I have a homebase curtain rail and as stupid as it sounds, i can't work out how to put the bracket together. The bracket has a circular metal plate with two holes which fits in to the bracket i assumed, but the instructuions seem to be telling me to screw the plate on to the wall. Is this right as i can't see how i would then attach the bracket to the plate. Second problem is that i also can't drill the required depth into the wall for the supplied screws as i have come up against the lintel. Am thinking glue is the way forward?????

stephen, February 2010

The ones I've used usually have a circular metal plate with a threaded stud. You screw the metal plate to the wall and then put the decroative bracket on the threaded stud however - your's may be different.

Curtain poles and tracks screwed directly into the wall seldom last long - the screws soon start to pull out - a more robust and long-lasting method is to use a wooden batten fixed to the wall with frame fixings...

http://www.raygrahams.com/catalog/images/frame%20fixing.jpg

Then use wood screws to fix the support plates to the batten - then screw on the support brackets.

Frame Fixings are usually an excellent hold - drill the batten - mark the wall - drill the wall - bash the frame fixing in with a hammer - rock solid if you can avoid the lintel.

I can't see glue working well - never tried it - I can imagine the weight of the curtains and the everyday stresses of opening and closing pulling the glue and the top coat of plaster away from the wall.

Good luck...

Peccavi, February 2010