How to mount blinds inside window reveal?

[JJclueless]

Hi team,

I want to install blinds inside the window reveal, similar to the below image: 

My own windows are the same, but the plaster reveal around the windows is not as deep. Because of this, when I tried to install the anchor, it was too close to the lip and cracked the plaster. 

Since speaking to my neighbours I've seen they've installed a piece of wood to the plaster and then hung the blinds from this. I was told I could just use liquid nails to fix it. Is this an appropriate solution? I want to avoid causing more damage to the plaster if possible.

The blinds I'm using are 90 x 150, one for each window. They weigh about 4kg each. 

Cheers JJ 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @JJclueless,

Yes, timber fixed to the reveal can be a workable solution, and it’s something that’s quite commonly done when the plaster return is too shallow to safely take fixings on its own. Your neighbours’ approach makes sense in principle, but I’d be cautious about relying on adhesive alone.

While a construction adhesive like Liquid Nails would almost certainly stick the timber in place, the weak point isn’t usually the glue itself. The risk is that you’re effectively asking the paint and the top layer of plaster to carry the full weight of the blind over time. That may hold under normal use, but if someone tugs on the blind or it’s operated a bit roughly, there’s a real chance the paint or plaster could pull away from the wall, taking the timber with it.

A far more secure option is to still use the timber, but fix it mechanically as well. If you can position it slightly further back from the fragile edge of the reveal, you should be able to put screws through the timber into the plasterboard and ideally into the timber framing around the window opening. Window reveals almost always have timber structure nearby, so with careful placement you can usually avoid cracking the plaster again. Using adhesive in combination with screws is perfectly fine and will help eliminate any movement, but the screws are what will carry the load safely.

Taking this approach keeps the plaster intact, spreads the load, and gives you a solid fixing point for the blind brackets. It’s a bit more work than just gluing, but it will give you a much more durable and reliable result in the long run.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[JJclueless]

Hi Mitchell,

Thank you for the reply!

Screwing the timber in is were I get a bit nervous, I worry about damaging the plaster more after my first attempt, I'm also not sure what screws I would need for it.

The screws for the blind mounts are about 4cm long, so the wood needs to be about that deep at least I assume.

What wood would you recommend, and what sort of nails/anchors should I get assuming I end up needing to fix to plaster rather than the frame? 

[MitchellMc]

For timber that is 4cm thick, you'd need to look at something like 90 x 45mm Pine @JJclueless. However, you'd now have as much difficulty installing that timber in the area as you would the blinds. I suggest using 140 x 19mm and shorter screws (up to 19mm) to install the blind onto it. You'd then have a wider board that you can install with screws, set further back from the edge. Typically, when fixing into plasterboard, it's best to use plasterboard fixings.

The best solution here is to screw the board directly into the window frame timber. This could be a situation where, if you are not confident working in this area, as it's tricky, you might be best employing a handyperson to install the blind for you.

Mitchell