How to hang a curtain pole

[Diynoidea]

Hi,

I’ve tried googling and I’m pretty lost so hoping the wonderful ladies of MN may be able to help before I put a plea on Facebook for a handyman.

I need to hang a curtain pole in to a wall that is basically a stud wall with plasterboard. It’s an external wall but the outside has clay tiles rather than bricks so I’m pretty sure there’s no bricks I can anchor in to.

Googling comes up with lots of talk of plugs etc. I’m just a bit lost as am very new to DIY and want some direction. Surely it can’t be that difficult!

Curtains are fairly heavy and it’s a kids room so I need it to be very secure. Any advice much appreciated.

Whilst you can get anchors into plasterboard it would be better to find the studs (wooden frame) the plaster board is screwed onto. It might mean you need slightly longer poles but it works be worth it for it not to come down.

Thanks and how do I find the studs? (Sorry really am absolute novice)

I had similar issue of plaster board on external wall. I was advised to fix a wooden batten to the wall, then fix the curtain pole to that. Not quite as neat looking as direct into the wall but much more secure as the batten is fixed to the wall in more places so spreads the load.

So I used self drill fixing plugs like this , and also No More Nails along the full thing for luck!

They've not fallen down yet! 🫣🤞

I may be wrong but your walls are probably dot and dab with clay tile cladding on the outside.

Drill into the wall until you hit a solid wall. Then use a hammer drill into the solid wall.

Use these: COREFIX 100 or rigifix plugs.

God UK houses are so shitly built.

OP you find the wood by knocking. Yes it really is that low tech Where the wood is there isn't a hollow sound. So drill there. And hope that you don't hit a wire/pipe. (You can buy a device that supposedly tells you where they are, but none of them fucking work )

Get a joiner in for 30min. They will find the studs by knocking. If I knock, it all sounds the same to me. Getting someone in will save you money in the long run, they will also have the right drill bits, screws etc.