Fit curtain tie-back hooks to a lath and plaster wall

Fit curtain tie-back hooks safely by checking for hidden cables and pipes and choosing the right fixing for your wall type.

CH-01Gather your tools and protect the areaLay a dust sheet under the window to catch plaster dust and screws. Get everything together before you start: pencil, tape measure, spirit level, bradawl, drill, drill bits, dust mask and safety glasses. Lath and plaster dust can be fine and irritating, so keep a mask handy even for small jobs.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Dust mask

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1 each · Safety glasses

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CH-02Confirm your wall typeTap the wall either side of the window. A dull, slightly springy sound with fine cracks in the plaster usually means lath and plaster over timber laths. A flat, even hollow sound means plasterboard, and a solid dead sound means brick or block behind. If you have plasterboard, work out timber studs from metal studs before drilling: track a line of screw heads with a magnet or stud detector, listen for the hollow sound between studs, and if you drill a tiny pilot hole, timber dust means a wood stud while fine grey swarf means a metal stud. Dot-and-dab plasterboard sounds hollow near the middle of a wall but solid where the adhesive dabs sit, usually every 300-450mm.

CH-03Mark and level the hook positionsHold the curtain fabric loosely in the tied-back position to judge a sensible height, usually around a third to halfway up the window. Mark this point lightly in pencil on each side, then use a spirit level to check both marks line up. Stand back and check the marks look even before you commit to drilling.

1 each · Spirit level

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CH-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillRun a cable and pipe detector over both marked spots before drilling anything. Detectors miss cables that are deep, run through metal conduit, sit behind metal-backed plasterboard, or lie outside the usual safe zones, and a metal stud frame can confuse a cheap detector further, so treat the detector as a first check, not proof there is nothing there. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely so you can shut the water off fast if you ever hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what is behind the wall, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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CH-05Drill a test hole and check what's behindDrill a small 3mm pilot hole at one mark. On lath and plaster, drill slowly through the plaster skin first, then feel for the wooden lath behind, roughly 10-15mm in. On plasterboard, note whether you hit solid backing straight away, which suggests a dot-and-dab dab, or nothing solid, which means you are between studs or dabs. Use this hole to decide which fixing method to use in the next step.

1 each · Drill bit 3mm

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CH-06Choose the right fixing for your wallFor solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole around 35-40mm deep, fit a red plastic wall plug, and use a brass screw. For a timber stud, drive a wood screw straight into the centre of the stud with no plug needed. For a metal stud, never use a plain plug or wood screw, as it strips straight through 0.5mm steel; use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor instead. For dot-and-dab plasterboard, use a fixing long enough to pass through the board and adhesive dabs and bite into the solid masonry behind, typically 50-60mm long. For lath and plaster, either locate a wooden lath with a screw driven in at a slight angle to grip the wood, or use a spring toggle or a fine-thread hollow-wall anchor rated for old, crumbly plaster if you land between laths.

4 each · Red plastic wall plugs 6mm

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4 each · Brass screws 40mm

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4 each · Metal-stud self-drilling fixings

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4 each · Spring toggle fixings

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CH-07Drill and fit the chosen fixingWiden the pilot hole to the size needed for your chosen fixing, checking the packet for the right drill bit size. On lath and plaster, drill gently and stop as soon as you feel the wood or feel the drill drop through into the void, as too much pressure can crack the old plaster around the hole. Push or tap the plug or toggle in fully so it sits flush, then insert the screw for the hook fitting.

1 set · Drill bit set

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CH-08Fit the hooks and test themScrew the curtain tie-back hook into the fixing until it sits tight and level. Repeat on the second mark, then check both hooks are level with each other using the spirit level again. Loop the curtain tie-back over each hook and give it a firm downward and outward tug to check the fixing holds.

2 each · Curtain tie-back hooks

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CH-09Tidy upBrush any loose plaster or plasterboard dust off the wall and windowsill, then vacuum the dust sheet and floor below. Fold the dust sheet away from the centre to stop dust spreading, and wipe down the sill and any nearby surfaces with a damp cloth.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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