Installing a Towel Rack

It sounds simple, but we’ve seen many a frustrated consumer struggle to install a new towel rack in a bathroom. These can be of the bar variety (two anchor points) or towel ring style (single anchor point). There are even space-saving models with articulating arms and multiple racks that swing out of the way to allow for more towel capacity. Finishes can be chrome, marble, brushed, antique, copper or just about anything else you can imagine or dream up.

Most towel holders come with templates which can be used to lay out the exact position for the anchors which will need to be drilled into the drywall and secure the towel rack to the wall. We recommend using the included anchors as they will match up perfectly with the supplied screws. What’s nice is that if you hit a stud, you can simply screw directly into the wood stud, giving you a very secure anchor. Here is a breakdown of the necessary steps:

• Locate the approximate placement for your towel rack
• Place the included template on the wall; use a level to ensure the rack will be straight once mounted
• Mark the wall at the hole screw points
• Drill into the drywall at the screw points and insert your drywall anchors
  
• Use a hammer to tap the anchors into the wall
• Screw the rear brackets into the wall anchors. These brackets come in many different forms, but typically include a rear piece that the front mount connects into, either via a small set screw or (as in this case) by latching onto the two upward tongues provided by the bracket.
  
• Use a precision screwdriver to secure the bracket to the wall or, if it is the type shown above, slide the towel holder down to fasten it over the bracket. Be sure to add the horizontal towel bar before securing the second bracket into place as you won’t be able to insert the bar later.
  

That’s all there is to it. Of course, if fastening a towel rack directly to the wall isn’t going to work in your bathroom, feel free to check out the many freestanding racks available on the market.

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