Curtain Rail

digital_biscuit

Hi All

We have just bought some new curtains with eyelets. I was wondering what is the best way to mount the curtain pole on the wall? Do you put it straight on to the wall, or on to a long piece of wood and then fix the wood to the wall?

Thanks for your help!
Digi

cyclonebri1

digital_biscuit wrote: »

Hi All

We have just bought some new curtains with eyelets. I was wondering what is the best way to mount the curtain pole on the wall? Do you put it straight on to the wall, or on to a long piece of wood and then fix the wood to the wall?

Thanks for your help!
Digi

Either way really although some people have difficulty drilling into the concrete or steel lintel, so install a higher or wider timber to fix the rail/pole to.

I favour a longer pole direct to the wall anyway, so that the curtains clear the max amount of window when opened.

jonas123

I believe that the long strip of wood you normally find is there to spread the weight of the curtains over the wall. Often, if you mount a rail with say 3 points into a concrete wall, the weight of the curtains can rip the rail off the wall. With a strip of wood, you can mount it on the wall over a number of points, hence spreading the weight of the curtain.

Leif

I must admit I do not understand the question. The curtain poles I bought have three brackets, each of which screws onto a metal thing that is attached to the wall with three screws (in wall plugs). I found a wood drill bit best for drilling through the plaster (the pointy bit allows accurate positioning), followed by a masonry bit to go through the harder material be that a concrete lintel or whatever. They seem securely attached. Make sure you use the right size drill bit.

Innys

The piece of wood you are referring to is commonly called a batten.

Whenever possible, I would use a batten screwed to the wall and the curtain rail supports attached to that. It doesn't look quite as neat, but unless you are very good with a masonry drill and wall plugs, you run the risk of making a mess if you don't use a batten.

When drilling into plaster, it is quite possible some of it will get damaged and dislodged. If using a battern, you will cover up this error when you finally fix the batten to the wall. If you stuff up without using a batten, the error will probably remain visible once you're finished. Yes, you can fill and paint over it, but I try and avoid doing that because it is often still visible.