Towel racks usually come pre-installed in the house you are moving into. But what if you don’t like the current ones? Or what if the ones that are already installed are barely hanging on to the wall?
If you want to the fix the one that got loose, it’s important to know how to fix a towel rack properly.
By using proper methods, you will be able to get the towel rack installed in no time at all. Calling in a professional to get your towel rack fixed will cost you too much money.
Instead, just give this article a read, and do it yourself.
You’ll save up on a few bucks and gain some confidence in yourself too!
Table of Contents
Things You Will Need
The first thing to do when getting started on a project is to gather your tools. This will helps speed up the installation and fixing process. Here is a list of the tools that you might need when fixing your towel bars:
- Screw Driver to get the screws out of the existing bars
- Good quality caulk that is also compatible with your bathroom walls
- Paint to make the work look neat and professional
- Large ruler and leveler to get the measurements and marks right
- Glue ( if needed)
- A newspaper or towel to lay beneath your working area to catch all the dust and dirt — this will make the cleanup process much easier later
How to Fix a Loose Towel Bar?
Now that you have all your tools ready to go, it’s time to get started on fixing the towel bar. Follow the steps below to fix a wobbly and loose towel bar and make it steady.
Step 1: Removing the Current Towel Bar
Most of the towel bars in America are secured to the wall using screws. Get a screwdriver that is compatible with the screws and rotate the tool left to loosen the bond.
Once the screws are out, gently pull the rack, and it should come right off.
Also, remember to remove the screws that the racks hang from.
You might also have a towel rack that has been attached with glue. Now, if your towel rack is already loose, give the rack a good shake, and it will come off. If the rack resists this move, you can add some hot water and let it soak for a while. Afterward, the glue bond should loosen up and come off.
Step 2: Remove All the Crumbly and Loose Part
Once you’ve got the rack off, it’s time to remove all the loose paint and concrete off of the wall.
If you run down a small sharp knife across the wall, you will notice that a small part of the paint crumbles off. Remove this part and the wall beneath it. Because the wall is already loose, pushing the knife gently in the wall, it will break it evenly.
Make sure you get all parts that seem loose or fragile out of the picture. Lay down your newspaper or washcloth beneath the working area now to catch all the debris. Otherwise, there might be a huge mess.
Step 3: Add a Piece of Wood
Take a piece of wood that is roughly the size of the hole that has been made.
You will now attach this part to the wall so that the new screws have something to bite or hold on to. Adding this new part will get rid of all that wobbliness.
To do this take the long piece of wood and insert it through the wall to the other side.
While screwing the wood in place, make sure it does not move.
You can ask someone to hold on to the wood while you do this.
Take two firm but flat screws and screw the piece of wood through the walls. The wood is inside the wall and covers most of the whole.
Step 4: Apply Caulking
Get caulking that is compatible with the kind of paint your wall has. This way the paint is not harmed.
Once you are done setting the wood in place, apply the caulking generously to create a flat surface.
Make sure to apply this layer as smoothly as you can.
You then have to let the caulking dry according to the instructions in the packaging.
Step 5: Time to Paint!
Get the same paint that the other part of your wall is and apply an even coating.
Let it dry and you are set to move on to the next step.
Step 6: Screw-On The Towel Racks
Now get the posts and screw it in place.
To get the best results use a ruler and leveler to mark the positions you want to screw them into. This will prevent any slant and crooked installation.
Place the post in position and screw it on tightly. Give the post a slight shake to see if it moves.
Then place the rod that goes the middle and screw on the other post.
If your racks were glued in place, you can skip step 2 and 3. Just add the caulking, paint, and glue on the rack just like it was before.
Glue installations are much easier. But they tend to come off too soon. If this is the way you want to go make sure that the glue you are using is waterproof and strong.
But it’s best to shift to a screw-on towel rack as they are more durable.
Now you are done! You have yourself a steady and sturdy towel rack that doesn’t move, and the wall behind looks untouched!
How to Install a New Towel Bar?
Now, what if you are installing a new towel bar?
All the instructions are the same through step 5. Just now, instead of screwing on the old racks, you install the new ones.
Give the instructions a good read. The racks might need to be screwed on or glued in place.
For screw installation, make sure you get the right kind of screwdriver. And for gluing them on, it’s best to go with a brand that the towel rack company suggests.
Final Words
Now that you’ve given the article to read, you have learned how to fix a towel rack. Hopefully, by now you should understand just how easy of a procedure this is. If you have all the required tools at hand, the whole process will take you a few minutes at max.
Have faith in yourself, pick up the screwdriver and fix your own towel rack!