Fitting a Roller Blind in a Recess

[DIYnewbie54]

Hi,

I recently moved into an apartment and am completely new to DIY. I'm struggling with my first project.

I bought a roller blind and am trying to install it in the recess of the window. The roller blind is about 15kg.

I drilled holes in the ceiling/top of the recess in the plasterboard but there doesn't seem to be a hollow behind the plasterboard. I think it must be layered. Without a hollow I can't use any of the fittings that grip on the other side of the plasterboard in order to hold the 15kg. Without a sturdy fitting I imagine that it will not stay in place.

I'm now thinking that I could install the brackets on the walls of the recess instead of the top. I'm assuming that there is a hollow behind the wall/side of the recess that will allow me to use a fitting that would grip on the other side. However, when I knock on the wall of the recess it doesn't sound hollow compared to around the corner of the recess on the wall of the room.

Before I start drilling more holes on the side walls of the recess, are the walls of a recess generally more reinforced?

What should I be doing before drilling to make sure that this approach would work?

Any advice much appreciated.

Many Thanks

 

[Gasguru]

You've probably got dot and dab whereby the plasterboard is bonded to the blockwork. Depending where you fixings are you may have a void or lump of dry lining plaster.
In addition if you try and fix into the top of the recess you might hit the lintle (metal/concrete) so it's easier fixing at the sides.
Use fixings more appropriate and with the weight of that blind it would be better to get a fixing straight into the blockwork behind the surface finish.
Something like these https://www.corefixed.com/ or frame fixings etc.

 

[sircerebus666]

I've never come across a roller blind that weighs 15kg , 5kg maybe but never 15kg

What's it made of and where did you buy it ?

But as above fixing to the wall is easiest regardless of the weight

 

[foxhole]

I usually fix to window frame . Sure it’s no 1.5kg? Even that’s heavy for a blind .