Fit a roller blind outside the window recess on a metal stud wall

Fit a roller blind above the window recess, checking what's behind the wall first and using a fixing strong enough to hold it.

RB-01Measure the recess and mark bracket positionsMeasure the full width of the window recess. For an outside-recess fit, add 50-75mm to each side so the blind blocks light gaps, and mark the top brackets about 50-70mm above the recess. Use a pencil and spirit level to mark both bracket positions level with each other, not just level with the recess, since walls and window openings are rarely perfectly square.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Spirit level (600mm)

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1 each · Pencil

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RB-02Check your stopcock and think about the circuit before you drillBefore any drilling, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you ever hit a pipe. If your marked fixing points are close to a socket, switch or light circuit, isolate that circuit at the consumer unit before drilling. Cables and pipes can run almost anywhere near a window, not just in the usual safe zones.

RB-03Work out what's behind the wall at each fixing pointRun a cable and pipe detector over both marked positions, then use a magnet or stud detector to track along the wall looking for a line of screw heads, which usually marks stud centres. Tap the wall to compare a hollow sound between studs against a firmer sound on the stud line. Drill a small 3mm pilot hole at each mark: fine pale dust means timber, grey metallic swarf means a metal stud, and solid resistance with masonry dust means brick, block or a dot-and-dab wall. Even with a detector reading clear, still treat the area as if something could be there until you've drilled a small test hole and proved otherwise.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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1 each · Cordless drill with 3mm bit

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RB-04Drill and fit the right fixing for your wallOn solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole to 35-40mm depth, fit a wall plug, and use a screw long enough to grip fully inside it. On a timber stud, drill a pilot hole and drive a 4x40mm wood screw into the centre of the stud, not the edge. On a metal stud, never use a plastic plug or a wood screw, since a screw strips straight through 0.5mm steel; use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor rated for the bracket's pulling load. On dot-and-dab plasterboard, use a fixing long enough to pass through the board and the adhesive dabs, typically 75-90mm, so it grips the solid masonry behind, not just the board. On lath and plaster, fix through the lath into the masonry or joist behind with a longer screw, working slowly to avoid cracking the old plaster; if nothing solid lines up behind any of these, fit a timber noggin between the studs first rather than trust the board alone, since a roller blind gets pulled every time it's used.

4 each · Wall plugs (assorted)

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4 each · Wood screws 4x40mm

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4 each · Metal-stud self-drilling fixings

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4 each · Hollow-wall toggle fixings

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4 each · Long masonry frame fixings 90mm

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1 length · Timber noggin (if needed)

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RB-05Fix the brackets in placeHold each bracket to its marked position and drive the fixing home, checking it feels solid rather than spinning loose. Recheck both brackets with the spirit level once fitted, since a fixing going in can shift a bracket slightly. Don't overtighten fixings into plasterboard or old plaster, as this can crack the surface around the hole.

RB-06Fit the roller tube into the bracketsClip or slot the chain or clutch end of the roller tube into its bracket first, then lower the idle pin end into the opposite bracket. Push the tube fully home on both ends until it clicks or seats. Give it a gentle downward tug to check it's properly seated before letting go.

1 each · Roller blind kit (cut to size)

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RB-07Fit the child-safety device on the chain or cordUK safety regulations require corded and chained blinds to have a safety device fitted that keeps the cord or chain out of reach of children, usually a cleat fixed to the wall or window frame, or a breakaway connector on the chain itself. Fit the cleat at a height well above where a small child could reach, and wind the excess chain or cord around it once the blind is hung.

RULES

1 each · Safety cleat or breakaway connector (usually supplied)

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KNOW THE RULES

UK regulations (backed by BS EN 13120) require corded and chained blinds to be fitted with a child-safety device. Fit the cleat or breakaway device supplied with the kit, especially if children live in or visit the home.

RB-08Test the blind and adjustPull the chain or cord to raise and lower the blind fully, checking it runs straight and doesn't rub the sides of the recess. If it hangs slightly crooked, loosen one bracket, nudge it, and re-check with the spirit level. Check both brackets are still tight after testing.

RB-09Clear upVacuum drilling dust from the sill, floor and any dust sheet, and wipe down the wall around the fixings. Bin the packaging and offcuts, and keep any spare fixings from the kit in case you need to adjust the blind later.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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