Hanging your favorite surfboard on a wall can be an easy and stylish way to display it – plus, it frees up valuable storage space in your home!
To hang a surfboard vertically, first locate and mark a wall stud before drilling a hole through it and using drywall anchors if possible to make this process simpler.
Find the Wall Studs
When planning to hang a surfboard rack on a wall, it is wise to locate its wall studs so your rack is securely fastened to it and won’t fall down when mounted.
Studs are vertical wood members used in framing homes and other buildings, usually stretching from floor to ceiling and being found both sides of walls even if concealed behind drywall.
Wall studs in most homes are spaced 16 inches apart on center. Older properties may also feature 24-inch spacing.
As a stud is basically an oversized screw, it secures the drywall into place and provides it with its necessary rigidity and prevents bowing or twisting as a house settles.
Homeowners can locate studs by looking for dimples above metal screws or fasteners, which result from drywall mud being spread onto them during construction and then being drawn in into their heads when drying.
An alternative way of finding studs is to look for trim that has been attached, such as baseboard or shoe molding, that has been nailed directly onto them. Once found, use a stud finder to locate it before marking with pencil.
Stud finders are handheld devices that use your smartphone’s magnetometer to locate metal objects hidden behind walls. Although stud finders can be useful in finding studs quickly and effectively, Rothman cautions that they may also yield false positives.
If you’re not sure where a stud is, refer to previous renovation photos for guidance. Those images should give an indication of where and how much room there is between studs.
Once you know where the studs are located, measure their distance apart to get an estimate for how high to hang your rack. Your desired height should determine this as it should be multiple of its actual length.
Measure the Height
Wall mounting a surfboard saves space while adding aesthetic value to a room, as well as providing an effective means for organizing multiple surfboards that would otherwise be hidden out of view.
Before hanging a surfboard on a wall, the first step should be determining its height. This step is vitally important because it may affect how easily and quickly the board can be accessed once stored on its rack and helps ensure that installation does not cause damage to it.
Surfer Today recommends placing the surfboard on a table and measuring from its bottom edge up, using this measurement as a basis to hang the board from a rack.
After measuring the distance from the bottom of your board to where you want to install the top anchor, measure its distance. An ideal spot would be where the nose merges into the deck of the board or just below it – providing both an easy and aesthetically pleasing place for mounting racks, according to Surfboads UK Ltd.
Make these measurements with the help of a ruler; alternatively, spirit levels may also prove invaluable for this purpose.
Once your measurements are in, it’s time to create a template for your surfboard. Shapers commonly opt for thin sheets of Masonite as their templates; however, other materials could work just as effectively.
Before beginning to shape your surfboard, it is a wise move to conduct some research into various types of boards available. This will enable you to select one best suited to your individual needs while providing greater insight into its features and dimensions.
Your surfing evaluation can also give you a good indication of its performance in waves. For instance, a 7ft longboard with wide nose and tail may not glide as smoothly in waves than shorter designs featuring more rounded noses; additionally, longer boards may prove more challenging when turning into planing troughs.
Determine the Type of Rack
There is an array of racks on the market, each one designed for specific tasks and purposes. Before purchasing one, it is crucial that you identify what best meets your needs before making a purchase decision.
Your choice of rack will depend on a number of factors, such as available space and the number of boards you own; whether or not you intend to transport them on trips; as the primary purpose is protecting them from the elements.
Surfboards can be heavy and bulky, so selecting a rack that can support their weight is of utmost importance. To stay safe and secure with your surfboards in place, choose one with locking features to keep them from shifting out of place.
Wall-mounted surfboard racks provide an effective way to display and showcase your boards as part of your home decor while saving space and helping organize them more efficiently.
These wall-mounted racks, typically composed of metal, wood or PVC material, are designed to hold several surfboards securely while remaining easily installable in any room of the home.
Some racks feature padded arms to cradle your boards and prevent them from falling off of the wall, providing extra padded support and keeping them from shifting during transport. Although more costly than their counterparts, they can make a great statement piece in any home! These racks make great displays to showcase favorite boards.
No matter which rack you select, it is crucial to ensure it is installed on the wall securely by screwing into wall studs. This will protect its boards from becoming damaged during transport while also decreasing injury risks in case it falls or breaks apart unexpectedly.
Before mounting a rack, it’s essential that you carefully consider the exact size and spacing of its arms. This depends on the number of boards you plan on hanging as well as where the studs in the wall are.
Hang the Rack
Hunging a surfboard on the wall is one of the best ways to display it while saving space. This method can be utilized in any room in your home and makes for creative wall decor!
There are various methods for hanging surfboard racks, both vertically and horizontally, that make installation straightforward and look great in the room. Both methods look great against walls.
Vertical racks tend to work better for shortboards while horizontal ones may work better with longboards. Whatever style of rack you choose, be sure that it complements your home!
As first step, use a stud finder to locate a stud in the wall. Mark where you found this stud with paint or tape before using your measuring tape to take measurements from floor level up towards where the bottom of your rack should go.
Make sure your rack is absolutely straight and level using a spirit level before beginning assembly of the rack. Once that step has been accomplished, begin building it!
After this step is complete, it is time to secure each component of your rack to the studs in the wall. If this seems daunting to you, ask someone for assistance from whomever knows more!
Once your first rack has been secured in its location, it’s time to position the second. Again starting from where you identified earlier and using your measuring tape to measure up from where your first rack ended to where the new one will go – starting from your stud location and working your way backwards will help guide your placement of this second one.
Once completed, you can mount your rack securely onto the wall and begin hanging your boards! A mounting kit containing screws and hardware is best to ensure a firm hold for your rack on its intended spot.
As soon as your display is complete, it will provide a great way to highlight your boards while saving space! Plus, it may free up floor space that would otherwise be required to store them!