Can't find studs in my exterior wall
#1
07-07-13, 07:18 AM
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 1
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Can't find studs in my exterior wall
Hi!
I live in an old apartment building with concrete exterior walls. I've been battling with the mounting of a curtain rod as it seems there is nothing that will support it properly.
One side went in perfectly but it seems that the other side of the wall is plaster over concrete. I've tried using various anchors (both ribbed and winged ones) but they fall out immediately with the weight of the rod. I went on to search for a stud as an alternative and, after checking both sides of the socket, everything was hollow.
Any suggestions/explanations as to what I'm dealing with here?
Thank you for your time,
Tye.
I live in an old apartment building with concrete exterior walls. I've been battling with the mounting of a curtain rod as it seems there is nothing that will support it properly.
One side went in perfectly but it seems that the other side of the wall is plaster over concrete. I've tried using various anchors (both ribbed and winged ones) but they fall out immediately with the weight of the rod. I went on to search for a stud as an alternative and, after checking both sides of the socket, everything was hollow.
Any suggestions/explanations as to what I'm dealing with here?
Thank you for your time,
Tye.
#2
07-07-13, 09:17 AM
Well if it is truely concrete under the paster than a hammer drill and Tapcon screws would be your best bet but doesn't the window have wood trim? If so that may be the best place for curtain brackets. Maybe brackets the rod ca extend beyond.
#3
07-07-13, 11:47 AM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
Posts: 16,321
Received 38 Upvotes
on
30 Posts
Older concrete buildings often had a channel cast into the window openings and this channel was filled with wood (2X4 or similar) and the window then fitted in the opening. As such there is no wood in the wall surrounding the window. If this is the construction used in your building then you have no recourse but to do as Ray suggests and drill through the plaster into the concrete and use long Tapcon screws or concrete anchors.
