Hang curtains on a track with gliders and hooks

Measure, mark and fix a curtain track to your wall or ceiling, then hang the curtains with gliders and hooks.

CT-01Gather your tools and materialsCheck your track kit has enough brackets, gliders and end stops for the width you need. Get curtain hooks that match your curtain's header tape. Have a tape measure, pencil, spirit level, drill/driver and a stepladder ready before you start.

1 kit · Curtain track kit (track, brackets, gliders, end stops)

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1 pack · Curtain hooks (pack of 20)

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Cordless drill/driver

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1 each · Stepladder

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CT-02Measure and mark the track positionHold the track above the window and mark where each bracket will go. Make the track 150-200mm wider than the window frame on each side so curtains clear the glass when open. Space brackets no more than 600mm apart, with one within 100mm of each end, and use the spirit level to keep the line dead straight.

CT-03Work out what's behind the wallRun a stud detector or a small magnet along the marked line to find timber or metal studs, or feel for a hollow sound between solid-feeling points. On plasterboard, drill a small pilot hole at one mark: fine pale dust means timber, fine bright metal swarf means a metal stud, and a sudden drop with no dust at all can mean dot-and-dab over a cavity. Solid brick or block feels solid all along the wall and gives grey masonry dust when you drill.

1 each · Stud detector

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CT-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillSweep the marked line with your detector, but treat every mark as if something could still be there, even after a clear reading, because detectors miss deep cables, cables in metal conduit, and anything behind metal-backed plasterboard or a metal stud frame. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely so you can shut off water fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what's behind the wall, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

CT-05Choose the right fixing for your wall typeOn solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole to 40mm depth and use a matching wall plug with a 40mm screw. Into a timber stud, drive a 40mm wood screw straight into the centre of the stud, no plug needed. Into a metal stud, use a self-drilling metal-stud anchor or a toggle-type hollow-wall fixing rated for the bracket's pull; never use a plain plastic plug or an ordinary wood screw, as they strip straight through 0.5mm steel. On dot-and-dab plasterboard, use a fixing long enough to pass through the board and the adhesive dabs and bite into the masonry behind, usually 60-75mm. On lath and plaster, either find a solid batten behind the lath with your detector, or use a heavier hollow-wall toggle rated for the bracket's load, since the brittle lath will crack under a plain plug.

1 pack · Masonry wall plugs (pack)

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1 each · 6mm masonry drill bit

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1 pack · Wood screws 40mm (pack)

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1 pack · Self-drilling metal-stud anchors (pack)

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1 pack · Spring toggle fixings (pack)

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1 pack · Long fixings 75mm for dot-and-dab (pack)

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CT-06Drill and fit the bracketsLay a dust sheet under your working area to catch drilling debris. Drill each marked point with the correct bit and depth for your wall type, fit the plug if needed, then screw the bracket on firmly. Check each bracket is level and doesn't wobble before moving to the next.

1 each · Dust sheet

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CT-07Fit the track and glidersThread all the gliders onto the track before clipping it into the brackets, as most tracks are much harder to load once fixed up. Click the track into each bracket until it snaps or locks into place. Fit the end stops so the gliders can't slide off the ends.

CT-08Attach hooks to the curtainsFit a hook into every pocket or eyelet of the header tape, working evenly along the top of each curtain. Space hooks to match the gliders on the track so the curtain hangs with even folds. Match hook height to the gap between the track and gliders so curtains sit at the right level.

CT-09Hang the curtains and test the trackHook each curtain onto its gliders, working from one end of the track to the other. Slide the curtains fully open and closed a few times to check the gliders run smoothly and the brackets stay firm. Adjust the hooks if the curtains hang unevenly.

CT-10Tidy upFold up the dust sheet and vacuum any remaining drilling debris from the floor and windowsill. Put drill bits, screws and offcuts away safely. Stand back and check the track sits level before finishing.

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