Curtain poles

[Auberjean]

Where can I get strong but reasonably priced curtain poles/kits? I need 2, one of which needs to be 3.6 metres and the other 2.5 approx. The curtains are heavy so a 35mm plus pole is necessary.

I've looked at a few online but they are shockingly expensive. Can anyone please help?

What do you have up at the moment?

A pole and also a track inside the windowsill. I want to dump the track and the current pole is too short for the new, wider curtains. Also I want the curtains to pull back further than previous.

I'm in the process of investigating this atm. Just Fabrics have good advice on their website and they have a sale on atm, but they are still not cheap.

Metal poles can bend if the curtains are heavy so I think you are best going with solid wood. However, anything over 3m usually needs a join and extra brackets.

One trick I did come across on line is using a cheaper hollow pole but putting a steel or iron rod through the middle of it. I wouldn't know how to go about that though!

With heavy curtains, it's more about how securely the brackets are fitted on the wall rather than the strength of the pole though I think. Some people drill special wood plackets on to the wall and fit the brackets on to those.

I'd be interested to know if you come across a source of good quality poles that don't cost the earth! Good luck!

I got one from here. www.terrysfabrics.co.uk/collections/curtain-poles-35mm-diameter?page=2 I've just had a look at one of the Swish poles, and they go up to 360cm. My curtains are very heavy and I haven't had a problem with a metal pole bending, but did have an extra support. Check how many rings are included as you may need to order a few extra, I think they were a bit mean with those.

John Lewis curtain poles are great, but a lot more expensive than these.

Second Terrys fabrics and I agree that the wall fixings are more important than the strength of the poles. For one bent pole you will see 20 failed fixings.

Dunelm have reasonably priced decent quality poles. The trick is to put a backing board behind the pole so that the fixing is secure. Don't just drill them straight into the wall.

@Sistercharlie thank you for those helpful tips. I'll keep you posted.

@StillNumb and @7to25 , thanks they are cheaper, but I'm still looking at £180 on poles alone, without extra rings. The Dunelm ones too. Surely there must be a cheaper way? I suppose I've always bought them for smaller windows in the past so the cost doesn't seem so extortionate.

The backing board is a good plan

ebay?

Ive been doing my bedroom and dressing room and most of what Ive bought has come from ebay. Ive saved a fortune.

I did look yesterday but couldn't see any. It doesn't help that I need two sets, and I suspect that I'm limited to brass, black or wood.

Chrome is the fashion at the minute, and possibly that won't match my black iron stemmed wall lights or off white centre pendant with brass flex.

How heavy are these curtains?
We have 5 x interlined 2m long curtains on a track, attached to a backing board, and it can take up to 15kg.
Dunelm ones are around £30-40 for those lengths aren't they?

I've made curtain poles fairly cheaply with copper piping before but they're not going to take heavy curtains. Plus to still need brackets and finials.

I think you just have to bite the bullet I'm afraid. If its helps, mixed metals is very on trend (although it can be tricky to get the balance right)

Ikea?

I really do think it's more about the wall fixing than the pole itself. If you're using decent wall plugs and good screws of a decent length I can't see the issues

The curtains are 22kg so pretty heavy. Apparently poles have to be the 35mm sort minimum for that weight.

Thanks for the tips.

I've just hung two pairs of heavy lined curtains onto one sturdy acrylic 3m pole (dunelm - literally half the price of everywhere else for invisible poles). Its required a really good fixing and the pole is obviously in two parts so the middle fixing has to be particularly good, but the pole itself is fine - its very heavy and substantial.

Curtain poles are similarly priced in most places. I don't think there's a magic cheap solution and if your curtains are really heavy anyway (and so presumably quite expensive) then you would perhaps not be doing them justice anyway hanging them on a really cheap pole. Curtains look expensive when the pole is the right thickness, the pleating is tight and neat, the fabric width is not skimpy, they're lined (or ideally even interlined), the length is right (floor length, not too skimpy) and they are hung wide and high so that they don't block any light when pulled back. Thats why dressing a window is so bloody expensive.

My only other suggestion is that you look at the cheap stores like Pound Strecher, B&M, Home Bargains etc. The Range might have some that are cheaper. Alternatively, hang them on a glider tack and make a pelmet to cover it. If you look on pinterest there are lots of examples of how to make nice fabric pelmets cheaply and how to make them look on trend and not dated.

Thank you @kjhkj . I'll have a shop in Dunelm. Width isn't an issue as I'll probably need to have them narrowed.

I'm sure I bought some either on eBay or Wayfair really reasonably priced about 2 years ago. I'm putting curtains up, replacing blinds next week so great timing for the thread. But do look at Wayfair.