HELP! -- Plaster ceilings from hell

[Aaron Wiegand]

Hi all,

I'm a first time apartment renter and I'm trying my hands at what should be something quite simple: installing drapery tracks.

My problem is that I need multiple pieces of track to stretch the length of the window. Because my window reaches right to the ceiling, my only option for supporting the tracks in the middle is screwing the little clamps into the cieling... This task has become the bane of my existance!

The apartment that I'm in is about 40 years old. The cieling is made of plaster (approx 1" deep before I hit whatever solid frame is behind it). Everytime I try to screw into the cieling, the screw won't grab the plaster. It just ends up making a hole and the screw pulls right out. I have had similar problems with my plaster walls, which I solved by using drywall plugs. Even those don't seem to work in this cieling. Again they just make holes, it doesn't seem like anything can bite into the plaster and stay there. My ceiling just chips and falls apart with each new screw or plug I try to put in it... Does anyone know what type of fastener I can use in my cieling to support my drapes? ... Am I a lost cause?

Any info would be super, because I'm consider putting tinfoil over my window!!!

Thanks,

Aaron

[Needaclue]

I would buy or barrow a stud finder. They can be had for $10. Find the ceiling joists (wood frame) with it and drive screws at least twice the length of the thickness of the plaster into the joists.

[Aaron Wiegand]

Thanks!

Assuming that the joists are located behind the inch of plaster, can I assume that a standard stud finder won't be able to scan deep enough to find them??? What should I use?

Also, if I eventually find the joists, do you know what material they are likely to be made and what type of screw I should be using?

Thanks for the help,

Aaron

[HayZee518]

njormally plaster is fastened to a scratch coat of rough cement which in turn is trowelled along a metal lath which is fastened to the studs. real old houses used wooden lath slats with a scratch coat of cement and straw or horsehair. your ceiling may be a cellular cement slab with a metal lath fastened to the cement. since a conventional drill won't penetrate any further than the plaster coat, try using a small masonary drill and use plastic inserts and sheet metal hooks - or - the like to support the traverse rod.

[Allison1888]

We've had success with using clear fishing line once you get the hook in the wall. Much stronger -- just hangs down a little and you can't see it.