Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top I've bought a pair of blinds that came with 1 1/4 inch screws; I'm unable to drill deep enough into the frame to fit the screws, the screws are sticking about 1/8 of a inch out . I end up hitting something pretty solid while drilling. Can I just go to the store and get slightly shorter screws? The blinds are 69 inches long, and there's 3 brackets each with two screws, it probably weights 6-7 lbs at most. windows screws drill blinds Using plain screws into just about any material other than wood or metal will not provide a strong support, especially if the weight that the screw is supporting is trying to pull the screw shank straight out (rather than pulling across the shank of the screw). From your pictures, the surface appears to be plasterboard (or less likely, plaster), which has to be attached to a support structure, either wood, steel or concrete.

To test if it is wood under the plaster/plasterboard, remove a screw and insert an awl until it just stops. With some force, try to push the awl in further. If it is wood, the awl should sink in a bit, but not too easily. There should be enough wood to allow you to drill into it and seat the screws fully. You probably need at least 1/2 inch of screw thread in wood for a safe hold on blinds. Remember that the plasterboard/plaster doesn't count. umbra twilight drapery rodTry to guage how thick it is (probably either 3/8 or 1/2 inch) and add that to the depth into the wood.mcleay curtains If the awl doesn't sink in, it may be a metal stud or a metal beam. c2b curtainsIf you hit something hard and the point can slide easily side to side, it is probably metal. hookless shower curtain with mesh pockets

Try to drill a small hole through it with a sharp drill bit. If it is a steel stud, you will be able to with a bit of pressure. You can then use a sheet metal screw to hold the bracket up. If it is a steel beam, you will not really be able to (it is too thick and hard). You will need a whole different mounting system. If the awl stops but can't be slid along a hard metal edge, it may be a concrete support structure. The awl should feel as if it is digging into something a bit gritty. brian gluckstein curtainsYou can mount into concrete but need to use a masonry anchor.almonard air curtain price list To insert the anchor, you first need to drill a properly sized hole with a special masonry drill bit.made to measure narrowboat curtains

It has a carbide insert in the tip. It is slow going and should be much harder than the plasterboard/plaster. The dust probably will be greyish or tan in color. Be sure not to drill a hole too close to another hole, or the concrete between them may crumble. You then need to insert the anchor and screw the bracket into it. While it is theoretically possible to get a good enough mount in concrete like this, it is hard. This is especially true when the load is dynamic (moving) the way blinds are. While it is possible to hang light to moderate loads on plasterboard or plaster, it is really only safe when it is a vertical surface, not an overhead one. You can use various anchors, but not when the force is pulling directly out from the surface rather than down along the surface. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service. Not the answer you're looking for?

Browse other questions tagged windows screws drill blinds or ask your own question.Build Your Own Arduino Powered Automatic Blinds9/28/12 6:00am One of the easiest tricks to keeping a house warm (or cool), is to open and close the blinds in time with the sun. Of course, that's only helpful if you're home all the time to do that. Instructables user FreedomToCreate has made an Arduino powered system that opens and closes the blinds on a schedule, based on room temperature, or outdoor light. The most expensive parts of the project are an Arduino and an Ethernet shield, but everything else is pretty cheap. It's a bit of a complicated set up, but FreedomToCreate's guide has everything you'll need, as well as the code to put on the Arduino. You'll need to tinker a bit to get it to work with your own blinds. As a cheap, automated system to keep your home's temperature right, it's an interesting project.Arduino controlled automated blinds with Web UI | HomeDIY 6 DIY Photography Hacks from Ikea That Help You Save Money

my husband's brain tumour Simon has a few new additions to his room: Ikea's Malou duvet cover. I had REALLY wanted to get him Ikea's Tupplur roller shade (like we have in our room). Simon needs a black out shade and Tupplur would have been perfect BUT Ikea has taken them off the shelves to make them cordless and they'll be back in the store in March. The photos below would have been so much nicer with the roller shade so please ignore his broken white blinds that do not keep the sunshine out at all. We also got Simon a stuffed moose head from Cabelas for Christmas and that got put on the wall under his tree. My mom made some buffalo plaid pillow covers which I put one on his bed and the other on his rocker. I got a white sheepskin rug for his rocker too to make it a cozy place in the winter. I had to switch the head of his bed away from the window because it 's too drafty during the winter months. Simon insisted he be in a photo... at the end of my photo taking, these three came in and I managed to get this cute pic