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Design Dilemma
harpua728

Someone please explain these curtain rods to me..

11 years ago

I just bought this curtain rod from Lowes.


http://www.lowes.com/pd_275095-28542-275095_1z0vizn+1z0wfwh+1z10ab2+4294800139__?productId=3029867&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=In%20Store|72-in%20to%20144-in|Single%20rod


It says the size is 72 inches to 144 inches but when I open the box I find 3 separate rods in there.

There are 2 thick rods that measure 51 inches and 48 inches and then there is a thinner rod, that fits inside the thick ones, which measures 50 inches.

Out of the box, the thin rod is pushed all the way into one of the thick rods and there are finials on both ends. This one piece, unextended, measures approx 52 inches. My first question is why does the box say 72' to 144' when it's clear that the minimum rod length is approx. 52 inches?


Secondly, why are the two thicker rods not the same length? It would be nice to put these two together (while hiding the thin rod inside them) and then using the center wall bracket to conceal the seam between the two rods. However, since they are different sizes, that middle seam will not be exactly in the middle and will show once hung.

All this seems really idiotic to me, or maybe I'm the idiot and am missing something. What gives?

Featured Answer
  • 11 years ago

    OK, here's how it works. If you had a long 144" section of heavy rod (which is available as a custom piece, but at a much higher price than Lowe's) it would require a lot of bracing to hang without sagging. So, the thinner rod in the center is there to save weight and prevent sagging, as well as adding width. The reason to have more than one rod is so that you have the ability to adjust the width. One of the thicker rods SHOULD fit inside the other thicker rod, by the way, so if you don't need the thinner rod for width, don't use it. One finial should be unscrewed and applied to the other end of one of the thicker rod sections. There should be instructions in the box with the brackets and screws. Oh, and don't use the anchors provided, or the screws- they don't hold well on heavier, wider rods. Purchase screw-in drywall anchors and matching screwed rated for the weight. (Learned this the hard way...ouch.) If you would prefer one length of rod, you can always order a custom rod in the exact length.

    Comments (25)

    • 11 years ago

      Thanks for your comment sooz. The two thick rods are the same diameter and one does NOT fit into the other. The whole things just seems strange to me. Still don't know why it says 72 inches to 144 inches when two finials could be screwed onto a 52 inch piece of rod.


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    • 11 years ago

      anyone?


    • 11 years ago

      OK...they likely sell the one shorter as one rod...labeled 52".

      They may sell the thin & the fat together at another length span xx" to xx"

      Then finally is the largest they make, which is the one you bought.

      It is not intended to purchase the one you got & use one short rod. It's a waste of money & is likely option #1 I mentioned above.

      What size did you NEED??

    • 11 years ago

      I need about 60 inches for one window and about 100 inches for another window.


    • 11 years ago

      Ok...so did you buy that one for the larger window & still need another for the smaller?

    • 11 years ago

      Yes, this was purchased for the larger window and I got a 36 inch to 72 inch for the smaller window. I'm just confused because let's say I want to have a 98 inch rod for the larger window I would simply use one thick rod with the thin extension (and not use the second thick rod). doing it this way would cause the rod itself to no be uniform as half of it would be thicker than the other half. Is this normal? If the rod was hidden it would not matter but it will be exposed.


    • 11 years ago
      Try putting the two thicker rods on each end and put the thinner rod in the middle. Then adjust to the right length ?
    • 11 years ago

      If I put the two thicker rods on each end and have them touch, then the minimum length that I can do would be about 108 inches. This would mean that they would extend about 20 inches from the window frames, which I am fine with. What baffles me is that if I do this, the seam where they meet is not exactly at the midpoint.


    • 11 years ago
      Sounds like you might have a manufactures packaging mistake!
    • 11 years ago

      Which part do you think is a packaging mistake? the fact that the two large pieces are not of equal length?


    • 11 years ago
      Your product is fine. Remove the finials. Your three pieces should now fit together. Look for the bigger pole ends where the finial holes are. I just bought one of these and was confounded for about 20 mins until I realized they packaged it already set up for the shorter length.
    • 11 years ago

      Thanks, Kristi. I did remove the finials as it was originally set up for the shorter length. I moved one of the finials to from the thin extension pole to the additional thick pole. the issue is that if I connect the two larger rods to touch one another (thereby hiding the thin rod on the inside) the seam where they meet is not centered. Is this how you have it set up, or do you see your thin extension rod in between the two thick rods?


    • 11 years ago

      Hopefully this pic helps you see what I am talking about. Notice the two larger poles with the finials are not the same length.


    • 11 years ago

      Did you figure this out? Is the diameter of the 2 rods with finials the same? If so, the one without a finial goes in the middle. The other two rods go on either end of it.

    • 11 years ago

      I get that, however it's stupid that the two thicker rods have different lengths. If I set it up so that the thinner rod is hidden inside the thicker rods then the midpoint where the two big rods meet is not centered. Therefore I unnecessarily see the seem where they meet

    • 11 years ago
      Go back to Lowes and get another set. It is possible someone switched out a rod to get the size they needed and then took the set back for a return.
    • 11 years ago

      ok, it seems strange to me also that the two thicker ones arent the same length. all of the similar rods ive bought from country curtains are the same length. the purpose is so that when the drapes are open the drapes sit at the same height on both sides, one side would be low if there was just a large/smaller telescoping thing. most of the time you wouldnt notice that they dont meet evenly at the center as they are wider apart and an inch or so difference wouldnt be noticeable. heck, maybe all of mine are slightly different and i'd never noticed.

    • 11 years ago

      You would notice it if you have a center support bracket since both ends wouldn't meet at that bracket! I spoke to the manufacturer and they confirmed that it's not a packing error. The two ends are differ lengths. Absurd.

    • 11 years ago

      they arent supposed to meet. the center is slightly smaller diameter. i really dont notice it on any of my rods.

    • 11 years ago
      last modified: 11 years ago

      ok my bad. my center is larger than the ends, but the idea still applies, can you see a difference in thickness in a bad way? (just curious, i dont notice it.)

    • 8 years ago
      Someone has OCD!!! I've read all postings. just hang your toes and curtains. it will look just fine!
    • 8 years ago
      rods... not toes. damn auto correct!
    • 6 years ago
      last modified: 6 years ago

      I just opened two boxes of Allen + Roth Curtains. It seems that I have to have one Thicker and one thinner in order to fit my size. If I put both thickers on, they touch in the middle and create a seam, and are also too long.

    • 3 years ago

      If you have to use one thick and one thin then you likely bought a longer length than you needed and should have the smaller one.

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