What you need before you start
Curtain track and screws, hacksaw, tape measure or ruler, screw driver, raw plugs, power drill and masonry drill bits.
Stage 1
Measure the length of curtain track required. Remember that to look good and allow light to fully enter the room the curtains will need to be pulled back past the end of the window. The heavier the material and the thicker the curtains the more they will bunch when pulled back thus the longer the track will need to be. In general you will need to add at least 20cm for both ends. Thus the length of the track will be the window width plus 40cms. So ensure that the curtain track your buy is at least this length.
If fitting curtain track to a bay window ensure that the track is flexible.
The screws that come with the curtain track may not be long enough, especially if they are going into old plaster. So you may need to buy some longer ones to ensure that the screws penetrate as far as the brick. Also ensure that you buy the right sized raw plugs.
Stage 2
Once you have bought the curtain track cut it to the desired length. Ensure that the cut is at 90 degrees to the horizontal.
Stage 3
Mark drill hole points every 15cm at 5cm above the top of the window if drilling into masonry. Ensure that there is a fixing bracket at both ends of the curtain track as this is the part of the curtain track which will take the most load. If fixing it to the architrave then that is your horizontal and like wise mark the fixing points for the track brackets.
Stage 4
Drill the hole with the appropriate masonry drill bit if drilling into plaster or brick and insert the raw plug. If drilling into wood then drill pilot holes using a small wood drill bit.
Stage 5
Fix the track brackets ensuring the mounting clips for the track are facing the front.
Stage 6
Put the stop ends on to each end of the track.
Stage 7
Starting at one end clip the track onto each of the brackets. Once they are all on you can centre the track. Then tighten up the screws on each of the brackets.
Stage 8
Now you are ready to hang your curtains. Attach the gliders that came with the track to the curtains, remove one of stop ends, slide the curtains onto the track and then re-attach the stop end.