Fixing curtain rail to plasterboard ceiling
There are lots of reasons why you may be wondering if it is possible to fix a curtain rail to a plasterboard ceiling. And for some of you out there, it may be the only method that is available to you. But is it possible?
Why this may not be advised
To start with plasterboard isn’t all that strong, and it is difficult to fix to, after all, there is not much for a fixing to actually fasten into. Those are two major problems that would lead most people to say just avoid doing it. But what if it is your only choice? Well, luckily for you there are methods to do it.
The problem for most fixings here would be that all the force is being applied straight down on them, i.e the weight is trying to pull the fixing straight out of the wall. With a fixing into a wall a lot of the force will be trying to pull the fixing down, rather than straight out of the wall.
I have made this nifty diagram below to illustrate what I mean.
You can see how I mean all of the weight of whatever you fasten to a ceiling will be trying to pull it straight out of its hole. Contrast this with how a fixing normally works in a plasterboard wall below.
Instead of just trying to pull the fixing straight out the force will be trying to pull it down into the wall. Plasterboard is very strong in this direction, so this all adds up to a stronger fixing.
So you know the downsides, but how can you do it.
Well, it all comes down to the fixing you choose to use. You want something that “butterfly’s” out behind the plasterboard. Making it much more secure and also spreading the strain out over a larger area.
I have used these GeeFix fixings before and they work brilliantly, you will be amazed at the weight they can hold. The plastic bar sits on the other side of the plasterboard and spreads the weight out and also prevents the fixing from being pulled straight out.
This is how the GeeFix looks when behind your walls and you can see already why this would provide soo much more strength than a regular plug fixing.
So it is possible to fix a curtain rail to a plasterboard ceiling, but just make sure to use some proper fixings!
