Blinds vs Lintel

PaDE

PaDE

PaDE

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Joined
20 Mar 2015
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264
Trying to fit some blinds (recessed) and I've hit a lintel. Basically drilled through the plasterboard and then nada.

Grateful for some advice so I can give it a go. Failing that I'll get in touch with a local blinds fitter, pretty sure this would not be uncommon.

Anybody fitted blinds through a lintel before?

Thanks
 
Depends what the lintel is made from or of. Concrete or steel, if it's concrete a sds drill and correct bit. If it's steel you can use a tec screw a self drilling and tapping screw.
 
Maccapacca said:
Depends what the lintel is made from or of. Concrete or steel, if it's concrete a sds drill and correct bit. If it's steel you can use a tec screw a self drilling and tapping screw.
Click to expand...

Not much to add but this. I did my whole house over the Christmas period. Dabbled in plasterboard fixings but pointless. Small pilot hole in to lintel then self tapper. Although saying that, tecs didn’t work well for me but that’s probably more me than them.
 
Rather than drill into a load bearing structure why not just go as far as you through the plaster and then just use a good quality rawl plug chopped down to the right length?

I have blinds over nearly every window in my house done like this (i usually get about half a yellow plug to fit) and I am yet to have a problem with any being pulled out, some have been up for over 2 years now and no sign of movement in the screws, even the blinds that you directly pull the bottom of (baby safe as no cord...)

I'm not usually one for advocating poor fixings but I have genuinely found this to be perfectly adequate for blinds, much rather this than I actually drill holes into the lintels holding the structure up over my windows!
 
Thanks for all the replies.

These are automated blinds (Somfy) and quite heavy spanning about 2.2 metres.

If I can’t drill through the lintel then I may belt and braces glue the blind housing and fit rawl plugs in as far as I can.
 
You would be surprised at what a decent grab adhesive can stick (not gripflill)

I also wouldn't drill into a load bearing concrete Intel, what's the point when there are other easier options.
 
A corded SDS drill and a good masonry if it's a concrete lintel or a metal bit like people have said.

I had an absolute nightmare hanging blinds in our house due to the same issue. A good drill and bits definitely helped.
 
Are people seriously saying not to drill into a concrete lintel because they are worried about damaging its structural integrity. Any concrete thick enough to be structural won't even notice if you swiss cheese a section of it to the depth the OP would be drilling. Get an SDS drill and have at it. They will literally go through it like butter.

We lived in a flat where pretty much the whole thing was concrete. Tried using a normal hammer drill on it and it barely touches it. SDS wen't through it like it wasn't there. They are amazing things. I've got the Titan one as well and its a workhorse.
 
Yup, don't worry about putting a small hole in a lintel, it won't cause any issues. If it's steel, then pre-drill with drill and then fire a woodscrew in, or use a self tapper like Macca suggested. Or as someone else said, going in through the sides is a much better way of fixing the brackets in a recess as the screws wont be able to pull out, even if you're just able to fix into plasterboard. I always try to side fix where possible.
 
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