Fit a wall-mounted hose reel to a rendered exterior wall

Mount a hose reel bracket on your exterior wall securely, checking for pipes and cables before you drill.

HR-01Plan the position and check accessPick a spot near your outside tap, at a comfortable height of around 750-900mm from the ground. Make sure the reel can swing and unwind fully without catching a drainpipe, gutter or window sill. Mark the spot lightly in pencil and hold the bracket against the wall to check the fixing holes line up.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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HR-02Work out what's behind the renderMost UK houses have solid brick or block behind exterior render, which feels solid all over when you tap it and gives out brick or block dust from a test hole. Some newer builds, extensions and timber-clad houses have a timber stud frame behind the render on a sheathing board — this sounds hollow between the studs, and a stud detector or magnet finds a regular line of fixings at roughly 400-600mm spacing, with a small pilot hole bringing out fine timber dust. A minority of flats and new-build blocks use a metal (steel) stud frame behind render, giving the same hollow sound but a pilot hole brings out fine grey steel swarf instead of dust.

1 each · Stud detector or magnet

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HR-03Check for pipes and cables, and find your stopcockCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, and outside walls near an outdoor tap often have a supply pipe close by. Run a detector over the marked area, but still treat the wall as if something is there — detectors miss deep cables, pipes in metal conduit, and anything behind metal-backed render mesh or a metal stud frame. Before you drill, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, turn the water off at the stopcock before drilling, and isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit if there's any chance of hitting a cable.

HR-04Drill and plug for solid masonry behind renderMark the fixing holes through the bracket, then drill through the render into the brick or block with an 8mm masonry bit, to a depth of 55-60mm. Blow or brush the dust out of each hole, then push in a matching red wall plug flush with the surface. This is the standard method for the great majority of rendered exterior walls.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 8mm

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6 each · Red wall plugs (masonry)

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HR-05Fix into a timber-frame exterior wallIf step HR-02 shows timber studs behind the render, drill a 3mm pilot hole to confirm timber dust, then mark the exact stud centres. Drive a 60-65mm stainless wood screw into the centre of each stud — never into the sheathing board alone, as it won't hold outdoor weight and vibration. If the bracket's fixing points don't land on two studs, fit a timber batten or pattress screwed across the studs first, and fix the bracket to that.

6 each · Stainless wood screws 60mm

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1 each · Timber batten (for pattress)

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HR-06Fix into a metal-stud (SFS) exterior wallThis is less common on houses but turns up on some flats and new-build blocks. Use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor rated for outdoor loads — never a plastic wall plug or ordinary wood screw, as these strip straight through 0.5mm steel. A hose reel pulls hard on its fixings every time you unwind it, so a metal stud alone often isn't strong enough; fit a timber noggin between the studs first, or fix through to solid masonry behind if there is any.

6 each · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings

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1 each · Timber noggin

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HR-07Mount the bracket and reelHold the bracket in place and drive in the screws provided, checking with a spirit level that it's sitting straight. Tighten each fixing fully, but don't overtighten into render as it can crack around the hole. Hang the hose reel unit onto the bracket and secure it with the retaining screw or nut supplied.

1 each · Hose reel wall bracket kit

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1 each · Spirit level

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HR-08Connect the reel to your outside tapWrap PTFE tape clockwise around the threaded tap connector, then fit it to your outside tap and hand-tighten before a final quarter-turn with a spanner. Connect the hose from the reel to the tap connector the same way. Don't overtighten plastic fittings, as they can crack.

1 roll · PTFE tape

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1 each · Hose tap connector set

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HR-09Test for leaks and check it holdsTurn the tap on slowly and check every joint for drips, tightening a little further if needed. Wind the hose fully out and back in a few times to check the reel spins freely and the bracket stays solid on the wall under the pulling force. If any fixing moves or the wall sounds hollow and crumbly, stop and refit with a stronger fixing or into a different spot.

HR-10Tidy upSweep or vacuum up any brick, render or timber dust from the ground below. Coil the hose neatly onto the reel and dispose of packaging. Store any spare plugs or screws for future repairs.

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