What Is an Angle Brace?

An angle brace is a commonly used piece of hardware that attaches two pieces of material together. It is easy to install and can be used by manufacturers, or by those who are doing home improvement projects. An angle brace has many different uses, such as for building shelving, creating workstations, or even creating a floating countertop. It comes in different types of materials such as wood, metal, and plastic. The strength of brace should be chosen based on the intended use.

A right angle is the basic shape of the angle brace. When laid on its side, it will look like an "L." Each “leg” of the brace will attach to some piece of material, joining them securely. For example, the angle brace could attach on one side to a piece of shelving and on the other side to a wall. Whatever the material is that is being attached, whether it is plastic, wood, or metal, ensure that the proper fastening method is used to secure it.

The strength of an angle brace should be chosen based on the nature of the the job. Plastic is the weakest material used for angle bracing; however, it is also the cheapest type. This material will only work for attaching light things. Plastic angle braces can work well for small displays, for example.

Wood and metal angle braces are both significantly stronger than plastic. The strength of the brace will, however, depend on the type of wood or metal that is used. The thickness of the brace should be taken into account when considering the strength. For the heaviest items, thicker brackets with sufficient weight capacity should be used. For longer, heavier structures, multiple angle braces will need to be used in order to ensure that the material doesn’t collapse.

To install an angle brace, there are a few tools that are needed. In addition to the brace itself, fasteners are required to attach the brace. The most common fasteners used are screws, so the appropriate size screws and a screwdriver will be needed. For the best results, when to attaching the brace to a wall, find the studs and screw the brace to the stud. This will help to ensure the material resting on the brace will have more support than is offered by drywall.