Walls not strong enough to fit blinds

Giggidy

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Links working fine. A close-up would have been better.

That seems like a very odd position be mounting blinds.

What is behind the hole? Is it hollow? If you stick a screw driver in there does it hit solid masonry? Does it feel like the masonry is directly behind the plaster or is there a gap?

http://imgur.com/a/xlv2q

It cant be hung in the recess the window opens inwards, 50mm wooden venetian with quite a big box to be hung from.

I put an alum key in the hole and it went all the way back, the alum key is 12cm long!!!

glentoran99

and why cant a big rawl plug go in those holes?

TheCyclingProgrammer

glentoran99 wrote: »

and why cant a big rawl plug go in those holes?

You can certainly get fixings of various types that will fix in hollow walls however they are normally used in plasterboard which will have more structural integrity than crumbly old lime plaster.

Anyway, based on OPs last post, it does sounds like they might be dealing with lath and plaster here. I could be wrong of course, it could be skimmed plasterboard if the lath and plaster has been replaced in the past. In which case normal plasterboard fixings (or the rawl 4all plugs I posted a link to on the last page) should do the job.

OP - have you tried tapping on the wall to see if you can identify where the studs might be? If you can find them then the solution is simple - get some wooden batten, a piece of 2x1 should be sufficient, and fix it to the wall by drilling pilot holes lined up with the studs on the wall and fixing directly to the studs with wood screws. You can then fix the blinds to this.

Le_Kirk

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

If he's drilled holes into the masonry and its crumbled so any wall plugs are just turning in the hole, then wet'n'fix patches are great for fixing that problem:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Fischer-Wet-'n'-Fix-Pack-10/p/511151

Wet them, wrap them round a wall plug, push it in and wait 10 minutes for it to set.

Wow, never seen these before but how many times have I wished for something like it. Just off to make some big holes so I can use them!!!

TheCyclingProgrammer

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Wow, never seen these before but how many times have I wished for something like it. Just off to make some big holes so I can use them!!!

I found them essential and wish I'd found them sooner when we moved into our house, which has a combination of old soft crumbling lime plaster and rock hard bricks. They work brilliantly. Always keep some in my toolbox.

Grenage

I normally pack holes with filler and then push in the plug and leave to firm up, which is essentially the same - but nowhere near as quick-setting.

rosie383

We have encountered exactly the same problem today as the OP. Tried to drill holes above a bay window and there seems to be about 1cm of plaster of some sort, then a big gap, which, again like the OP, I can put a 12cm screw into and it goes all the way in without encountering anything.
Managed to find a solid bit to drill into, but will have the same problem when we put the small side bay blinds tomorrow. 1930s house.

Giggidy

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

You can certainly get fixings of various types that will fix in hollow walls however they are normally used in plasterboard which will have more structural integrity than crumbly old lime plaster.

Anyway, based on OPs last post, it does sounds like they might be dealing with lath and plaster here. I could be wrong of course, it could be skimmed plasterboard if the lath and plaster has been replaced in the past. In which case normal plasterboard fixings (or the rawl 4all plugs I posted a link to on the last page) should do the job.

OP - have you tried tapping on the wall to see if you can identify where the studs might be? If you can find them then the solution is simple - get some wooden batten, a piece of 2x1 should be sufficient, and fix it to the wall by drilling pilot holes lined up with the studs on the wall and fixing directly to the studs with wood screws. You can then fix the blinds to this.

Thanks for all the useful info I just need to clarify a few things, as you can probably tell I have no idea about wall studs (had to google that) and knocking on the wall to find it (sounded the same to me no matter where I knocked). I think your suggestion with the wooden batten is the way forward rather than fixings and polyfiller. Will probably have to get a stud wall finder firstly. And then with regards to the wooden batten, what is 2x1? 2mm by 1m? Pilot holes?? :think:: No idea at all!

Giggidy

rosie383 wrote: »

We have encountered exactly the same problem today as the OP. Tried to drill holes above a bay window and there seems to be about 1cm of plaster of some sort, then a big gap, which, again like the OP, I can put a 12cm screw into and it goes all the way in without encountering anything.
Managed to find a solid bit to drill into, but will have the same problem when we put the small side bay blinds tomorrow. 1930s house.

Oh dear, how did you manage to find the solid bit?

Mr.Generous

Lime plaster crumbling is the pits to fix into. You can 'no nails' a batten to the surface but you have to wait a couple of days for it to harden fully.