How to install curtain rod into gyprock walls with steel frame?

[KevinPlant]

I’m planning to mount some heavy items, like a curtain/TV, on a plasterboard wall with steel framing behind it.

I’ve done a bit of research and know I’ll need:

• A stud finder (for metal studs)

• A drill with metal drill bits (around 3–4 mm for pilot holes)

What kind of drill would you recommend that can drill into metal/steel studs and is strong enough to support heavy items?

This is my first time doing DIY, so any extra tips or advice would be really appreciated!

[JacobZ]

Hi @KevinPlant,

Thank you for your question.

I'll start with a quick word of caution about hanging TVs from steel studs. Steel studs are not the best at supporting lateral loads like those that are applied by a TV being hung from them. It is usually recommended that the steel studs be reinforced with timber during the construction process if any heavy items, like TVs, are hung from them. If you were aware of what kind of steel studs you have, I would be checking with the manufacturer to see if they have any recommendations or requirements before hanging something heavy like a TV from them. You may be able to install some timber on the surface of the plasterboard, bridging multiple studs, to reinforce them and give you a stronger surface to mount your TV on.

In saying this, pretty much any standard drill would do fine drilling small holes in steel studs as long as you have sharp drill bits. This Ozito PXC 18V Cordless Drill Driver Kit PXDDK-250C would do the job just fine at a reasonable cost. Just make sure you have some fresh drill bits, the Viper Jobber Drill Bits are my top choice.

As you have steel studs, a magnetic stud finder like this Trojan Magnetic Stud Finder is the simplest and most effective option for locating your studs, so this would be handy to have.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[KevinPlant]

Hi @JacobZ 
Thanks for your reply.

Our home is a new knockdown rebuild with a steel frame and brick veneer construction. I noticed the builder’s display home didn’t have timber reinforcement for TV mounting — could this indicate how TVs are typically installed in these homes?

[JacobZ]

Hi @KevinPlant,

If there is timber reinforcing, it is not going to be visible as it will be inside the wall, not on the surface.

I used to work for a commercial linings company that exclusively used steel studs to build walls, and when we were expecting a TV or monitor to be mounted to the wall, we'd either add a piece of pine framing up the inside of the steel stud or mount a piece of 25mm plywood between two studs. Either way, the timber was concealed once the plasterboard was put on.

The simplest solution to retrofit some reinforcement would be to attach a piece of plywood across the face of the wall, then attach your bracket to it. As it would sit behind the TV, it would not really be visible. If you wanted to hide this reinforcement completely, you would need to cut a hole in the plasterboard, install the reinforcement inside the wall and then reattach the plasterboard patch, plaster the joins and paint.

Ultimately, it depends on the weight of the TV, the style of bracket and the calibre of steel used in the wall whether you require this reinforcement or not, but if it were my home, I'd want some kind of reinforcement in place for reassurance that it is not going to fall off the wall, or worse, make the steel studs collapse from the lateral load.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob