Best screws & rawlplugs for mounting blinds

[eybic]

I'm sorry for the newbie question but I'm going to put some blinds (from blinds2go) up in a couple of window recesses (I'm hoping to side mount them rather than having to drill into the lintel)

Could someone please suggest the best sized screws and rawlplugs to use? Am I right to assume that despite being mounted onto concrete, using a rawlplug means I don't have to use a screw specifically for concrete?

TIA

[CharlesElliott]

You don't need a concrete / brick screw for a rawlplug, no - just a wood screw.

Do you know that the sides of the window frame are brick / block?

Blinds are light - a red rawlplug and 5mm screws will be more than enough.

[V8RX7]

Firstly throw the crap fittings they will come with, in the bin.

Unless they are enormous then standard red plugs will do (in the walls) however it's rare to be able to fit blinds (in window recesses) to the walls as they are rarely spot on.

Frequently the choice is between the lintel or the window frame

For ease I go with the frame but you'd better know where the glass finishes !

If you go for the lintel if could be steel or concrete

I tend to use the the largest wood screw that will fit through the fitting - usually a 3.5

I buy from toolstation but if you only want a few then B&Q probably sell a kit

[Flibble]

Fischer duopower and some woodscrews, all you need for that.

[Simpo Two]

If the window recesses are really concrete you'll need a hammer drill with masonry bit to make the holes.

The main thing is to get the size of hole, rawlplug and screw right so they grip tightly but don't spin nor be impossible to get in.

[richatnort]

Flibble said:

Fischer duopower

These are literally the best thing i have ever bought and would never buy another plug again!

[C0ffin D0dger]

Definitely side mount them if you can.

Also I found with ours you need to position them away from the window slightly so the blind doesn't catch on the window handles.

I don't tend to use the brown/red/yellow jobs anymore, had too many fail especially with things like blinds where the up/down pull on them everyday gradually works them loose. A decent nylon plug will do (e.g. Fischer SX) but their Duopower ones mentioned really are the dogs wotsits.

[eybic]

Thanks Chaps, much appreciated. I actually have a box of the duo power plugs (not this size but I'll get some more)

[Promised Land]

Pedantic, but they're called wall plugs, Rawlplug is a brand name like Tannoy, John Rawlings invented the wall plug and used part of his surname in the company name.

Unless of course you are only buying Rawlplug products.

[Simpo Two]

Promised Land said:

Pedantic, but they're called wall plugs, Rawlplug is a brand name like Tannoy, John Rawlings invented the wall plug and used part of his surname in the company name.)

Ah but we all have hoovers and biros...! "I've got a shark in my cupboard" sounds a bit odd...

At least it's better than calling them 'raw plugs'!

[ecotec]

I fixed mine by drilling into the lintel, if the windows are a reasonable size the blinds are heavy and they need to be well secured as when your pulling on the cord to raise there is a fair bit of force direct to the corner.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easydrive-wafer-head-ca...

[Promised Land]

Simpo Two said:

Ah but we all have hoovers and biros...! "I've got a shark in my cupboard" sounds a bit odd...

At least it's better than calling them 'raw plugs'!

As you say most do call them raw plugs.

Edited by Promised Land on Tuesday 18th February 21:19

[Gareth79]

ecotec said:

I fixed mine by drilling into the lintel, if the windows are a reasonable size the blinds are heavy and they need to be well secured as when your pulling on the cord to raise there is a fair bit of force direct to the corner.

Agreed - I have a blind across my patio doors and it's pretty heavy, and the load on the left fixing when pulling it up must be quite high, they are not light-weight in many circumstances. I used Rawlplug Duo reds with some wood screws and it's fine. Drilling the hole needed some care, because the concrete lintel was quite coarse, so the drill wandered. I think I switched from an SDS to a regular hammer drill in the end to stop the wandering.