Fit a net curtain wire to a solid brick or block wall

Fit a neat, tensioned net curtain wire across your window reveal, from marking up to trimming excess wire.

NC-01Plan the wire positionDecide how high across the window reveal you want the wire — usually just inside the frame, level with the top of the glass. Mark both end points with a pencil, then use a spirit level to check they're level with each other. This guide is for solid brick or block reveals only; if your wall turns out to be stud, dot-and-dab or lath and plaster, the fixings are different, so check what's behind the plaster first.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Spirit level (300mm)

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NC-02Check for hidden pipes and cablesCables and pipes can run almost anywhere, even in a small window reveal, so run a detector over both marked points before you drill. Detectors can still miss things — deep cables, metal conduit, or anything outside the usual safe zones — so treat the wall as live until you've proved otherwise. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns before you start, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable & pipe detector

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NC-03Drill and plug the fixing pointsUse a 6mm masonry drill bit and drill straight into the brick or block to a depth of about 30mm. Brush the dust out of the hole, then push in a red plastic wall plug (Rawlplug or similar) until it sits flush with the surface. Repeat at the second marked point.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

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1 pack of 10 · Red wall plugs 6mm x 30mm

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1 each · Dust sheet

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NC-04Screw in the eyeletsTake the two screw eyes from your net curtain wire kit and drive them into the plugged holes by hand, turning clockwise until they're tight and don't wobble. Don't over-tighten — stop as soon as the plug grips firmly, or you risk cracking the plug in the hole.

1 kit · Net curtain wire kit (wire, 2 screw eyes, tensioner)

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NC-05Thread and tension the wireFeed the wire through both screw eyes, then loop it through the tensioner fitting on one end. Pull the wire taut by hand and lock off the tensioner so there's no sag in the middle — a slack wire will droop under the weight of net curtains within a day or two.

1 each · Wire cutters/pliers

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NC-06Trim, tidy and hang the curtainsCut off any excess wire close to the tensioner with pliers or wire cutters, and tuck the cut end in so it doesn't snag. Vacuum up any masonry dust from the sill and reveal, then thread your net curtains onto the wire and check they run smoothly along its length.

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