Tips and Resources

Please Note:

Please be sure you have read all the measuring tips for any items you are ordering. This checklist does not cover all measuring tips for each item, but only the more common issues we come across when reviewing an order.

Stainless Steel Material

Stainless Steel items are suggested for high humidity environments such as outdoors, bathrooms, and sometimes kitchens. You may also want stainless steel parts simply for the nice, brushed look. If you are ordering stainless parts simply for the look, then you should select Cleaned Only as the finish. If you are ordering stainless parts to be installed in a high humidity environment as described above, then it's OK to select from one of our other finish colors if you'd prefer that to the uncoated stainless. Normally you will want to have all items on your order made of stainless steel, OR all items made of steel. Nearly all of our parts can be made in steel or stainless steel, with the only exception being the round ring with eyelet which is only available in steel. If you are ordering all stainless items and need rings to match, then you'll want to select the steel rings with Nickel finish - this is an extremely close match and will look great with stainless parts.

Double rods

When specifying projection on the rods and/or the Double Brackets, be sure you have allowed enough space between the two rods. This space is typically around 1 1/2" or so, depending on fabrics used, etc. An example with 1 1/2" space between rods would be:

Rod 1: 1" diameter, 2 1/2" projection.
Rod 2: 1 1/4" diameter, 5" projection.

This setup would give a 1 1/2" space in between the two rods.

Returns

Be sure you'll have enough room to mount the post brackets. The backplates on the post brackets are always made to the same width as the rod diameter, and the outside edges of the post brackets are in-line with the overall length of the rod. (See diagram on Tips page for a detailed drawing.) (Ex: If the rod is 60" long, and it's a 1" diameter rod, then the distance between the inside edges of the two post brackets will be 58".) ALSO: Returns are not typically used on 1 1/2" or 2" rods, but if you are ordering a 1 1/2" or 2" rod with returns, you must select rings which are a full 1" larger than the rod, so that they will be able to slide around the corners.

Maximum Suggested Spans

A Span is the distance between two adjacent brackets. For example, a 130" rod using a middle bracket in the center would have 2 spans of 65". A 90" rod with no middle bracket would have a span of 90". Knowing the span(s) of the rod will help you determine what diameter you need. Rods increase in rigidity as they increase in diameter, therefore the longer the span, the larger diameter rod you will need to prevent sag. Fabric weight should also be considered.

Here are the maxiumum recommended spans for the rod diameters:

1/2" rod : max suggested span is ~70"
3/4" rod : max suggested span is ~80"
1" rod : max suggested span is ~90"
All larger diameters can span up to the full unspliced length of 105".

How many brackets do I need?

Escutcheons

Make sure to subtract 1/2" from the width of the opening for the rod length. This allows room for the brackets themselves (the backplates are 3/16" thick) and an extra 1/8" for ease of installation.

Hanging Brackets

These are recommended only for ceiling mounts. If your rod will mount to a wall then we recommend one of the other brackets. M1 Brackets can be used as ceiling or wall mount if you are unsure of how you will be installing the rod.

Passing Brackets

These are used with our C-rings to allow easy sliding past a bracket. Please be sure that the C-ring is 1/2" larger than the rod.

Ring Size

Rings should typically be at least 1/2" larger than the rod size. The only exception would be if an oversized ring is simply desired aesthetically, or in the case of a 1 1/2" or 2" rod with returns which would require a ring 1" larger than the rod in order to slide around the mitered corner.

C-Rings

These are used with our Passing brackets, please order rings 1/2" larger than the rod size. (1 1/4" rods should use the 2" C-ring.)