Attaching curtain poles to timber frame walls

Fionnuala_2

Hello

I want to put some curtain poles up - have done this before, but this house is timber frame, so I will be drilling into just plasterboard which is obviously hollow underneath.

How do I put the curtain poles up without destroying the walls?

Thanks.

Boohbah

In a timber framed house, the lintels above each window frame should be timber.

So you should have no problem fixing a pole.

Personal. I fix a 2x1 batten first, then fix your track to that.

Fionnuala_2

Boobah, thanks for your reply. How high up do lintels go usually? I don't want to go too high and end up drilling into a hollow wall.

Or if I attach a batten as you suggest, then would I just nail that on? Then drill into it?

Thanks again, I know I am being a bit thick about this...

FTS

Boohbah

Well, the depth of the lintel will depend on the width of the window. It could be anything from 4" to 10".

The ease's way is to tap the walls, and with a bit of practice you will get to know if it sounds hollow or not.

Or use a small nail and tap it in, in a line behind the proposed batten, so's you wont see the small holes once the batten is fixed.

I usually screw fix as apposed to nails, as its easier to remove should you want to.

To get your batten strait take a measurement down from the ceiling.

That measurement will depend on the drop of your curtains of course.

trafalgar_2

If you don't want to use a baton and you want to put it above /outside the lintel you can get special fittings (b&q will have them) for plasterboard,there are several types

http://www.rawlplug.co.uk/Products/lightmain/cavity.htm


If you do decide to put a baton up to fix the rail to ,use a spirit level to check that it's straight because if the ceiling is even fractionally uneven it will be noticeable when you hang your curtains