New Build - FTTP and Curtains Question

[dicksojo]

Morning all, we’re about to move into a new build and I was wondering if the good people of kickback could point me in the right direction.

 

We have FTTP but it is provided by a company called Grain. It doesn’t look like many other internet providers are on there network so we’ll be stuck using their internet plan. Is anyone else in the same boat and do you know if there are other ISPs who use the Grain network?

 

Also, we need to hang curtains and it doesn’t look like there are any wooden strips above the windows. The builder is Cruden and I’m wondering if they are likely to have put some wood behind the plaster to fix a curtain pole to? Do we need to attach curtains to wood? High ceilings and will be hanging black out/thermal curtains.

 

Strange couple of questions but thanks in advance!

 

Cheers

[Seaside jambo]

Hi 

ask the sales office or site management team they should be able to help 

if it’s a rented property the landlord should know 

[Ray Gin]

2 hours ago, dicksojo said:

Morning all, we’re about to move into a new build and I was wondering if the good people of kickback could point me in the right direction.

 

We have FTTP but it is provided by a company called Grain. It doesn’t look like many other internet providers are on there network so we’ll be stuck using their internet plan. Is anyone else in the same boat and do you know if there are other ISPs who use the Grain network?

 

Also, we need to hang curtains and it doesn’t look like there are any wooden strips above the windows. The builder is Cruden and I’m wondering if they are likely to have put some wood behind the plaster to fix a curtain pole to? Do we need to attach curtains to wood? High ceilings and will be hanging black out/thermal curtains.

 

Strange couple of questions but thanks in advance!

 

Cheers

 

Do you need wood? Drill a few holes in the wall, stick wall plugs in, sorted.

 

[mrmarkus1981_1]

When i moved into my new build a couple of years ago i had to wait a week or so until the postcode was registered at Royal Mail then it appeared on websites and i could choose whatever broadband provided i wanted.

 

You shouldn't be made to use this 'Grain' crowd. Is it an Openreach box in the premises?

[Mysterion]

26 minutes ago, mrmarkus1981_1 said:

You shouldn't be made to use this 'Grain' crowd. Is it an Openreach box in the premises?

 

A lot of the developers cut deals with small Alt Nets. 

Alt Nets get a captive customer base, developer gets an additional payment. 

 

nb. Openreach then find they are locked out from expanding their network during most of the build phase of the housing development causing delays in getting service out there. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Mysterion

[Jambo-Jimbo]

53 minutes ago, Mysterion said:

 

A lot of the developers cut deals with small Alt Nets. 

Alt Nets get a captive customer base, developer gets an additional payment. 

 

nb. Openreach then find they are locked out from expanding their network during most of the build phase of the housing development causing delays in getting service out there. 

 

I remember seeing something about this on Rip Off Britain on the BBC, where people in new builds had to take the provider that was installed in their house, often leaving houseowners paying large sums for a broadband service that sometimes was only slightly better than dial up.  If they wanted to move to a different provider they found out that the connections/cables were different and they couldn't just plug in another router, something like what you said about Openreach, the cables/plugs/connections weren't there or were different from everyone elses.

 

Here is a small clip from the show, but they covered it in more detail on the show, it was aired just 6 months ago back in October 2021.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09yfhyh

[dicksojo]

2 hours ago, mrmarkus1981_1 said:

When i moved into my new build a couple of years ago i had to wait a week or so until the postcode was registered at Royal Mail then it appeared on websites and i could choose whatever broadband provided i wanted.

 

You shouldn't be made to use this 'Grain' crowd. Is it an Openreach box in the premises?

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

 

It’s not Openreach who have put the cable in it’s this Grain lot and I’m guessing there won’t be much choice other than using their service.

[hughesie27]

You should be able to fit curtains to any wall type. And a work mate moved into a new build last year and was told they need to stick with BT for a year before changing to a new provider. Not sure how accurate that is as seems a bit dodgy.

[Angry Haggis]

23 hours ago, dicksojo said:

Morning all, we’re about to move into a new build and I was wondering if the good people of kickback could point me in the right direction.

 

We have FTTP but it is provided by a company called Grain. It doesn’t look like many other internet providers are on there network so we’ll be stuck using their internet plan. Is anyone else in the same boat and do you know if there are other ISPs who use the Grain network?

 

Also, we need to hang curtains and it doesn’t look like there are any wooden strips above the windows. The builder is Cruden and I’m wondering if they are likely to have put some wood behind the plaster to fix a curtain pole to? Do we need to attach curtains to wood? High ceilings and will be hanging black out/thermal curtains.

 

Strange couple of questions but thanks in advance!

 

Cheers

On your second i would check with the house builder. From my experience however most new builds will have studs (strips of timber) every 60cm apart. Locate those (with a stud finder) and you can screw into that. 
 

Occasionally however you will find that where you need to screw to the wall your are not hitting a stud - in those occasions I would use specialist plaster board fixings . Will link below to an example - any thing I have ever put up that will need to support any significant weight where I always go with this approach and never had any issues (including a large curtain pole - same as your scenario). 
 

Another example I had in my property was trying to put on a wall a kitchen cupboard in a utility room - for that I got a peice of Mdf roughly the size of the unit - screwed the mdf to a stud with a few screws then mounted the cupboard unit to the wall attached mdf. 
 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-self-drill-plasterboard-fixings-metal-35mm-100-pack/47347

 

make sure you have a)a good drill and correct drill bit size for plasterboard fixings b)decent posi screw driver c)tape measure d)spirit level d)willpower and patience 

 

good luck 

 

 

[IronJambo]

In addition to AG's post as his stud wall info is only partially correct.

 

The standard for spacings is 16" AND 24", whichever the builder decided to use.

 

In our case they used 16" in my living room and 24" in my bedroom. Assholes.

 

I think 16" is the greater used and you'll find that most TV wall brackets are built for this. 

As for your curtains, either use plugs in the wall or drill directly into the studs. Or if you only really want to use the studs and they aren't in the right place for you just attach your own wooden strip first 

[dicksojo]

23 hours ago, Angry Haggis said:

On your second i would check with the house builder. From my experience however most new builds will have studs (strips of timber) every 60cm apart. Locate those (with a stud finder) and you can screw into that. 
 

Occasionally however you will find that where you need to screw to the wall your are not hitting a stud - in those occasions I would use specialist plaster board fixings . Will link below to an example - any thing I have ever put up that will need to support any significant weight where I always go with this approach and never had any issues (including a large curtain pole - same as your scenario). 
 

Another example I had in my property was trying to put on a wall a kitchen cupboard in a utility room - for that I got a peice of Mdf roughly the size of the unit - screwed the mdf to a stud with a few screws then mounted the cupboard unit to the wall attached mdf. 
 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-self-drill-plasterboard-fixings-metal-35mm-100-pack/47347

 

make sure you have a)a good drill and correct drill bit size for plasterboard fixings b)decent posi screw driver c)tape measure d)spirit level d)willpower and patience 

 

good luck 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, IronJambo said:

In addition to AG's post as his stud wall info is only partially correct.

 

The standard for spacings is 16" AND 24", whichever the builder decided to use.

 

In our case they used 16" in my living room and 24" in my bedroom. Assholes.

 

I think 16" is the greater used and you'll find that most TV wall brackets are built for this. 

As for your curtains, either use plugs in the wall or drill directly into the studs. Or if you only really want to use the studs and they aren't in the right place for you just attach your own wooden strip first 

Thanks guys. I’m absolutely useless at this stuff but I’ll check with the builder and hopefully we’re in a position where we don’t need to put mdf up.

 

Cheers

[Dazo]

4 hours ago, dicksojo said:

 

Thanks guys. I’m absolutely useless at this stuff but I’ll check with the builder and hopefully we’re in a position where we don’t need to put mdf up.

 

Cheers

If the windows are a decent size and you are planning on having quality/heavy curtains plasterboard fittings are a waste of time. I’d be amazed if there wasn’t a solid bit of wood round the window somewhere. The electronic joist finders are pretty decent these days.  Worthy investment for anyone living in a new build. 

[highlandjambo3]

On 09/03/2022 at 07:12, Angry Haggis said:

On your second i would check with the house builder. From my experience however most new builds will have studs (strips of timber) every 60cm apart. Locate those (with a stud finder) and you can screw into that. 
 

Occasionally however you will find that where you need to screw to the wall your are not hitting a stud - in those occasions I would use specialist plaster board fixings . Will link below to an example - any thing I have ever put up that will need to support any significant weight where I always go with this approach and never had any issues (including a large curtain pole - same as your scenario). 
 

Another example I had in my property was trying to put on a wall a kitchen cupboard in a utility room - for that I got a peice of Mdf roughly the size of the unit - screwed the mdf to a stud with a few screws then mounted the cupboard unit to the wall attached mdf. 
 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-self-drill-plasterboard-fixings-metal-35mm-100-pack/47347

 

make sure you have a)a good drill and correct drill bit size for plasterboard fixings b)decent posi screw driver c)tape measure d)spirit level d)willpower and patience 

 

good luck 

 

 

Those are good however, I’ve still managed to rip a few of them off the wall…….these are better:

 

Google “heavy duty plasterboard fixings”

Edited March 10, 2022 by highlandjambo3

[IronJambo]

12 hours ago, dicksojo said:

 

Thanks guys. I’m absolutely useless at this stuff but I’ll check with the builder and hopefully we’re in a position where we don’t need to put mdf up.

 

Cheers

For curtains..... I'm in a new build and there was a metal frame behind the wall where I had to drill. My drill wasn't up to it and I got the wall plugs in as far as I could. They later fell to bits.

I'd recommend using a stud finder if you can and then use a small drill bit for a pilot hole. You'll know if you go through wood and then you can just go straight through with a screw. If you hit metal then make sure you're using a decent drill and the appropriate drill bit.

 

I don't have any curtains now, just frame fitted blackout blinds in the bedrooms and shutters in my living room.