Put up house numbers or a name plaque on a rendered exterior wall

Fix house numbers or a plaque securely to a rendered wall, drilling safely through render into solid masonry beneath.

HN-01Plan the position and check your kitChoose a spot beside the door, usually at eye level and clear of downpipes, meter boxes or alarm boxes. Lay the plaque or numbers on a flat surface first to check spacing between digits or letters. Check your drill has a hammer or SDS setting, and that you have a masonry bit, not a wood or metal bit.

1 each · House number plaque or digits

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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HN-02Mark the fixing pointsHold the plaque against the wall and use a spirit level to get it dead level. Mark through the fixing holes with a pencil, or hold the numbers in place with masking tape and mark above and below each one. Double-check the marks are level and evenly spaced before you drill anything.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 roll · Masking tape

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HN-03Safety check before you drillRun a detector over each marked point, but don't rely on it completely — cables and pipes can run anywhere, and render, rendered mesh or a nearby meter box can throw a cheap detector off. 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're drilling anywhere near an outside tap, overflow pipe or the meter box, turn the water off at the stopcock first, and if there's any doubt about cables, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before you drill.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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HN-04Drill through the render into the masonryFit a masonry bit matched to your wall plug size — 6mm for a standard plug, 8mm for a heavier plaque. Drill through the render first at a slow speed to stop the bit skating, then switch to hammer action once you're through into the brick or block. Drill to a depth of 40-50mm, deep enough for the plug to sit fully in solid masonry, not just in the render skin.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm or 8mm

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HN-05Insert the wall plugsBlow or brush out the dust from each hole. Push a wall plug in until it's flush with the render surface, tapping gently with a hammer if it's tight. The plug should sit snugly in the masonry, not just wedged in loose render.

6 each · Wall plugs, red or brown (masonry)

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HN-06Fix the numbers or plaque to the wallDrive stainless steel screws into each plug, long enough to pass through the plaque and reach at least 30mm into the masonry. Don't overtighten — render can hairline crack if you crank down too hard. Check the plaque with a spirit level as you go and adjust before the last screw is fully driven.

6 each · Stainless steel screws, 40-50mm

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HN-07Weatherproof and tidy upRun a thin bead of exterior-grade sealant around any exposed screw heads or gaps to stop water getting in behind the render. Wipe away dust and brick debris from the wall and ground below. Give the fixing a gentle tug to check it's solid before you finish.

1 tube · Exterior silicone sealant

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