Blinds, Shades and Shutters - Problem installing blinds

Trying to install faux wood blinds and I'm having a problem drilling the holes in deep enough to insert the anchors and screws that hold the bracket. After I drill about 3/4" in, I run into concrete! So should I get concrete anchors? a drill bit that cuts into concrete? Would those blue screws that are supposed to drill into concrete be good enough by themselves? I've never used any of the above so I'm not sure how difficult they are to work with... how hard is it to screw those blue screws into the concrete?

I've used those for putting up some walls in our basement. What I can tell you is that you need a heavy drill to do it. My home drill was not enough so I brought home a heavy duty one from work and they went in like butter.

I hope this helps.

Jim

are you talking about the blue screws? I bought some "self anchoring" screws which are supposed to go into brick and concrete -- we'll see! Thanks for your input.

Yes the screws were blue. I forget what they are called offhand. Trying with the light to average duty drill was pretty difficult. I think I did get one in all the way but the others all stopped after an inch or so and stripped.

jim

Yes; the screws I used were blue and were for concrete and brick. I think I did get one screwin with the light/average duty drill but the others would go in a bit then spin. With the heavier drill they went in nice, fast and easy.

good luck

I'm hoping one of the installers will come in here soon and see this. There could be a few different things you're hitting, not necessarily concrete.
In the meantime, have you tried drilling in a different spot? Maybe a half inch away to either side or up or down, then just fill in the hole you already made. Sometimes this can do the trick.
Another thing to try is using a smaller bit, which sometimes will go thru whatever bit you're using now can't.
Is this an outside mount? Any way to exchange them for an inside mount?

I'm hoping an installer sees this too... I'm out of ideas! And you're right - I don't beleive it is concrete. I tried a masonry drill bit today and it didn’t budge! I’m not sure what it is back there – steel maybe? Anyway, I’m at my wits end – can’t seem to get anything to penetrate whatever it is back there. The blinds have to be ceiling mounted because it’s in my kitchen above the sink and there are cabinets on either side of the window. Also, there is ceramic tile on the lower half of the window casing (or whatever you call it) that is kind of a continuation of the backsplash. So, the blinds are too narrow to attach to the sides, as I had to allow for less width space when I ordered the blinds because of the tiles. I hope all this makes sense to you. In other words, the window width at the top is 51” and the window width at the bottom is about 50 ½ (forget exact dimensions), so for the blinds to fit, I had to order them narrower than the top measurement. Thus, they have to be attached to the top as opposed to the sides. I checked in different places along the top and it seems to be the same thing all the way across. ¾” is the max depth I can go with a drill. So now that I've got little holes all the way across the top of the window casing -- I'm just disgusted with it all! Wanna buy a house in Florida????

Wonder if I could put those tiles all the way up the window casing and drill through those -- then I could attach to the sides!

Problem solved (I think) I went to HD, found a board the same thickness as the tiles, attached it (and small corner moulding along the edge to make it more attractive) with Power Grip and 1" finishing nails around the remaining perimeter of the window casing, attached the brackets to the sides. I haven't actually put the blinds up yet (waiting for paint to dry)... hope it holds! :thumbup:

The screws in question are referred to as "tap-cons" and yes they are exactly what you would want assuming we are dealing with concrete..

If your walls are not made of concrete and the place is fairly new and lacking any sort of limestone or stone work around the windows, then we are probably not dealing with concrete..

If you are in a suburban home than its probably not a steal beam.. If you are in the city in a converted industrial building you might have steel..

From what I understand, you have a blind that you are trying to mount up high in between two tile walls? If you are going through a drywall ceiling and then coming to halt, then my suspicion is your hitting some sort of beam in a non suburban home.. If this is the case the beam is probably steel..

A picture speaks a thousand words... any chance we could get one of the window and exterior of the home?

Here's a couple photos: http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq120/Micha-DIY/blinds001.jpg http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq120/Micha-DIY/blinds002.jpg Don't know if you can see it very well since it's all white and the top is now covered by the valence.

I guess I'll never know what I was running into, but it's definitely residential and I can't be sure but I don't think it's concrete.

Anyway, as you can see the blinds are up... I up put a board the same thickness as the tiles and installed brackets to the sides... doesn't look bad at all and problem is solved. :thumbup:

Thanks for posting!