Attaching Blinds to Plasterboard Ceiling

paperclap

Hi all,

Have seen mixed views on this, so thought I'd ask here.

Is it okay to fix blinds directly into the plasterboard ceiling?

My concern is that over time, blinds are a little too much weight for plasterboard, especially as the cord will be pulled on when pulling blinds up.

We've an angled window bay, so can't fixate into the walls (on the side). Don't want to fixate into the window frame.

Thanks!

victor2

What is the plasterboard fixed to? There is probably some timber there you can screw into.

We had a similar problem with a steel beam above a window frame, but I realised as it was being built and got the builder to put some timber in there to fix to - and noted its position!

paperclap

victor2 said:

What is the plasterboard fixed to? There is probably some timber there you can screw into.

We had a similar problem with a steel beam above a window frame, but I realised as it was being built and got the builder to put some timber in there to fix to - and noted its position!

I've not been up there to check, but yes there is no doubt some timber there holding up this plasterboard! It's an awkward one, as I can't really check where any timber is as it is in a bricked up void. It's weird. So may need to lift off the roof tiles and look down into it! Or, a stud checker might be in order...

victor2

laurencewhymark said:

victor2 said:

What is the plasterboard fixed to? There is probably some timber there you can screw into.

We had a similar problem with a steel beam above a window frame, but I realised as it was being built and got the builder to put some timber in there to fix to - and noted its position!

I've not been up there to check, but yes there is no doubt some timber there holding up this plasterboard! It's an awkward one, as I can't really check where any timber is as it is in a bricked up void. It's weird. So may need to lift off the roof tiles and look down into it! Or, a stud checker might be in order...

Just tapping on the ceiling might help locate something, followed by a discrete test drill to see what you hit!

A stud and wire locator is always a useful tool to have though.

Ebe_Scrooge

Yep, the plasterboard must be fixed to something, most likely timber studs - these are what you want to be fixing the blind into.  A basic stud detector is not expensive, and it's always a useful thing to have in your toolbox.

Alternatively, tapping with your knuckles can often give you some clues, or a bit of poking with a long-ish needle (any pin-!!!!!! holes are easily covered with a tiny smear of filler afterwards).  Also, if you look carefully you may be able to see where the plasterboard itself is screwed/nailed into the supporting studs.  Any screw-heads should have been covered over with a little dab of plaster, but you can often see a slight crack or bulge where they are.  If you can get sight of a couple of these, that'll give you a good clue as to the layout of the studs behind it.

GDB2222

Fix some timber to the ceiling, then fix the blinds to that?

Bendy_House

laurencewhymark said:

Hi all,

Have seen mixed views on this, so thought I'd ask here.

Is it okay to fix blinds directly into the plasterboard ceiling?

My concern is that over time, blinds are a little too much weight for plasterboard, especially as the cord will be pulled on when pulling blinds up.

We've an angled window bay, so can't fixate into the walls (on the side). Don't want to fixate into the window frame.

Thanks!

Is that a square or angled bay - or both on different sides?!

Where would the blinds be fitted - a few inches forward of each window? There would be three separate blinds?

Anyhoo, you can get strong p'board fixings, but I'd only use them for static loads - when you mount summat and then not touch it...

Dynamic loads - like this - will be subjected to many times what the simple weight of the object is. P'board is strong, but once a fixing begins to move, its days are numbered.

Even if you can find timber studs - and surely there are some - they are unlikely to line up where you want them. So, what I'd do is to make up a flat mounting rail - perhaps 3x1 - bevel the edges to make it look neat, and then screw this to the ceiling, catching all available studs. Before final screwing, coat it with PVA. That shouldn't move. Paint it ceiling colour.

Then screw the blinds wherevs to this.

stuart45

A strong magnet might help locate the fixings in the plasterboard to the ceiling joists.

fenwick458

use a decent magnet and find the timbers above and screw into those, if there are any, 
something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114700559020?hash=item1ab4afa2ac:g:oUMAAOSwhgtgNP3z
I wouldn't use any plasterboard fixings they won't last long

paperclap

Not sure if anyone will receive these notifications after such a long time!

I’d lifted the roof tiles off, located joists, drilled with the smallest drill bit just to the side of the joist to mark on the ceiling where they are.

Luckily, they’re not in terrible locations for most of where I need. However, the main issue now is where the two blinds meet, at the angle. These are the mounts that’ll take the bulk of the weight. There is a joist there, but obviously not large enough to catch both blind mounts.

Would it be an idea to “pack out” the joist in that area with say a 2” by 4” or 2” by 6” (whatever size my joists are), to effectively make that portion large enough to take both the blind mounts?

Bendy_House

Blimey - you took the roof off to find the joist !

Yes, you can easily glue-and-screw lumps of wud to the existing joists in order to widen the catch area for the fittings. If it's more than, say, 6" away from a joist, then you may be best making it a noggin rather than a lump. Ie, cut the timber to fit snugly between two joists, so's it's held at both ends. But, if you only want an extra 2 or 3 inches, just screwing to one joist side is fine.

If the joist is, say, a 6x2, then the lump doesn't have to be 6" high to match. A piece of 4x2 or even 2x2 should do.

Pilot-drill holes through the lump first, hold it against the joists and also flat on the top of the p'board ceiling. Before driving home the screws, PVA the joist contact areas and also the p'board top - it all helps to solidify the area and prevent movement.