Someone to put up curtain poles in Stafford?

[db]

would anyone like to mount my pole?

no, seriously - i have more curtain poles that need putting up, plus a couple of blinds.. can anyone recommend someone, please?

it's not a big job, but i haven't got a hammer drill/masonry bits/etc. and i'd rather just pay a professional to do it than make a cock up of it me sen..

 

[Gadget]

I got some great plugs from lidl recently, came with a tool to fit them too. You just drilled a hole, poked it through then used the tool to tighten. Then you just pulled the screw back out and mounted whatever was required.

But yeah, plasterboard sucks!

We happen to have some of those, as yet unused, would they work in normal walls do you reckon?

 

[db]

i can't believe how hard it is to get someone to put curtain poles up.. it's not a hard job for someone with the right tools, so would be easy money, but i've contacted a couple of people who advertise "no job too small", had an initial response in the affirmative, then heard nothing since!

i just want my curtains up

 

[Andreas Rex]

i just want my curtains up

Pull yourself together!

 

[tek-monkey]

Maybe what you need to do is say I have x curtain poles with y supports containing z screws each, and they are going into brick/block/plasterboard. I will pay £.

May make people think more about the job? I'd offer myself but I don't have time to sort my own house!

 

[db]

Maybe what you need to do is say I have x curtain poles with y supports containing z screws each, and they are going into brick/block/plasterboard. I will pay £.

Er.. I have 2 curtain poles and 2 blinds, with the supports that came in the shrink wrapped packaging, containing screws that look like any other screws, that need to go into a wall

(Soz - if I had enough knowledge to elaborate on such questions, I'd be able to do I myself!)

All I know is you need to use "fisher fixings", cos it's a new house so there's nothing behind the plasterboard to get a hold of..

 

[shoes]

Indeed, you need the Fischer metal cavity fixing HM.

Available here:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-5-x-37s-bp-hm-metal-plasterboard-anchor-pack-of-20/33559

 

[db]

i can't believe what a 'mare i'm having with this

on the advice of my dear ol' mum, i phoned a bloke from the parish magazine as apparently anyone listed in there is vetted and guaranteed reliable etc. (because they are invariably used by ol' dears and people who could be easily ripped off).. he has since cancelled on me three times, so now i've got family guests visiting over the weekend and still haven't got these ruddy curtain poles up, so the place looks unfinished

i think i'm going to have to buy myself a bastard drill over the weekend, some of these fischer fixings, and have a go at doing it myself - which will no doubt cost about £100 all in all and i'll probably end up farking it up

are fischer fixings the sort of thing a muggle like me can just buy at homebase, or do you have to be a member of super secret building trade society to get hold of them? are they easy to use, or am i going to end up making my house fall down?

 

[tek-monkey]

Do you not have any tools? Are you a real man?!?!?!

On a serious note, I used to be very wary of doing jobs myself. Always thought I'd mess them up, always thought I'd do a much worse job than a 'professional'. Then I paid a few said professionals and realised that I could often do the job just as well, often better in fact as I was more careful of my own stuff! Don't get me wrong, I won't touch gas at all and I'm wary with water as a screw up can be very costly, but electricity is fine and general drilling/cutting/fixing is becoming increasingly easier. I even re-soldered my OHs boiler last year as a new PCB was rather expensive and the broken component was only worth a few quid.

The main thing you need to know is how deep the cavity is behind the plasterboard, as it is an external wall it could be virtually none existent or could be 8cm+. Usually you mark up where you want the screws to go then get a very small drill bit and put in a pilot hole til it stops (hits the brick), you then pull the drill back out and measure how much went into the wall. Whatever that size, you need smaller fixings.

The fixings have 2 measurements, the diameter of the hole (or is it the screw?) and the length of the fixing. The first measurement will be M4 or M5 usually, the higher the number the wider the screw. Its best to check the screws that come with the curtain pole, and go for the same size. If you go too wide the screw wont go through the pole fixing, I've made that mistake before! The second measurement is its length, you need shorter than the depth measured on the drill bit but ideally only just shorter.

Although you can use the fischer bits without a setting tool I REALLY recommend getting one, its too easy to screw up the plasterboard otherwise. Can't see a fischer one, but screwfix have the rawlplug one. This holds the fixing tight and expands the arms behind the plasterboard, holding it in place. You just drill the hole, put in the fixing then pull the arms of the fixing tool together to bend it into shape. Then you need the fixings themselves, I'd probably expect the M4x40 to work but you'd be better of checking the wall/curtain poles to be sure. Those 2 together makes £18, and you get 20 fixings. If you can borrow a drill its a cheap job to do yourself.

Hope thats of use, unfortunately I have the little 'un on Saturday otherwise I'd have come and given it a go for you.

 

[db]

On a serious note, I used to be very wary of doing jobs myself. Always thought I'd mess them up, always thought I'd do a much worse job than a 'professional'.

this is exactly how i feel! but like you say, when i watch people do stuff i always end up thinking "that's actually a piece of piss", so yeah maybe this is a blessing in disguise..

Although you can use the fischer bits without a setting tool I REALLY recommend getting one, its too easy to screw up the plasterboard otherwise. Can't see a fischer one, but screwfix have the rawlplug one. This holds the fixing tight and expands the arms behind the plasterboard, holding it in place. You just drill the hole, put in the fixing then pull the arms of the fixing tool together to bend it into shape. Then you need the fixings themselves, I'd probably expect the M4x40 to work but you'd be better of checking the wall/curtain poles to be sure. Those 2 together makes £18, and you get 20 fixings. If you can borrow a drill its a cheap job to do yourself.

does anyone know if you can get these in B&Q or homebase, or anywhere locally? i'd like to get it done before our guests arrive on saturday afternoon, if possible..

Hope thats of use, unfortunately I have the little 'un on Saturday otherwise I'd have come and given it a go for you.

thanks very much anyway.. the detailed info. is very much appreciated - i'm feeling a bit safer about having a crack myself, at least!

 

[littleme]

You can do it db!

 

[tek-monkey]

does anyone know if you can get these in B&Q or homebase, or anywhere locally? i'd like to get it done before our guests arrive on saturday afternoon, if possible..

Screwfix can get most bits into their local pickup point next day, they may even be in stock now but for some reason their site is playing up for me at the min. When are you thinking of doing the job, and where are you based? My kit is currently at my OHs shop on Marston road, and IIRC I have a few different size fittings in there. Lidl did a kit a while back, so I got the tool and a load of fixings. May make things easier to grab that, so that you can then try the screws from different size fixings in the curtain rail to see what size you need. Saves you making an outlay on something you may decide you'll never use again!

If you let me know when you are free I can try and sort out wheres best to grab them from, I'll get the drill charged up for you too.

 

[db]

thanks very much - PM sent!

 

[proactive]

You can do it db!

 

[tek-monkey]

Here is a good one that explains the fixings, however he uses the screwdriver to tighten it which I don't like. You can see the movement when he does this, meaning he's damaging the plasterboard.

Here is another video where he uses the fixing tool, just as an idea of how it works:

 

[db]

even though i spend half my life on the internet, i never think to look for instructional videos for stuff! just watched that last one, and that will no doubt make my life much easier

 

[Glam]

Where is Gramaisc when you need him? He'd know exactly what to do.

 

[Alan B'Stard]

Ireland

 

[Glam]

Where is Gramaisc when you need him? He'd know exactly what to do.

Ireland

I thought as much.

 

[tek-monkey]

I hope this doesn't come across as condescending, but as I'm not sure on your level of capability I thought I'd spell out all the steps for you. Feel free to ignore, just thought better too well informed than not enough. God knows I've messed up some simple jobs by thinking I knew what to do when I didn't!


Take the screws out of a few of the fixings and see which fit the curtain pole attachments best, then check if there are different depth versions. There should be one to fit the job in there but you never know, and its too late once the holes are drilled.

There is a diameter gauge in with the drill bits, check the diameter of the fixing (not the screw) to make sure you have the right bit. If not sure always go one lower.

Mark the holes required with a pencil, once finished go back and check again. I don't have a spirit level in that lot unfortunately, so a keen eye may be required!

Use a very small drill bit first, to make the center hole. This helps a lot when drilling the larger hole, as it keeps it centered. Once all the holes are drilled check the curtain rail fittings again to make sure you got the holes right, you can still fix problems at this stage.

Drill the holes with the proper drill bit. Once done loosen the screw from the fixing by about 1cm, then knock it into the wall until the collar is flush. The 1cm sticking out will be enough for the setting tool to grab with.

Slide the screw head down into the setting tool, then press flat against the wall. Pull the two handles together to compress the fixing, it may take two or three goes before it stops moving. Once it does remove the setting tool and reset it with the small handle below. The screw should now be able to be easily removed, while the fixing stays in the wall without moving.

Repeat for all holes, then screw the curtain pole attachments up.

Bask in your manly glory, demand a takeaway and a beer