Hi Donna,

I am trying to fix a curtain rail above my bedroom window but when I drill into the wall the surface crumbles leaving nothing to screw into. Is there anything I can do without having to remove the wallpaper?

Thanks,

Dave. A.

Our Homes And Property Expert replies:

Hi Dave,

The screws supplied with your curtain track may not be long enough to achieve a secure fixing, particularly if your plaster is old and slightly crumbly. In that case use longer screws and wallplugs, or screw into sound ceiling timber.

The window top or ceiling may not be quite level, so mount the track parallel to whichever is most horizontal. Follows these easy steps to installing your new track:

1. First decide on the correct length of track to accommodate your curtains and cut it to length using a fine-tooth hacksaw. To look good and let in plenty of light, curtains should draw back clear of the glass. Remove any burrs from the cut ends with a file or craft knife. If the window is wide and the curtains thick, then the track will need to extend further than if the material is lightweight.
2. Calculate how much the track will reach beyond the recess. Use a ruler to extend the top line of the recess by this amount with a pencil either side. You can rub the line out later.
3. Measure 25mm (0.98in) in from the end of the line and 50mm (1.97in) up; this is the fixing position for the end bracket. Repeat to find the position of the other end bracket.
4. Mark the remaining fixing positions at equal intervals between the two end brackets, measuring 50mm (1.97in) up from the top of the window recess each time.