When you arrive at a Mounting task, there are several “checks” recommended by Taskers to make sure you’re set up for the task at hand.
First, let’s start with the tools these Taskers consider “must haves”—those that you couldn’t live without on a Mounting task.
Personal Protective Equipment
The best form of preparation is safety! Taskers suggest bringing the following items to ensure safety on a mounting task:
- A face mask rated N95 or higher, as these have a strong filter to help protect from dust that can come from drywall drilling.
- Eye protection.
- Ear protection, if drilling through concrete.
Other Equipment
- A stud finder
- One of the most important items you could have on a Mounting task—more formal than the tried (but not always true) knuckles-on-the-wall method.
- Drill and bits
- Be sure you’ve brought the appropriate drill and bits. Different wall types will benefit from different drills and bits, which makes understanding your wall type all the more essential.
- Mounting hardware
- This refers to bolts, drywall anchors, and screws.
- Tape measure
- Spirit level
- Tasker Isaac S. recommends getting one with a laser, which helps you stay as accurate as possible with alignment.
- A strong magnet
- In the case of troubleshooting finding studs, a strong magnet will be your lifesaver, as it can detect nails that are pounded into existing studs.
Elite Taskers also recommend having the following items on hand:
- Pencil
- Useful for marking the spot where your items will go on the wall.
- Hammer
- Unless you’re using picture-hanging nails, hammers aren’t generally needed but are good to keep on hand, just in case.
- Extra mounting hardware
- For certain items, it’s good to prepare yourself with extra pieces of mounting hardware to anticipate missing or broken pieces.
- Blue painter’s tape
- Another great way to mark your item’s placement; this alternative to a pencil can help you avoid cracking the wall.
- A multi-setting stud-finder
- Great for finding pipes or metal in the wall.
- Spackle
- To fill in any unwanted holes.
