Are my heavy curtains cracking the plaster?

[whiskyowl]

I have a paid of very heavy, full-length blackout curtains. I've just removed them for a window fitting and I've noticed that the plaster around the fixings for the pole is cracked at the two ends, stretching up towards the ceiling. Could it be the weight of the curtains doing this? Do I need to buy a lighter pair to ensure that, once filled, it doesn't happen again?

It may be that the pole isn't properly secured to the brickwork under the plaster, but just screwed into the plaster.

The pole has not been attached to the wall properly. You need to take it down and use longer screws and make sure the pole has enough supports for the weight of the curtains.

Agree it's how the pole is fixed to the wall. Take it down and ensure you use the right raw plug depending on wall composition and a large screw.

Thanks guys! It feels like it's very securely in - you could practically swing from it - but I guess longer screws once the wall is replastered wouldn't go amiss.

I might get some slightly lighter curtains too. They weigh a ton.

Sometimes you need to spread the weight using a board screwed to the wall in several places Nd then screw the curtain pole to that. This reduces the pull on each individual area of plaster.

Well, I think that would be a good idea lonecat, but DH says he can't bear how it looks. He can be really fussy. It's what happens when you work with too many academic architects .

The entire wall is going to have to be replastered anyway ( because of window fitting, not the rail), so I am keen to sort this out so I don't crack the new plaster.

how long are the screws?

Is it a brick wall?

I'm trying to remember exactly what I used. If I recall rightly they are at least 3 inches. If I can find a screwdriver later, I'll have a proper look (in the middle of building work, so bear with me).

It's a brick wall, no cavity. My house is odd in that it must have been built right on the cusp of the change in regs - so one wall has a small cavity, and two others don't!!

The cracks radiate upwards towards the ceiling at a 45 degree angle from the two end fixings for the pole. (There's a middle fixing too). The pole is showing no signs at all of shifting. It's just the plaster is getting damaged, which is unsightly.