Finally a Proper Solution to Everyday Problemsby David Squire
Why do bath accessories fall off the wall and don't last very long? Is it moisture in the bathroom? What about misuse or a damp towel being too heavy?
After all, the bathroom is one of the most widely used rooms in the house, that is, next to the kitchen. It makes sense that the towel bars would take more abuse than most other bath accessories.
After installing my towel bars when our bathroom remodel was complete, I hung my towel bars just like the instructions said. I used those plastic inserts that were included. After about a year, they were getting wobbly and eventually fell.
After the third time our towel bar fell, I said, "That's it. I'm going to find a way to secure this thing." And I wasn't talking about moving the towel bar over an inch and mounting it the same way for the fourth time, like I had been doing.
I wanted a fix that would last years. After some trial and error, I came up with a simple fix that's lasted for years and, to this day, is still holding. And you can use these techniques whether it's brass, chrome-plated, or a variance of finishes.
With today's technology, it's not that they don't hold up well my problem was that they would get loose and wobbly or, worse, just fall off the wall.
At first, I thought it was moisture that builds with hot showers and weakens the drywall where the bath hardware is attached. Then I thought that maybe it was extra weight, like a damp towel or two.
I was getting tired of having to reinstall them or listening to them rattle when hanging up the clean towels. I was determined to fix this problem once and for all.
Instead of replacing them, I figured I would try and reinforce the mounting brackets. After removing the mounts (behind the fixture) I realized the problem was the plastic anchors that were included with the bath accessories. They would get loose over time and lose their holding power.
I don't know about you, but I'm never lucky enough to get a wood stud directly behind the mount. If we did, then they would never fall off the wall. So we are stuck using those little plastic anchors in the package.
I have found the best way to enhance the durability of the plastic anchors is by using a 100 percent silicone sealer. After drilling the hole for the anchors, clean out the hole with air and then fill it with the silicone. I also like to silicone the plastic anchors prior to tapping them in.
Now that you have your anchor all sealed up, take the metal mount and silicone the back of it, prior to fastening with the screws. This will actually glue the mount to the paper face of the drywall.
Now, make sure you have the mount in place before the silicone dries. After it dries, you won't be able to move it.
There are alternative anchors you can use that will clamp or expand behind the drywall that work really well.
Here are a few examples; however, this guide was intended to fix the problem most of us have after we have already installed our favorite bath accessory.
Plastic hollow-wall anchors: These will expand and form a truss on the inside of the hollow wall.
Plastic toggle anchors: These are similar to the above that expand into the hollow wall.
Toggle Bolts: These act like a clamp. It folds so you can insert it into a pre-drilled hole. Then it will open and clamp to the inside of the wall. These are usually reserved for heavier objects or for hanging something from the ceiling.
Wall Anchor: With these, there is no pre-drilling required. You simply screw the anchor into the drywall with its self-drilling end, and the deep threads create a strong hold.
Whichever procedure you chose to use, I hope this information will help with your project so it will look beautiful and last for years.
David has been in the remodeling and interior design business for over 18 years and has worked closely with hundreds of designers to bring their creations to life with model perfect showcases. He has used his experience to help customers, from choosing the right colors to rearranging their interiors for a more relaxed-feeling atmosphere. He has had a passion for the arts and spends his free time on personal projects, from arts and crafts to personal well-being. He continually shares ideas and suggestions for improving one's surroundings to give a positive, stress-free living environment. He has now shifted his attention to helping others find the best prices and products for their own creations from arts and crafts to interior designs at http/:www.superartwork.com and http/:www.bedandbathzone.com.
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