Drilling into Lintel

ScoobieGirl

Hi,

I'm trying to put up a wire type curtain rail and perhaps unsurprisingly seem to have hit the lintel while drilling the holes to fit the screws. From the sound the bit it making when I tap it, it's a metal one(I understand drilling into the concrete ones are a bit no no as it's makes them much more likely to crack). The house was built in 1979/1980. However I can't drill into the damn thing. I'm using a small metal drill bit (for a pilot hole) and I've tried a normal cordless drill and a hammer drill and it's not drilling it any further. The hole down to the lintel isn't deep enough to risk putting in the wall plug as is.

Any suggestions please?

Poppycat

Get a piece of timber (batten) cut to shape for size of the curtain rail and use no nails type glue to fix to wall then attach rail to that timber

It should cost no more than about £8 tops assuming its not a gigantic window, about £3 for timber at local handyman store £3 for the glue and you will need a mastic gun for the glue.

Poppycat

Here you go found this

Secure the batten with strong and long screws or, on solid walls, super-strong construction glue such as Gripfill Gap-Filling Adhesive (£2.29 for 350ml, www.tooled-up.com). Then fix your track on the batten with screws, using the brackets supplied. Paint it to match your wall.

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/interiors/article654349.ece

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=74051&MAN=Gripfill-Gap-Filling-Adhesive-350ml

That glue is brilliant really strong adhesive but does need 24hours to set properly to be on safe side

ScoobieGirl

Thanks for your reply Poppycat.

I've done that for the proper curtain poles upstairs, but this is only a thin wire (1-2mm) stainless steel type, and it wont look nearly as nice, so I only want to do that as a last resort. I guess I could use a combination of the holes down to the lintel and no nails directly on the fixings, but I don't understand why it is so hard to drill into the metal with a metal drill bit

ScoobieGirl

Thanks for the links Poppycat - love the pic that goes with the gripfill gap filler.

economiser

To drill into concrete you need a percussion drill. This will produce a clean hole and will not weaken the lintel too any degree. I don't really understand the difference between a hammer drill and a percussion drill but the difference in performance is amazing. If its a metal lintel then a normal drill bit (not masonry) in a normal power drill should do it.

ScoobieGirl

economiser wrote: »

If its a metal lintel then a normal drill bit (not masonry) in a normal power drill should do it.

That's what I thought, but even with all my weight behind it, it's not touching it. It really sounds like metal when I tap it, and my Dad who had put up blinds in my house thinks they are metal. Maybe I'm just not stong enough I didn't think I was that weedy

Poppycat

Those percussion drills are quite expensive though so unless you can borrow or, hire one etc will it be worth it. I find hire shops expensive too