Fit a roller blind inside the window recess in a dot-and-dab plasterboard wall

Fit a roller blind neatly inside a window recess, checking what's behind the surface before drilling and fixing brackets safely.

RB-01Check the blind kit and gather your toolsUnpack the roller blind and check the brackets, chain or cord safety device, and screws supplied match the width of your recess. Lay out a drill, 6mm masonry bit, pilot bit, spirit level, pencil and dust sheet. Check the recess depth is at least the bracket projection stated in the blind's instructions, usually 45-60mm.

1 each · Roller blind kit (cut to size)

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1 each · Dust sheet

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RB-02Measure and mark the bracket positionsMeasure the recess width at the top and bottom - recesses are rarely square, so work to the narrower measurement. Mark each fixing point 30-40mm in from the sides, using a spirit level to keep both brackets at exactly the same height. Position them 15-20mm below the top of the recess, checking you're clear of any lintel bearing edge.

1 each · Pencil

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RB-03Run a safety check before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, including inside a window reveal. Run a detector over each marked point, but still treat the wall as if something is there until you've proven otherwise - detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed plasterboard. 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 circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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RB-04Work out what's behind the recess surfaceTap the side and top of the recess with a knuckle. A solid, dead sound with no give is bare masonry or solid plaster - drill straight into it. A hollow sound, or slight give when you push a bradawl in, means the reveal has been dressed with plasterboard on dot-and-dab like the main wall. A fine pilot hole confirms it: brick dust means masonry, a soft give followed by a gap means board over a dab void.

1 each · Bradawl

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RB-05Fix the brackets - solid masonry revealIf the reveal is bare masonry or solid plaster, drill a 6mm hole 40-45mm deep at each mark. Push in a plug until flush, then fix the bracket with the screws supplied. Give each bracket a firm pull to check it doesn't move.

4 each · Red wall plugs (6mm)

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4 each · 40mm screws

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RB-06Fix the brackets - boarded reveal on dot-and-dabIf the reveal is boarded, drill through the plasterboard and the dab void into the masonry behind. The fixing needs to reach at least 25-30mm into solid masonry beyond the board, so use a 65-75mm long dot-and-dab fixing, not a plug sized for the board alone. Push the plug through until it seats against the masonry, then drive the screw slowly - a plug left hanging in the void will pull straight out under the daily weight of the blind.

4 each · Long dot-and-dab fixings (65-75mm)

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RB-07Check the brackets are level and secureRun a spirit level across both brackets before fitting the roller tube - even 2-3mm out will make the blind hang crooked. Give each bracket a firm tug. If either moves, refit with a longer fixing or shift it a few mm to catch solid material.

RB-08Hang the blind and test itClip the roller tube into the brackets, following the blind's own instructions for which end goes in first. Pull the chain or cord through a full up-and-down cycle to check it rolls smoothly and sits square in the recess.

RB-09Fit the child-safety cord deviceUK product safety rules require corded blinds to be fitted with a safety device - a cleat, tensioner or breakaway connector - so a looped cord can't become a strangulation hazard. Fit the device supplied with your blind at a height a small child can't reach, following the maker's instructions, and never leave the cord looped and loose.

RULES

1 each · Cord safety cleat or tensioner (supplied)

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KNOW THE RULES

UK product safety rules require blinds with cords to have a child-safety device fitted; use the one supplied with your blind kit.

RB-10Tidy upVacuum up dust and offcuts, wipe down the recess and sill, and fold away the dust sheet. Check the wall around each bracket for cracked or crumbling plaster and patch small chips with a dab of filler if needed.

1 each · Filler (small tub)

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PART OF A BIGGER PROJECT

Dress every window in a room · Turn a box room into a home office · Spare room to guest room in a weekend · Set up a nursery safely

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