The best way to protect corners on walls is through corner guards. These guards will protect the wall from impact damage and reinforce the structural integrity of the corner. That said, corner guards are not the only way to minimize the risk of wall corner damage. Though corner guards are certainly the most effective, there are other things you can do or try.
If you want to know how to protect corners on a wall, here is where you might want to focus.
1. End Wall Guard
An end wall guard is sometimes called wall corner guards, protection, or U-channel. This wall guard can protect all sides of a wall, acting as a protective channel encasing the corner. As a type of corner guard, it can be very effective.
2. Base Moulding
Base moulding is for homes. You can also have base moulding corner blocks. They fit on outside corners and stand up a few inches vertically from the ground. Let’s say you’re sliding furniture around. So long as there’s base moulding, whatever is on the floor will be stopped with the moulding and flush contact with the wall will never be made.
3. Vinyl Or Metal Sheets
If there is a risk to more than the corner of the wall, laying down some vinyl or metal sheets can cover significant portions of the wall. This should provide all the protection you need. Metal sheets are highly durable and perfect for industrial environments. By comparison, vinyl sheets are scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and easy to clean and maintain.
4. Crash Rails
A crash rail, or wall bumper guard, protrudes an inch or two from the wall. They are often made with metal. They can curve around corners but don’t always. Crash rails offer a guide to protecting furniture and equipment from making a direct impact. In a way, these work similarly to door stoppers.
5. Durable Material
If you’re remodelling or renovating and have the opportunity to redo your wall, consider hard materials like tile or stone to cover your wall with. These are durable and resistant to impact damage and wear and tear.
6. Kick Plates
Kick plates are made of metal. They are attached along the lower third or less of a wall and possibly across the door. Kick plates are wrapped around corners. They prevent scuffs or scratches from showing up on shoes, carts, and any similar equipment on wheels.
7. Adhesive Bumpers
You can apply adhesive bumpers of foam or rubber directly on the wall corner. This is a very cheap and ineffective way to go with corner wall protection, but some homeowners and business owners try it.
8. Handrails
A form of very basic wall corner protection is handrails. If you’re working in an environment that isn’t overly industrial but is busy, handrails provide wall protection while assisting anyone with stability or balance issues.
9. Correct Existing Damage
If you want to protect the corners of your walls when there is damage, don’t wait to repair them. By applying filler and making repairs on minor damage to corners, you prevent deterioration from becoming worse.
10. Drywall Corner Beads
Installing drywall corner beads reinforces wall corners and prevents damage from direct impact. Corner beads are made with material like steel. They can absorb force in a big way. They offer a solid industrial-style finish for outside corners. Fortunately, drywall corner beads are straightforward to install.
11. Furniture And Obstacles
Another way to protect wall corners is to put obstacles in the way to greatly reduce the likelihood of an impact on anything. Think corner shelves, cabinets, and furniture pressed against the wall and up to the corner. Especially with something like shelving in the way, there won’t be any opportunity for anything to reach the corner of the wall to do damage.
12. Creative Decorative Elements
Don’t hesitate to get creative with décor and art, and create something unique to put over corners and parts of the wall where there is a concern of damage. If your artistic corner wall décor is very popular, some pieces you can buy or make can provide minimal protection.
13. Wallpaper And Wall Coverings
Wallpaper and wall coverings can help to hold a wall together. It won’t prevent damage. However, it may be helpful with small knicks and impacts that may otherwise make dents. Wallpaper can also hide these imperfections so long as there is no structural damage.
14. Corner Wall Guards
A traditional corner wall guard will always offer you the best protection. Corner guards wrap around the outside corner where two walls meet and reinforce both walls. When there is an impact, you’ve got protection to minimize the chance of a dent, chip, or scratch being left behind. Corner wall guards are made from various materials, including thick plastic, vinyl, and metal.