Fit a room-divider curtain track to a concrete ceiling

Fit a ceiling curtain track safely, using the right fixing for concrete, timber joists, metal joists or lath-and-plaster.

RD-01Work out what's above the ceilingTap the ceiling with a knuckle along the line where the track will go. A dull, solid knock means concrete; a hollow, drum-like sound means plasterboard on joists; a soft, slightly bouncy sound with fine hairline cracks often means lath and plaster. Run your detector along the same line to find joist spacing, then drill one small 3mm pilot hole in an inconspicuous spot: timber dust means timber joists, fine grey swarf means metal joists or furring channels, and hard resistance with masonry dust means solid concrete. Dot-and-dab is a wall-only build-up, so you won't find it on a ceiling.

1 each · 3mm drill bit

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RD-02Check for cables, pipes and your stopcockCables can run along or across joists to ceiling lights and loft wiring, so sweep the whole line with your detector, not just one spot. Even then, assume there's something there until you've drilled a little way and proved otherwise. Before you start, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut off the water fast if you ever hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what's in the ceiling, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

RD-03Mark the track line and fixing pointsMeasure the opening and mark a centre line on the ceiling, checking it's level with a spirit level rather than just parallel to a wall. Most curtain tracks need a bracket every 500mm, so mark these points along the line, plus one 50mm in from each end. If any point misses a joist by more than 20mm, note it now so you can add a noggin or pattress when you fix it.

1 each · Pencil

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RD-04Fix into a solid concrete ceilingUse an SDS drill with a 6mm masonry bit and drill each fixing point 40mm deep, matching the length of your concrete screw or anchor. Blow or vacuum the dust out of the hole before fitting the anchor, then drive the screw home so the bracket sits flush. This is the strongest of the four fixings and takes the full weight of the curtain without extra support.

1 each · SDS masonry bit 6x110mm

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8 each · Concrete screw anchors 6x40mm

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RD-05Fix into plasterboard on timber joistsWhere a fixing point lands on a joist, drill a 3mm pilot hole and drive a 50mm wood screw straight into the centre of the joist. Where a point falls between joists, fit a timber noggin between them first: plasterboard alone, even with a toggle fixing, will sag under a curtain's constant pull. Screw the noggin across the gap, then fix into its centre the same way.

8 each · Wood screws 50mm

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1 each · Timber noggin 47x50mm x 600mm

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RD-06Fix into plasterboard on metal joistsNever use a wood screw or plastic wall plug in a metal joist – it strips straight through 0.5mm steel. Where a fixing point lands on the metal joist, use a self-drilling metal-stud screw, which cuts its own thread as it drives in. Where a point falls between metal joists, screw a timber noggin or plywood pattress across the joists either side, because a hollow-wall toggle alone won't take the constant downward pull of a curtain.

8 each · Self-drilling metal-stud screws

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1 each · Plywood pattress 150x150x12mm

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RD-07Fix into a lath and plaster ceilingOld lath and plaster is brittle and can crumble around a fixing, so always locate the joist above with your detector and a pilot hole first – never rely on modern plasterboard toggle fixings here. Drill a 3mm pilot hole into the centre of the joist and drive a 50mm wood screw through the plaster and lath into solid timber. If the plaster around the hole feels soft or crumbly, screw a small plywood pattress over the area first so the bracket bears on ply, not old plaster.

8 each · Wood screws 50mm

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1 each · Plywood pattress 150x150x12mm

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RD-08Fit the track brackets and trackOffer up each bracket to its fixing point and drive home the screw or anchor, checking with a spirit level that the brackets sit in a straight line. Clip or screw the track into the brackets, then run a finger along the underside to check nothing's proud or catching.

1 each · Heavy-duty ceiling curtain track 2m

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RD-09Hang the curtain and test the glideFit the curtain hooks or runners onto the track and hang the curtain, then pull it fully open and closed a few times. Check it doesn't snag at any bracket and that the track isn't sagging between fixing points; if it sags, add another fixing point midway.

RD-10Tidy up and check your workVacuum up drilling dust and offcuts, and wipe down the ceiling line with a dry cloth. Give the track a final firm tug along its length to make sure every fixing is solid before you leave the room.

1 each · Dust sheet

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