Fixing the Supports for Curtain Poles and Tracks

You will need a hammer drill fitted with a masonry bit to make holes in the wall above the window. Masonry bits have hardened metal points that can bore through concrete, blocks, and bricks. Buy a small pack of assorted diameter bits as they are useful for other fixing jobs.

Plasterboard Walls

Buy cavity wall fixings with flanges that open out on the inside face of the plasterboard to give a strong grip in plasterboard ceilings or walls. Avoid heavyweight curtains unless you can fix the track or pole to the timber battens behind the plasterboard.

Woodwork

You can sometimes attach track (but usually not poles) to the architrave of the window, for instance if the window is in a recess with ceiling straight above. You need to drill holes for the brackets with a wood bit. Screw the brackets into the highest parts of a decorative architrave where it is flat so that the track doesn't buckle. If the window is in a recess, the track can't be extended beyond the sides of the window, and open curtains will bunch up at the edges, excluding light.

Where the architrave of the window is flush with the wall, you can fix the track directly to the edges of the window reveal. But the track can be extended only about 50 mm (2 in) beyond the window frame, or it will sag, and this is not enough to draw most curtains back fully. To extend the track on to the walls at either side of the window, thus giving more light when the curtains are open, fix a timber batten over the top of the architrave - see Concrete lintel, above.

Concrete Lintel

Concrete is difficult to drill. Instead of drilling lots of holes for the fixing brackets, fix a 25 x 50 mm (1 x 2 in) timber batten to the wall with a screw at either end, beyond the lintel ends, and attach the brackets to this.

Solid Brick or Block Walls

Track kits normally include wall plugs for fixing into solid walls. If not, use plugs at least 50 mm (2 in) long to give a strong grip for the combined track and curtain weight. Use a drill bit the same diameter as the wall plugs. For a stronger fixing, use the drill bit size that is stamped on the plastic 'tree' that connects the wall plugs.

Ceilings

Fitting track to a ceiling can be difficult if the joists behind the ceiling run parallel to the window wall, as the nearest joist may be in the wrong position. In this case, you will need to fix cross battens between the joists so that you have something to screw into - which involves gaining access from above, either by going up into the loft or by taking up the flooring above. Once you have access, drill through the ceiling from below at the correct fixing positions, then nail 25 x 50 mm (1 x 2 in) battens at right angles to the joists. You will need a special ceiling fixing kit to attach to the brackets.