Drilling holes in uPVC windows

[Al, Cambridge, UK]

Is there any practical reason why I shouldn't drill small holes in the inside of 15-year-old uPVC window frames, to attach fittings for light curtain rails using self-tapping screws? The warranty on the windows has expired. It's a bay window, so expanding poles won't fit. While not quite old enough to fit nets by choice, I'm a screw sort of person rather than a glue sort of person.

I apologise for apparently repeating an old topic, but previous questioners specifically wanted to avoid drilling holes whereas I would prefer to.

I also apologise for mentioning uPVC windows and net curtains. The nets (or violes) will be discrete & non-flowery, allowing me to indulge my new hobby of waving at double-decker buses while stark naked. And I apologise for that mental image.

Thanks for any help, Al

[Lobster]

I prefer glue in this situation myself TBH - self-tapping screws *will* work OK, but I always avoid drilling fitting holes into uPVC window frames because really, once they're drilled, that's it - you can't really fill them and start again as you can with timber, if there's ever a problem, as in the screws pulling out and stripping the hole. They don't take much load either, given the thickness of the extruded frame which is where your likely to be drilling.

I use those plastic self-adhesive cuphooks for this job, with an variable-length-rod type curtain rail; however I scrape off the adhesive pads as they are crap for this task, and use evostik impact adhesive instead.

David

[Rod]

Have done just that - the tiny white plastic bits I used have two screw holes - just drilled a very small diameter hole and tighten the screws into them. No problem. Lasted years without any issue.

Previous attempts using sticky pads doomed to failure despite thorough cleaning. Tubes of glue always seem to have the possibility of trailing wet glue strands or squidging out in unwanted places.

Be careful - waving at the bus while stark naked AND screwing your window is seriously to be avoided. :-)

[Chris J Dixon]

Yes, it could be curtains ;-)

Chris

[cerberus]

Even more dangerous if it's someone elses window!