatever you are hanging has to be
big enough to hide the hole or you need to do a repair job on the hole
to make it smaller.

For curtains, you could consider a piece of wood that spans 2 studs
above the window, attached with long drywall screws, allowing you
attach the curtain rod brackets to the wood. Obviously you wouldn't
just screw a piece of beat up pressure treated 2 x 8 to the wall. You
would include the wood as part of the design, perhaps routed and
painted a contrasting color, etc.




How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them
on
the

surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of
curt
ain rod

that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could
look a
wkward

(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)



Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?



The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT
side
of the

laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for
the dr
ain to

reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose?
Is i
t

common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too
short.

You can buy longer drain hoses. Just Google it or buy this one, it's
almost 12' long:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-6M-LONG-WA...HER-OUTLET-DRA
IN-HOSE-/350107562292?pt=UK_Irons_Presses&hash=item51840971 34#ht_918wt_
883


They make drywall screws for steel studs.

Well yuhhhhh! That's how the sheetrock got on the studs in the first
place!!!!!

On 6/21/2013 7:32 PM, Red Green wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote in


....Major Snippage Occurred...


They make drywall screws for steel studs.

Well yuhhhhh! That's how the sheetrock got on the studs in the first
place!!!!!


Well, the OP did say:

"A plastic wall anchor went about half the way in, as I recall. If
that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the studs, I guess."

"I guess" indicates to me that the OP is not familiar with the use of
metal studs for drywall, therefore probably didn't know that special
screw were required.

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:27:08 -0400, mcp6453 wrote:

My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang
curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns
out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she
was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the
way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the
studs, I guess.

How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the
surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod
that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward
(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)

Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?

The water supply and drain for the washing machine are on the RIGHT side of the
laundry room. The washing machine had to be rotated 90 degrees for the drain to
reach. Is there a reason not to extend the length of the drain hose? Is it
common to do so? The supply hoses will reach, but the drain is too short.
A self drilling self tapping sheet metal screw SHOULD do the job. for
hanging the curtain rods.

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:50:21 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

On Friday, June 21, 2013 3:27:08 PM UTC-4, mcp6453 wrote:
My daughter and son-in-law just moved into an apartment. When trying to hang

curtains, she discovered that she could not put screws into the wall. It turns

out that there are metal studs behind the sheetrock. I'm not sure how deep she

was able to go, but it wasn't much. A plastic wall anchor when about half the

way in, as I recall. If that's true, the sheetrock is attached directly to the

studs, I guess.



How should she mount the curtain rods. There is no way to secure them on the

surface, that I'm aware of. She may have to get a different style of curtain rod

that allows her to attach them past the metal stud, but that could look awkward

(and end up with several holes in the sheetrock.)



Do you know of a particular fastener or anchor that will help?

Steel studs, like wood studs are spaced many inches apart.
Not sure what the conventional spacing is on steel studs,
but wood is 16". So, the easiest thing is move over a few
inches one way or the other. If that isn't possible, then
just drill a starter hole into the metal stud for a sheet metal
screw.



16" studs? Don't think I've seen that spacing for 30 or more
years.....

On 6/21/2013 10:04 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On 6/21/2013 7:32 PM, Red Green wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote in


...Major Snippage Occurred...


They make drywall screws for steel studs.

Well yuhhhhh! That's how the sheetrock got on the studs in the first
place!!!!!


Well, the OP did say:

"A plastic wall anchor went about half the way in, as I recall. If that's true,
the sheetrock is attached directly to the studs, I guess."

"I guess" indicates to me that the OP is not familiar with the use of metal
studs for drywall, therefore probably didn't know that special screw were required.

Exactly right. I got some self-drilling 1" #6 pan head screws, and the curtains
are now hanging as they should. For this application, a slightly longer screw
would be better, although these are holding.

Thanks for the help. Now, on to the washing machine and dryer.