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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Building Questions >> Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1111666065 Message started by Ian_Reynolds on Mar 24^th, 2005, 12:07pm

Title: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by Ian_Reynolds on Mar 24^th, 2005, 12:07pm

I am attempting to fix a stainless steel towel rail to an untiled three and a half inch 1930's internal wall in my bathroom. The wall is made from old grey blocks that were made out of glass, metal, coal etc. The towel rail is a stainless steel 1340mm x 400mm, so quite heavy.

1 Will the wall be able to support the weight of this towel rail?

2 I am looking to tile the wall, but is there any way of drilling through tiles without breaking them or should I drill first, affix the towel rail and then tile?

Thanks

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by WOLF on Mar 24^th, 2005, 12:38pm

Firstly those blocks are called KLINKER ASH blocks, and providing they are not damaged they will support some serious weight...they are what my house is made from... and i have an office wall covered in the big white "SPUR" shelving system, with a good 200-300 kilos of books etc hanging on them...
now your questions, to drill a ceramic tile, use either a tile drill bit or, a NEW masonary drill bit, drilled slowly WITH OUT the hammer action being on.. and use a grey "fischer" type rawl plug and not a red/brown standard plug, as the grey type have a deep rib surface for gripping the ash particles(slag nuts) in the blocks, just take your time drilling the tiles and the blocks, DO NOT force your way through!!
hope this helps... 8) 8) 8)

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by HM on Mar 24^th, 2005, 2:48pm

Get some tile drilling bits - these have pointed spade ends rather than twisted flutes. Start small, move up to larger sizes.

Drill S-L-O-W-L-Y. As Wolf says, no hammer, just nice and gentle. Don't apply a lot of pressure.

You just need to get thru the tile - don't try drilling deep into the wall with the tile bits 'cos it will seriously harm them (and you won't make a lot of progress!).

Drill the size which is slightly oversize for the rawlplugs you need to insert. Then change to a masonry bit to drill into the wall.

Insert rawlplug, gently tap into hole. Doesn't matter too much if the rawlplug is flush with the tile surface, though typically you'd punch it down to be level with the surface of the wall.

That should be fine. What you must avoid is any weight from the screw pushing sideways against the tile - tiles will crack and split if they get any sideways pressure.

You might want to smear a little silicon on the back of the mounting lugs so that there is something between the mounting lug and the tile. The purpose here is to give a tiny cushion between tile and mounting lug, as metal against tile isn't ideal. The silicon will form a thin washer and smooth out any minor imperfections. Don't overtighten the screws.

Job's a good 'un.

HM

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by billythekid on Mar 24^th, 2005, 3:53pm

i feel a handy hint coming on:

if your rawlplugs start spinning when you try to screw the screw in, take it out(the screw) and rub it on some wet soap, or better silicon lubricant. try the screw again. This works by easing friction between screw and plug, less friction means less resistance to the screw and might just be enough to let the plug grip the wall instead of the screw. Its posted somewhere else on here i'm sure, but the other day i was putting up towel rails and toilet roll holders n stuff on tile and had the problem of spinning plugs behind the tiles, soaped the screws and everythings hunky dory.

btk

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by HM on Mar 24^th, 2005, 7:54pm

Alternatively, take out the rawlplug and insert one of the right size ;D

HM

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by WOLF on Mar 24^th, 2005, 9:48pm

an easier way is not to use rawl plugs.. just use the correct NYLON jobbies, as they can not turn if used correctly!!! due to the indents..... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by HM on Mar 24^th, 2005, 9:53pm

Actually I have to admit that I don't use straight rawlplugs any more - I buy the slightly more expensive plugs that have small barbs sticking out, as the plug is pushed into the hole these barbs prevent the plug from turning.

HM

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by Dewy on Mar 24^th, 2005, 10:32pm

I have seldom used the straight rawlplug.
They are as bad as the old fibre ones.
I have always prefered the tapered ones with barbs.
Not only do they hold better but one size fits all.
The only thing is to use a different size drill for different size screws.

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by Ian_Reynolds on Mar 31^st, 2005, 4:49pm

Thanks people.. Much appreciated.

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by dirtydeeds on Mar 31^st, 2005, 10:06pm

where do you get the proper nylon jobbies.

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by Dewy on Mar 31^st, 2005, 11:20pm

The old way of drilling into glazed tiles is to hold the drill bit (in the drill) against the tile and slowly rotate it backwards and forwards to break the glaze.
Once the glaze has been broken through drill as normal (no hammer)

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by bstyle on Mar 31^st, 2005, 11:45pm

I normally break the glaze by hitting the tile with the point of a screw

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by WOLF on Apr 1^st, 2005, 12:24am

club hammer and bolster works for me...ooops sorry thats mosaic tiling ain't it!!!!
LOL ;D :-/ :-/ :-/

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by WOLF on Apr 1^st, 2005, 12:25am

Dirtydeeds, the proper nylon plugs are available from most good suppliers -- as well as SFX and toolstation, Fischer is the good quality brand!! :-/ :-/

Title: Re: Help - Attaching a towel rail to tiled wall
Post by dirtydeeds on Apr 2^nd, 2005, 6:00pm

thanks wolf, thats the answer i was looking for, the best make in the business