Fit a wall-mounted hose reel to an exterior brick wall

Mount a hose reel securely on an exterior wall, checking for hidden pipes and cables before you drill and fix it in place.

HR-01Check the wall and choose the positionExterior walls are almost always solid brick or block, not a stud wall, so you're fixing into masonry here. Pick a spot near your outside tap, at a comfortable working height, and check the hose will reach every part of the garden you need. Avoid airbricks, drainage pipes, the damp-proof course (the horizontal line about 150mm above ground level), meter boxes and any visible cable runs to outdoor lights or sockets.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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HR-02Gather your tools and materialsGet everything together before you start so you're not stopping halfway through. Check the hose reel kit for its own fixing screws and plugs — if they're poor quality, buy better ones rated for masonry. Have a drill with a masonry bit and a cable/pipe detector ready.

1 each · Wall-mounted hose reel kit with bracket

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1 each · Masonry drill bit, 8mm

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1 pack of 10 · Red wall plugs (rated for masonry)

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1 pack of 10 · Zinc-plated wood screws, No.10 x 60mm

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1 each · Cable/pipe detector

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1 each · Safety glasses

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1 each · Dust mask

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HR-03Mark and level the fixing holesHold the bracket against the wall at your chosen height and use a spirit level to get it straight. Mark through the bracket's fixing holes with a pencil. Most hose reel brackets have two or three fixing points — check yours before marking.

1 each · Spirit level

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HR-04Check for hidden pipes and cables before drillingCables and pipes can run almost anywhere, including up exterior walls to outdoor lights, sockets or an outside tap. Run a detector over each marked point, but treat it as a warning, not a guarantee — detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or outside the usual safe zones. Before you drill, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut off the water fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what's behind the wall, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit first, and turn off the water at the stopcock before drilling near any known pipe run.

HR-05Drill and plug the fixing holesWear safety glasses and a dust mask — masonry dust is unpleasant and gets everywhere. Drill each marked point with an 8mm masonry bit to a depth of about 60mm, going slightly deeper than your plug length to allow for dust. Push a red wall plug into each hole until it's flush with the wall surface.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 8mm

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1 pack of 10 · Red wall plugs (rated for masonry)

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HR-06Fix the bracket to the wallHold the bracket in place and drive a No.10 x 60mm screw into each plugged hole, into the centre of the plug. Tighten firmly but don't overtighten and crack the plug. Check the bracket is still level once all screws are in.

1 pack of 10 · Zinc-plated wood screws, No.10 x 60mm

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1 each · Screwdriver or drill driver

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HR-07Attach the hose reel to the bracketLift the reel body onto the fixed bracket — most clip or slot into place, then lock with a bolt or pin. Give it a firm tug to check it's secure before you load it with hose.

HR-08Connect the hose and test itWrap PTFE tape around any threaded connections to stop leaks, then connect the reel's inlet hose to your outside tap and the garden hose to the reel outlet. Turn the tap on slowly and check every joint for drips. Wind the hose fully out and back in to check it runs smoothly on the reel.

1 roll · PTFE tape

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1 each · Hose connector set

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HR-09Weatherproof and tidy upRun a thin bead of exterior-grade silicone sealant around the top edge of the bracket where it meets the wall, to stop water tracking behind it. Sweep up any masonry dust, coil the hose neatly onto the reel, and put your tools away.

1 tube · Exterior-grade silicone sealant

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