Put up a wall-mounted clothes rail on a solid brick or block wall

Hang a sturdy clothes rail on your wall safely, using the right checks and fixings for a lasting hold.

CR-01Plan where the rail will goDecide on hanging height first - about 1700-1800mm from the floor works for most clothes, with at least 300mm clearance below any shelf or ceiling. Check the space in front for doors, drawers or a door swing. If the other side of the wall is a kitchen or bathroom, bear that in mind for pipes.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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CR-02Confirm you've actually got solid brick or blockTap the wall across the area you plan to drill. Solid brick or block sounds dull and firm everywhere, with no hollow or bouncy patches. Drill a small test hole (3-4mm) - solid masonry gives gritty red or grey dust, not fine wood dust or curls of paper-faced plasterboard.

1 each · Drill bit 4mm

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CR-03Mark the fixing points and check before you drillHold the rail (or its brackets) against the wall, level it, and mark each fixing hole with a pencil - most rails need brackets spaced 400-600mm apart. Cables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, so run a detector over each mark, but still treat the wall as if something's there until you've proved otherwise. Find your stopcock now (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, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn off the water at the stopcock before you start.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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1 each · Spirit level

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CR-04Drill and plug the holesUse a masonry (hammer) drill bit sized to match your wall plug - 8mm plugs need an 8mm bit. Drill each hole about 5mm deeper than the plug length, holding the drill level and square to the wall. Vacuum the dust out of each hole, then push the plug in flush with the surface.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 8mm

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1 pack of 10 · Wall plugs (red, 8mm)

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1 each · Dust sheet

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CR-05Fix the brackets to the wallScrew each bracket in place using 50mm screws driven into the plugs, checking with a spirit level as you go. Tighten firmly so the bracket sits flat against the wall, but don't overtighten - forcing it can crack the plug or the brick face around it.

1 pack of 10 · Screws 50mm x 4mm

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1 each · Screwdriver or drill driver

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CR-06Fit the rail and check it's levelSlot or clip the rail onto the fixed brackets, following the fittings that came with it. Secure any retaining screws so the rail can't be lifted off by accident. Run the spirit level along the rail and adjust the brackets if anything's out of true before you tighten fully.

1 set · Wall-mounted clothes rail with brackets

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CR-07Load-test the rail and tidy upHang several heavy items on the rail and check for any movement, cracking sounds, or dust falling from around the fixings. Wipe down the wall and vacuum up any masonry dust from the floor and skirting. Bin the packaging and put your tools away.

1 each · Damp cloth

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