Batten for curtains

noncom_2

Hi all

We need to put up some battens to support curtain rails in our new house. Some rooms already have poles mounted on painted wooden battens, and we'd like to get something to match this roughly if possible.

The existing battens are 70mm x 20mm with a shaped profile on every edge, a bit like a skirting board or architrave but symmetrical.

I can't seem to find anything resembling them by searching for "batten" online. Does anyone have any clues how where to find something like I've described? Or must they have been made specially when the house was refurbished?

Thanks
Andy

McKneff

Could you get in touch with the previous owners and ask them.

Pitlanepiglet

It's at times like this, I'm glad for my lack of attention to detail! We barely have furniture that matches let along curtain rails, it makes life so much easier!

27col

I couldn't agree more pitlanepiglet. You don't seriously think that it matters a hoot as to whether or not the batten profiles are exactly the same in every room. It is hardly likely to reduce the enjoyment of the house. If it worries you so much why don't you buy a length of round edge architrave which you can plane down a bit on the other edge to make it look similar to the battens in other rooms.

jennifernil

I would suggest you could get "door facings". At least, our door facings are rounded on both sides.

You lot are not very helpful I must say! OP wants them to match and was just asking for advice.

OP, if you have problems getting timber rounded on both long sides, then buy square edged and plane/sand it till you get the shape you want.

Square edge can be rounded using a router, but from your post I do not think that is an option for you. Your other option is to have it specially run (made to your spec) but that could prove expensive.

stephen25uk

i used to put these up 20 years ago when i was an apprentice joiner,you dont really see many of them going into new builds now,you can just attach your curtain pole direct to the wall with a hammer drill to drill into the concrete lintel,or if you really want the look you can get some 3 x 1 pine and a sanding block with some sandpaper to round over the edges if you have no tools,if you have a plane knock the edge off all 4 sides then round over with the sandpaper.
as someone else suggested you can get door facings rounded on both sides then you would just need to round over the ends.

noncom_2

Thanks to all of you (even the less helpful ones.....!)

No, we're not obsessed about them matching the ones in the other rooms exactly. But if we're going to put up battens of some sort (which in at least one room is necessary), then we'd like them to look smart, and the ones upstairs with their symmetrical profile do.

So, maybe my original post was a little misleading by suggesting I wanted an exact match. I will look for "door facings" and see if I can find anything appropriate. Thanks @jennifernil.

BTW, it could be argued that it "doesn't matter a hoot" what colour the curtains are either, or whether they're stuck up on a plastic track or a metal pole, so long as they meet in the middle and don't fall down. But actually I think most people take a little more pride in their home than that. I was merely asking the question as to whether anyone here might know what the thing I described was, so I could see if I could get something similar to match. I don't have a router, but do have some other basic woodworking tools, so I could create a homebrew version if necessary, but like many people I have a fulltime job and children to look after, so if I can spare myself the hour or two it would take to make them, that would be good.