Picture rail sprung out at corner.

JohnB47

This is basically a question about fixing a wooden item to a wall where the wooden item can't be removed first.

In one corner of a room, the last 40cm or so of wooden picture rail has sprung away from the wall. At most it's about 4mm out. It's been like that for years and there's no obvious reason for it. It's hard to just push it back into place so I think only a stout screw into a wall plug would pull it back into place.

The rail is about 4 metres long, so fully removing it, or even pulling back enough to get a drill behind isn't realistic.

Any ideas how to get a hole drilled behind there and insert a plug? Is there a screw with an unusually big head? Or maybe drill  right through and use a screw fed through a washer? Any other ideas?

FreeBear

Assuming a brick wall, drill a smallish hole (say 5mm) through both the picture rail, plaster, and in to the brick. Counter sink the hole so that the screw head will disappear below the surface. Suck out as much of the dust as you can. Inject a resin* in to the hole and shove a long screw in. Push back in to place and hold for a few minutes - The resin goes off very quick. Once it starts to cure, drive the screw in so that the head is just below the surface.

If you don't want to use a resin, Gripfill can sometimes work, but takes a lot longer to harden.

* https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-kem-psc-175-ef-chemical-resin-175ml/5650j

grumbler

I successfully screwed normal timber and plasterboard screws into holes in bricks. It's just a matter of matching the diameters of a screw and a hole. And I added a small amount of grease to the tip of the screw.

Eldi_Dos

If a brick wall, as per FreeBears method but with a suitable sized wooden dowel rather than resin.

grumbler

Eldi_Dos said:

If a brick wall, as per FreeBears method but with a suitable sized wooden dowel rather than resin.

For a proper dowel you need a bigger hole that will be impossible to drill with the rail in place. Generally, you want as small hole as possible, although if the rail is painted, the hole can be bigger. 
For a small hole, if it's just a little bigger than the screw diameter, a wood splinter smeared with PVA will work. 

Eldi_Dos

Agree, thats why I said suitable sized dowel, like the one you proposed.

FreeBear

... Or you can get screws specifically for screwing in to brick & concrete without the need for wall plugs or resins.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/masonry-screws/cat840054?headtype=countersunk

grumbler

Yes, but they are huge. Minimum diameter is 6mm.

Eldi_Dos

If its a Lath and Plaster wall we may need to come up with another plan.

I vote for a thin spring toggle bolt , would 3/8 be small enough?

JohnB47

Thanks folks. All good advice. I'll have a think.

stuart45

When fixing timber to a masonry wall such as battens for boarding out, once the timber is partially fixed drill through the timber and into the wall. Knock the plugs in and then put the screw into the plug and knock the plug home. You can then tighten up the screw.