where do I drill holes for curtain holders?

Jemma01

Hi

So after successfully installing a curtain pole 😅 I'm now stuck with where to install the holders.

The holders came with 3cm long, it seems sufficient for the job(?).

What's the issue?

1. I don't have a lot of space on the wall, the best places in my view one has a socket and a tieback hook with a broken screw and one side with another tieback hook with a broken screw from the previous job (like that when I moved in, I do break things, but this time it ain't me 🤔), help to remove it would be great.

2. I don't know how far from the edge of the door to go. There's metal installed on the corders of the walls (magnets stick to it), not just by the door, but also in other protruding edges in the living room. I don't know how wide it is, and whether I can drill through it 🤔. I would like to drill through if I can.

Thanks 👋

MyRealNameToo

You wouldnt just remove the existing hooks and put these in their place? Technically they should be further to the window as the hooks go at the back of the system whereas the rod would go at the front but there is no fixed right place for them and depends how much of a sweep you want in the curtain.

Not sure what you are saying are 3mm? The screw diameter? Would have thought they were 3.5mm to align to yellow rawl plugs and given the mount has 3 screw holes then that would be plenty for all but the longest/ heaviest curtains.

Jemma01

Oh I think the metal is about 25mm, I just recalled that I have small stromg magnets, they start sticking around that mark

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82152283#Comment_82152283

Sorry fat fingers got in the way 😅 3cm length x 3.5mm diameter

I don't know how to remove the old tieback hooks, the screw heads are broken. I'd like the new hold to be cloder to the edge, now that the metal is 25mm roughly, I think I might survive the drill 😅

stuart45

You might have to drill the screw heads off first, get the fitting off, then get the screw out of the wall. It's best to drill the new holes slightly away from the angle beads.

twopenny

Before you start drilling find a wide rubber band, the sort postie's use, hold the rubber across the screw head and use an electric screwdriver to push into the rubber/screw and start.

It's a trick I picked up years ago and amazing how it can get badly damaged screw heads to turn.

https://grannystips.co.uk/i-thought-that-screw-was-ruined-for-good-why-a-wide-rubber-band-is-the-one-thing-that-rescues-a-stripped-head-without-any-special-kit/

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82152312#Comment_82152312

This what I don't understand how to 😭, what kind of screw bit to use, would that be hss? Smaller than the screw head? Anticlockwise?

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82152312#Comment_82152312

Mole grips and a small pry bar* should get the screw & wall plug out. May well leave a large hole in the wall that needs patching afterwards.
But screw heads should not snap off. If they do, it is an indicator of corrosion (unlikely in a habitable room) or the wrong size screw for the hole.

*) A useful pry bar from Roughneck - Available from Screwfix & other outlets for around £8.

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82152335#Comment_82152335

I tried with a thick tape and it didn't work, I'll try a robber band. The problem is, there's no wall plugs. When I removed 1 screw of each hook, it was very stuck to the plaster 😔

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82152348#Comment_82152348

there's no wall plug unfortunately, and the screw is still holding the hook, so if I yank it out, the damage would be severe

twopenny

What is the wall made of?

I resorted to pulling a shelf and brackets off a plaster board wall (carefully as I could and as straight as possible) and yes, holes left which I filled with ready made filler and sanded down with a flat hand sander.

Yes it left a slight mark but no one would know if you don't point it out.

If you can ice a cake you can do small areas.