Fix curtain rail to a concrete lintel

Use a percussion electric drill with good quality masonry bit. You will struggle using a cordless drill, unless at least 18v with hammer. Use 5.5mm masonry bit and red plugs. 7mm masonry bit with brown plugs

In order to drill holes into a lintel you will require a corded hammer drill. It needs to have variable speed and needs to be powerful. I am assuming you are trying to drill the holes with a cordless drill - no chance of success. Using the correct drill, first drill pilot holes (holes smaller than required) then you can drill the holes to the correct size for the rawl plugs....handymancol

All good answers ,but I put it up slightly higher and drill into brick work,or block.most lintels tent to only be 7-10cm in depth.drilling lintel would weaken it even if only slight.

The cheapest and most sucessfully way to drill into concrete for fixing purpose's. Is to use a rotary/sds drill. A standard hammer drill is no where near strong enough. Other methods. Such as Specially hardened drill bits need a slow speed (with the hammer function switched off) or a diamond tip drill bit will need water pumped onto it, to keep the bit cool, to stop it's tip from burning off. My biggest tip is. Whatever material you are drilling into be it wood. brick. concrete and especially metal. Always use a low speed. never a high speed. The hole will be cleaner and your drill bit will last a lot longer. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Good luck with it. Peter.

This should be fairly easy if you have a 110v or 24v SDS drill

Hi, sounds obvious i know but are you using 'hammer action' when you try to drill the holes?

Two possible reasons for your problem the first maybe the drill your using lacks the power to go through the lintel and the second if youve managed to go so far in to the lintel you may have come up against the steel bars that give the concrete some of its strength try using a metal bit as well.

A good drill is the key and also a qaulity rill bit that won't wear out, no good buying a cheap bit, buy cheap buy twice is always what i say. Then select the drill to hammer mode and apply a firm pressure to the drill whn drilling. Should be nice and simple now.

Hi yes concrete lintels are hard. i would recommend using a sds drill bit and a good sds hammer drill that should fly through it. Tom

hi,make sure the drill bits are for masonary and you have a hammer drill,the only problem you have when drilling is that you dont hit one of the reinforceing bars.so take care and wear goggles if you are not used to doing this sort of thing.thanks nick

you need a good drill not just a good drill bit. most DIY drills will not be up to the job, go to your hire center and they will sort you out with both. also make sure you are on a platform of the right height so that you can stand properly and put the required weight behind the drill. do not push too hard, let the drill do the work but apply a steady pressure and firm grip. be aware that there are reinforcing bars of mild steel in concrete lintels so if you hit one of those move you hole up or down half an inch.

what type of drill are you using?

must use hammer drill and decent drill bits