How to Add a Second Rod to a Closet
- 1). Remove the clothing hanging on the current closet pole, to clear the space for the new closet pole installation.
- 2). Measure the distance between the floor and the bottom surface of the existing closet shelf. Divide the dimension in half and mark the resulting dimension on the wall, at the inside corner of the two walls that will support the new closet rod. These marks designate the height of the new closet pole support boards, commonly called "ribbons."
- 3). Connect the two ribbon height marks across the wall that will be parallel to the new closet pole, using a level or chalk line. This is the guideline for the top edge of the ribbon boards.
- 4). Extend a level line from the corner point at each end of the closet pole location. Level from the ribbon line marked in Step 3 and extend the lines across both closet end walls. These are the guidelines for the ribbon's end sections that support the new closet pole.
- 5). Locate the wall studs along the length of the ribbon guideline using a stud finder, and mark the vertical center point of each just above the guideline.
- 6). Measure the horizontal dimension of the wall parallel to the new closet pole from wall to wall, adjacent to the marked guideline. Cut a length of 1-by-4-inch pine board to this dimension. This is the ribbon for the rear wall.
- 7). Position the ribbon board cut in Step 6 against the wall surface. Align the top edge with the marked guideline. Attach the board to the wall using two finishing nails placed vertically at each wall stud.
- 8). Measure the horizontal dimension of the end wall from vertical face of the ribbon board to opposite wall corner. Cut a length of 1-by-4-inch pine to this dimension for each end. These are the ribbons for the end walls.
- 9). Position one of the ribbon boards cut in Step 8 against the wall surface and align the top edge with the marked guideline. Attach the board to the wall using two finishing nails placed vertically at each wall stud. Repeat to install the ribbon board at the opposite end wall to complete the ribbon board installation.
- 10
Layout the closet pole rosettes. Measure horizontally from the rear wall surface and mark each end wall ribbon board at 13 inches. Use a hand square to extend the line vertically down the face of the ribbon boards. Mark the vertical middle point of the ribbon boards on the vertical lines. This intersecting point is the center screw location for the rosettes. - 11
Install the closet pole rosettes. Position the rosettes with the center hole over the center points marked in the previous step and secure them to the ribbon board using the screws provided. (One of the rosette pairs has a gap in the lip to insert the closet pole through. Rotate this opened gap so that it's directed upward before tightening the rosette screw.) - 12
Measure the horizontal distance between the inside faces of the end ribbon boards and cut a length of closet pole to this dimension minus 1/2 inch. Install the closet pole into the rosettes.