New house has very soft drywall

[debodun]

Being a heat wave is coming this weekend, I wanted to get something more substantial in the windows than a sheer curtain feeling that could absorb or block the sun streaming through the glass. There is an L-rod in place for that. I got a beach towel and draped it over the rod, but when I let go, the rod pulled out of the wall. It is held by brackets which are screwed into the wall with two screws in each bracket.

The other day I was looking at the exterior windows and touched the frame. It was really lightweight plastic.
I am more and more dismayed at how shoddy the construction of this house is.

 

[Georgiagranny]

@debodun It sounds as though just plain screws were used, and they won't hold in drywall; drywall anchors are necessary. There are different kinds of drywall anchors so ask Mr. Google before attempting to reinstall the rod.

 

[Remy]

Any good handy men in your area? When I owned that house, my nice neighbor (who moved away of coarse) recommended a handy woman who did some work at his house and she installed the curtain rods for me in the bedroom and dining room. She put them up correctly and I hung rather heavy curtains.

 

[HoneyNut]

I wanted to get something more substantial in the windows than a sheer curtain feeling that could absorb or block the sun streaming through the glass.

I tried window film one year, it worked pretty well though it was a hassle to do (I am not at all handy, even just misting water and squeegying out air bubbles is too hard for me).

https://smile.amazon.com/KESPEN-Pri...86753&sprefix=window+fil,aps,1016&sr=8-5&th=1

 

[Gaer]

Georgiagranny got it right. You must use anchors and put them in a different place, (not the same holes).

 

[debodun]

It sounds as though just plain screws were used, and they won't hold in drywall; drywall anchors are necessary.

You're correct about that and they weren't even large screws - short and thin. That probably explains why there weren't any curtains on that rod.