Put up a bay window curtain pole on a timber stud wall

Fit a bay window curtain pole by fixing brackets into timber studs, keeping the pole level and secure.

BWP-01Check the kit and plan bracket positionsLay out the pole kit and count the sections, corner connectors, brackets and screws against the instructions. Measure each side of the bay separately, since they are rarely the same length. Decide where each bracket needs to sit, allowing 50-70mm above the window frame so curtains clear the glass, and mark these points lightly in pencil.

1 each · Bay window curtain pole kit (flexible track or corner-connector pole)

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1 each · Pencil

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BWP-02Mark and level the bracket pointsHold a bracket at your first pencil mark and use a spirit level to draw a level line across to the next bracket position on the same wall section. Repeat for each side of the bay, checking each line is level on its own wall, not across the whole bay, since the walls sit at different angles. Double-check every measurement before you drill anything.

1 each · Spirit level

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BWP-03Confirm you have a timber stud wall, not metalRun a stud detector or magnet along each bracket line to find the studs, and check the pattern of screw heads in the plasterboard, which usually sit in a vertical line every 400-600mm. Drill a small 3mm pilot hole at one mark: fine pale dust means timber, grey metal swarf means a metal stud frame instead. Metal stud walls are common in flats and anything fitted since the 1990s, and they need different fixings, so stop and check before drilling any further if the dust looks wrong.

1 each · Stud detector

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1 each · 3mm drill bit

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BWP-04Check for cables and pipes, and know how to shut things offCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, including up to sockets and lights near the window, so sweep each drilling point with a detector first. Even with a clear reading, still treat the wall as if something could be there, since detectors miss deep cables, cables in metal conduit, and anything behind metal-backed board. 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 at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

BWP-05Drill and fix brackets into timber studsWhere a bracket lands on a stud, drill a 3mm pilot hole into the centre of the stud, then fix with a 4mm x 40mm wood screw so it bites into solid timber. Where a bracket falls between studs, don't screw straight into plasterboard; instead use a toggle or hollow-wall anchor rated for the pole and curtain weight, or add a short timber noggin behind the board if you want a permanent fixing point. Bay window corner brackets often carry more pull than mid-wall ones, so favour a stud fixing at each corner wherever possible.

6 each · 4mm x 40mm wood screws

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2 each · Hollow-wall toggle fixings (plasterboard, rated for curtain weight)

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1 length · Timber noggin (if adding a fixing point)

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1 each · Cordless drill/driver

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BWP-06If it turns out to be a metal stud insteadIf your pilot hole brought out metal swarf, don't use a plain wood screw or a plastic wall plug, since both strip straight out of 0.5mm steel. Use a self-drilling metal-stud screw at the stud itself, or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor between studs for lighter loads. A metal stud will not hold anything that pulls away from the wall as it's used, so if the pole feels loose or the wall flexes when you tug it, fix through to a noggin or through to the masonry behind instead.

6 each · Self-drilling metal-stud screws

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2 each · Metal-stud toggle fixings

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BWP-07Fit the corner connectors and full poleClick or screw the corner connectors onto the pole sections following the kit instructions, then lift the whole assembly onto the fixed brackets. Check the pole sits level and square in each corner before tightening any bracket screws fully. Slide the runners or rings onto the pole if they haven't been fitted already, since it's much harder once the pole is up.

1 set · Curtain rings or runners (if not pre-fitted)

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BWP-08Hang the curtains and check the finishHang the curtains on the rings or runners and pull them across to check they glide smoothly around each corner. Give the pole a firm tug at each bracket to check nothing flexes or pulls away from the wall. Tighten any remaining screws and tidy up dust and packaging.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Vacuum cleaner (for dust clean-up)

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