Fit a venetian blind to a lath and plaster wall

Fit a venetian blind securely by choosing the right fixing for what's actually behind your wall.

AB-01Check the kit and gather your toolsUnpack the blind and check the headrail width matches your window or recess, with brackets, screws and a fitting template included. Lay everything out on a dust sheet. You'll need a cordless drill, a pilot bit, a masonry bit if needed, a spirit level, pencil, tape measure and a cable/pipe detector.

1 each · Venetian blind (with fitting kit)

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Dust sheet

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AB-02Mark the bracket positionsHold the headrail or bracket template against the wall or window reveal where you want the blind to sit. Mark the screw hole positions on each side, then use a spirit level to draw a level line joining both marks. Double-check both brackets are the same height before you drill anything.

1 each · Pencil

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AB-03Find your stopcock and check for cables before you drillRun your detector over the marked spots, but don't trust it completely — lath and plaster walls can confuse cheap detectors, and cables can run almost anywhere, not just in the usual safe zones. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns before you drill, so you can shut off water fast if you hit a pipe. If you're at all unsure what's behind the wall near a socket or light, isolate that circuit at the consumer unit first.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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AB-04Work out what's actually behind the lath and plasterTap along the marked line: a hollow sound roughly every 400mm usually means timber studs behind the laths, a dull solid thud means masonry. Drill a small pilot hole at one mark and check what comes out — fine white lime dust with wood shavings means laths over timber; hitting solid resistance with brick or block dust means masonry behind. If the wall feels smooth and flat with no lath ridges, it may have been replastered later with plasterboard — run a magnet over it, and if it snags on a line of screw heads every 400-600mm, that's metal studs, not timber.

AB-05Choose the right fixing for what you foundIf masonry sits behind the laths, drill through the plaster and lath into the brick or block, aiming for at least 30mm of embedment, then use a wall plug rated for the hole size with a screw long enough to clear the lath and plaster thickness (typically 60-70mm total). If a timber stud sits behind, drive a wood screw straight into the centre of the stud — no plug needed. If you found a metal stud instead, never use a wood screw or plain plug, since it strips straight through 0.5mm steel — use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a toggle-type hollow wall anchor rated for the blind's weight. If the wall turned out to be dot-and-dab plasterboard, use a fixing long enough to pass through the dab void (often 40-50mm) and still bite at least 25mm into the masonry behind.

4 each · Wall plugs (assorted)

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4 each · Masonry screws, 70mm

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4 each · Wood screws, No.8 x 40mm

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4 each · Metal-stud toggle fixings

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AB-06Drill and fit the fixingsStick a small piece of masking tape over each mark before drilling — this stops the brittle lime plaster crumbling as the bit breaks through. Drill slowly and steadily to the correct depth for your fixing type, then insert the plug or fixing. Drive the screw home but leave 2-3mm standing out if the bracket hooks over it rather than screwing flush.

1 roll · Masking tape

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AB-07Fit the brackets and headrailHook or screw each bracket onto its fixing, making sure it sits flat and snug against the wall. Click the headrail into the brackets and check it's level and sitting square before letting go. If the brackets have a locking clip or screw, secure it now.

AB-08Test the blind and fit the cord safety deviceRaise and lower the blind fully, then tilt the slats both ways to check the mechanism runs smoothly. UK safety rules (BS EN 13120) require pull-cord blinds to have a safety device that stops loops forming, so fit the cleat or breakaway connector supplied with your blind at a height children can't reach, and wind any excess cord onto it. Never leave a loose looped cord hanging free near a window.

RULES

1 each · Cord cleat or breakaway connector

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KNOW THE RULES

UK safety standard BS EN 13120 requires corded blinds to have a child-safety device fitted. Fit the cleat or breakaway connector supplied — don't skip this step.

AB-09Clean up and final checkVacuum plaster dust from the sill, floor and windowsill, and peel off the masking tape. Wipe down the frame and give the blind one more full raise-and-lower test, checking it still sits level. Bin any offcuts and packaging.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner (use existing)

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