Metal behind drywall over windows??

BanjoSpanner

Hi all,

Moved into my new house recently and getting some things done (myself!).

I've been using those Rawlplug self-drill plasterboard things around the place for things like pictures on the walls etc. I tried using them also to hang some light curtain poles and that's where I ran into a problem.

When I tried to drill them into the plasterboard overhead the windows, immediately after getting through the plasterboard I am hitting something that feels like metal. It seems to be slightly flexible so I don't think it's an RSJ or anything like that and it seems to run the full length of the window. I've never come across something like that in my old house.

Anyone know what I'm dealing with here? Obviously I cannot see what's behind there because it's covered by the plasterboard but what is that metal thing and how does one hang a curtain pole when it's there??!

Cheers!

martinr5232

Probably the mesh beading it should only go an inch or so above the window.

colm_c

Probably just the edging used to keep a straight edge around the window.

https://www.raygrahams.com/products/131359-metal-angle-plaster-float-bead-24m.aspx?pv=51397&currency=eur&gclid=CjwKCAiA3o7RBRBfEiwAZMtSCYgQ05RAtXGT5RfykGb8B7DkQad26PlxDdr04gfgX-N6EvaasiWYXxoC_oMQAvD_BwE

It shouldn't be too wide, drill your hole furthee towards the ceiling.

dok_golf

It's the concrete lintel that supports the weight of the blocks over the top of the window.

dok_golf

or sometimes, as in the case of my own house, an RSJ was used to support particularly heavy areas

perry stanley

Its possible you are in a timber framed type build and you got a catnic lintel. Drilling further to the side will get you 'in' , if curtins go that far. Similarly drilling further up will shorten them. Is the window on a ground floor, single storey, gable wall etc?

perry stanley

Its possible you are in a timber framed type build and you got a catnic lintel. Drilling further to the side will get you 'in' , if curtins go that far. Similarly drilling further up will shorten them. Is the window on a ground floor, single storey, gable wall etc? Its noit hard to drill thro angle bead, unlikely to be that.

mfceiling

If you've gone through the plasterboard and are hitting metal it is probably a metal runner (mf6a).
A drywall screw will go through it but I wouldn't be hanging curtains out of it!!