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Installing a towel bar may not sound like a big deal but doing it the wrong way can end up ruining your kitchen or bathroom walls. On top of this, you may not even get a level bar which can be really annoying. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about installing a towel bar on any wall.
Mark the exact area on which you want to install the bar. After ensuring that the bar is going to be level, drill holes into the wall and insert the brackets into them, making them flush with the wall using a hammer. Attach the mounting plates using the provided screws and mount the holders in place before sliding in the bar.
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How To Install A Towel Bar On A Bathroom Or Kitchen Wall?
Mounting a towel bar is quite easy and can be done by anyone but at the same time, doing it incorrectly can end up ruining your walls.
Finding The Right Place
The first step in installing a towel bar is to select the area where you want to install it. The ideal location is usually always near the kitchen or bathroom sink, or next to the shower area so you could easily hang and dry towels there.
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The next important consideration is the height at which the bar should be placed. The industry standard is 48 inches(120 centimeters) but this can be changed depending on whether you have children in your household or not.
Once you have determined the location, look for any existing studs on the wall. Don’t worry if you cannot find any studs in the area, you can also use pan-head screws. Studs offer the most support to anchor a towel bar but similar levels of strength can also be achieved on other materials by using appropriate anchors.
It is not recommended to use plastic anchors which often come included with the packaging of the bar. You can go for more sturdy options which you can get at any hardware store.
Marking And Measuring The Correct Area
Use a pencil or a marker along with a scale to correctly measure the distance and points at which to drill the holes. In a lot of towel bars, a stencil is attached along with the packaging and you can precisely note the areas where the holes need to be drilled.
You can also use a level, similarly, as you would while hanging a picture to make sure the drilling areas are perfectly aligned.
Drilling The Holes And Securing Mounting Plates
Pre-drill holes onto the marked areas using a drill so you can attach the mounting plates later on. If you are going to be using anchors, hammer them in into the holes. After this, attach the brackets using screws.
On the other hand, if you are not going to be using anchors, you can attach the mounting plate using the drill to install screws into the already-made holes.
Depending on the model of the bar you are using, attach the bar in place using the set of screws and wrench that is provided with the product. Once one of the holders is in place, slide the bar into it before attaching the next holder.
Hang the bar in place and put some weight on it to ensure that it has been properly attached.
How To Install A Towel Bar On Block Walls?
When it comes to installing a towel bar on a block wall, most of the steps are the same, but the type of screw that you are going to be using will be different. It is recommended to use Tapcon screws or other suitable concrete anchors to get the job done.
The Tapcon screws provide the necessary grip for the bracket to carry the weight of the towels.
Both of these methods will require pre-drilling a hole into the wall and for this, you will need a different drill bit. You will need a masonry drill bit in the right size. Most of the time the required bit can be bought along with the concrete anchors or screws.
How To Install A Towel Bar On Plaster And Lathe Walls?
The problem with plaster or lathe walls is that they don’t have a lot of strength to hold the bracket and the towel bar. Mounting the towel bar on plaster walls requires using a special kind of screw to offer enough grip strength.
A molly bolt is ideal to use for this. These bolts expand once they have been placed in the wall, creating more grip. You will see the recommended hole size which needs to be pre-drilled into the wall for these screws.
You can use a standard or concrete drill bit to get this job done. Hammer in the bolt to make it flush with the wall. After this, turn the screw to expand the anchor and make sure it is tight and snug. Remove the threaded screw and continue mounting the bracket as you would on any other wall.
How to Install A Towel Bar Without Any Screws And Drills?
If you don’t want to drill holes in the wall, there are some models out there that don’t require you to do that. They can be installed on the walls using adhesives, vacuum seals, etc.
One thing to note is that even though these types of towel bars are much easier to install, they might not carry as much weight and might not even be suitable for certain walls.
There are two types of options in the market. One uses vacuum suction and the other already has an adhesive layer included in the product. For these, all you have to do is to follow the mounting instruction in the packaging. Usually, the manufacturers include the instructions for installing and marking the place along with alignment tips.
Some bars require an adhesive substance to be applied externally. Although they also come with their own glues, there are some better alternatives you can go for.
For example, if you are dealing with two non-porous surfaces like tiled walls and aluminum, go for the Loctite Power Grab Ultimate Construction Adhesive. It also gives you 10 minutes after application to move around the bar on the wall.
If you are dealing with one porous and one non-porous surface, go for the Loctite Power Grab Express Construction Adhesive.
Similar adhesives or glues can also be used to mount mirrors on the walls of your apartment.
Conclusion
After finding the right area to install the towel bar, mark the drilling points using the stencil or a pencil provided by the manufacturer. Double-check if it is aligned properly using a spirit level or a laser level. If you are not drilling into a stud you will need some wall anchors to provide the extra grip. If you are drilling into plaster or lathe, use a self-expanding screw or molly bolts which expand once inside to add the grip. Alternatively, you can also use strong adhesives like Loctite Power Grab.
