Putting up curtain pole

eastneuk · 14 Jul 2021

Hello, I'm new to DIY. I'm trying to put up a curtain pole. I thought it would be an easy job but once I've drilled into the plaster above the window there's something behind that the plaster that the drill won't go through. I've tried using a hammer drill - it went through one hole, but all the other holes won't break (there are six holes, three either side). I'm worried that I'll ruin the wall if I drill too much.

What could be blocking the drill (I don't think it's masonry) and what do I do?

My flat is in a 200 year old building, but the room I am putting the pole up in is an extension put in in the 1970s.

Many thanks

****
moderator's note:

you can insert photos in your reply by "copy and paste" or by "add a file
*****

johnny2007 · 14 Jul 2021

It's a concrete lintel.
You need an sds drill to go through it.

eastneuk · 14 Jul 2021

That makes sense - thanks for the quick reply.

opps · 15 Jul 2021

Yeah, I agree that you need to borrow a SDS drill. Bog standard percussion drills will not go through lintels or hard bricks.

I once recall trying to use one to drill in to a hard rendered wall, the masonry bit started glowing red. I only managed to drill 5mm deep. That took me 7 minutes.

I borrowed an SDS drill, it took me 15 seconds to drill the hole.

Yanni · 18 Jul 2021

I presume you are trying to fix that Screwfix pole! I installed these in 3 bungalows and even with an SDS powerful Dewalt drill I could not go through.

Generally the plaster is thick enough for the plugs to be held in place.

It takes sometimes my method but it is tried and tested. You need some 5 x 40mm screws throw away the ones that are comping with the pole and also some Fishman 6mm plugs.

Drill a hole even with a standard drill as much as you can through the plaster with a 5.5mm drill bit.
Cut the front ring of the fishman plugs
Spray water inside the hole
Fill the hole with gorilla glue
Spray the fishman plug with water
Now put the plug in and hammer it as much as it goes in by putting one of the screws in front but do not tighten it up
Leave it overnight or at least 5 hours
Now cut the excess of the gorilla glue and screw the hole all the way
Job done!

If you try the SDS drill you will open the hole bigger and you will be wasting your time

sparkymarka · 18 Jul 2021

Or just drill the hole with an sds drill …

opps · 19 Jul 2021

Yanni said:
I presume you are trying to fix that Screwfix pole! I installed these in 3 bungalows and even with an SDS powerful Dewalt drill I could not go through.

Generally the plaster is thick enough for the plugs to be held in place.

It takes sometimes my method but it is tried and tested. You need some 5 x 40mm screws throw away the ones that are comping with the pole and also some Fishman 6mm plugs.

Drill a hole even with a standard drill as much as you can through the plaster with a 5.5mm drill bit.

Cut the front ring of the fishman plugs

Spray water inside the hole

Fill the hole with gorilla glue

Spray the fishman plug with water

Now put the plug in and hammer it as much as it goes in by putting one of the screws in front but do not tighten it up

Leave it overnight or at least 5 hours

Now cut the excess of the gorilla glue and screw the hole all the way

Job done!

If you try the SDS drill you will open the hole bigger and you will be wasting your time

An SDS should not have any problems going through a concrete lintel. It sounds like you may have hit a metal catnic. In future try a decent HSS drill bit to go through the metal and then revert back to an sds bit.

Personally, I would not recommend relying on the plaster to hold up heavy curtains.

And, yeah the screws provided with fittings are often awful.

Are you sure that

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Putting up curtain pole

eastneuk

johnny2007

eastneuk

opps

Yanni

Attachments

sparkymarka

opps

DIYnot Local

Similar threads