batten for curtain pole

andrewf75

Hi all,

My previous fixing of brackets direct into a very bad wall to hang a curtain pole is starting to fail so I am going to fix them on a batten, which will cover all the previous holes. These are sold in 2.4m lengths which is perfect, but is 18mm thick enough to screw the brackets into?

Thanks!

nofoollikeold

I've done exactly the same and its still OK after 30 years.

dunroving

andrewf75 wrote: »

Hi all,

My previous fixing of brackets direct into a very bad wall to hang a curtain pole is starting to fail so I am going to fix them on a batten, which will cover all the previous holes. These are sold in 2.4m lengths which is perfect, but is 18mm thick enough to screw the brackets into?

Thanks!

Surely it depends on the length of the screws you use?

I know I had a (duff) decorator who removed the curtain pole in order to paint, lost the original screws, and used other (longer) screws. When the screws hit the wall behind the batten, the batten started to separate from the wall. Grrrr.

andrewf75

dunroving wrote: »

Surely it depends on the length of the screws you use?

I see what you mean...so basically as long as they are less than 18mm its fine.

Thanks

dunroving

andrewf75 wrote: »

I see what you mean...so basically as long as they are less than 18mm its fine.

Thanks

... or 18mm plus the distance between the batten and whatever you are screwing in (e.g., if there is 4mm of bracket between the screw head and the front side of the bracket).

I think you could also drill a pilot hole into the wall, if the screw is longer than the batten.

andrewf75

dunroving wrote: »

... or 18mm plus the distance between the batten and whatever you are screwing in (e.g., if there is 4mm of bracket between the screw head and the front side of the bracket).

I think you could also drill a pilot hole into the wall, if the screw is longer than the batten.

Cheers, but given the choice what would be best? the brackets came with screws (currently half falling out of the wall!) that are probably long enough to go through into the wall and will need a pilot hole as you say, but I could easily get new shorter ones - presumably wood screws will hold best.

dunroving

andrewf75 wrote: »

Cheers, but given the choice what would be best? the brackets came with screws (currently half falling out of the wall!) that are probably long enough to go through into the wall and will need a pilot hole as you say, but I could easily get new shorter ones - presumably wood screws will hold best.

I'm a DIY amateur, but would say it depends on the load ... a light (metal) pole and lightweight curtains will be less load than a thicker wooden pole and heavyweight, lined curtains. The latter would need a stronger attachment (longer screws).

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

andrewf75 wrote: »

Cheers, but given the choice what would be best? the brackets came with screws (currently half falling out of the wall!) that are probably long enough to go through into the wall and will need a pilot hole as you say, but I could easily get new shorter ones - presumably wood screws will hold best.

Most screws will hold the brackets no problem and a 20mm screw should be fine as you have the thickness of the bracket plus if the point of the screw did hit the will it'll likely drive in a mm or two with ease anyway important thing is to make sure the batten is securely fixed to the wall.

Simple instructions here:

diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-fit-wall-plugs/CC_npcart_400142.art

If you are fixing to a plasterboard stud wall you'd need a different type of fixing like this one:

screwfix.com/p/fischer-self-drill-plasterboard-fixings-metal-35mm-100-pack/47347