Hollow Walls & Heavy Curtains - Help!

beccabee_2

i bought a house about a year ago, the previous owner had new Double Glazing put in about 4 years ago. Where the old windows were ripped out there was obviously some damage done to the surrounding plaster work as just above the window where you would expect to find brick there is a layer of plaster held on by a wire mesh, behind this there is nothing until you hit the outers walls. I have some heavy curtains and pole which I want to put up, i've tried normal screws but obviously it just comes away from the walls. Can anyone help with any suggestions on how I can fix things to the walls as I have this problem throughout the house and have 3 blinds I can;t put up for the same reasons

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Dijor

Your posting made me laugh! Sorry, a few years ago I had the same problem and tried desperately to put a pole up, drilling the holes etc then telephoning my husband to ask him to get 1" thick raw plugs, tee hee. Couldn't get screws to hold so in the end we put up a piece of wood, probably 2" x 1", along the whole length of the window plus a few inches either side. We glued it in place with contact adhesive which you paste onto both sections - the wood and the strip above the window - then stick them together after fifteen minutes or so. After all these years, the wood battening has never moved and the curtains haven't fallen.

Good Luck!

beccabee_2

Thanks for that suggestion, I'll go and buy some "no more nails" and a piece of wood later! Hopefully the whole wall doesn't come down, if it does i'll be in trouble!

Dijor

I'm not sure no more nails will do it but it is supposed to be really strong. I used evostick which is the really really smelly yellowy colour stuff which you can never get off your hands.

Good Luck!

Ps. Just had another rawplug disaster - seems I wobble the drill when i'm making holes!

phil_s_6

no more nails should do it but evostick is stronger although beware, evostick does not dry clear and you will need to be very tidy, no more nails leaves less mess.

I have architrave around my window frames which i have screwed a couple of poles into, this looks a bit more 'in place' than just one strip of wood. Depends on how old your house is as to whether this look suits.