Put up a towel rail without drilling
Yes, with a rail made for it: tesa rates its self-adhesive Smooz towel rod at up to 12 kg on tiles and the other surfaces it names. The maker's figure is the most it is rated for, not a target.
Depends on the maker This maker's figure for this product only. Other makers' figures may differ.
What the makers rate
Check your own weight and wall
| Product and set-up | Maker's figure | Surfaces, in the maker's words | In a bathroom | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tesa Waterproof Strips Xtra Large, one strip, with tesa's waterproof primer | 3 kg | Adheres to glazed tiles, marble, metal, glass, wood, and plastics (ABS, PS, Acrylic Glass) Not for: Not suitable for stone, cement, wallpaper, plaster, enamel varnish and plastics such as PP, PE and PTFE | Yes, the maker says so | tesa, checked |
| tesa Smooz towel rod, the rod with its tesa Power.Kit adhesive | 12 kg | Works on tiles, metal, natural stone, marble, concrete, wood, glass and many types of plastic Not for: Does not work on wallpaper, stucco and other surfaces with non-stick coating Not for: The tesa® Power.Kit securely latches onto loose plaster. Our technology is stronger than the surface and might tear it off the wall. Not for: The varnish might not be stable enough to keep stuck on the wall once our glue is applied. | Yes, the maker says so | tesa, checked |
Products with these figures
None of these makers names painted walls, so for a painted wall our checker gives no maker rating.
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It never changes the answer above.
No checked models for this yet. The answer above still stands.
Can you put up a towel rail without drilling?
Yes, if the rail comes with its own adhesive and your wall is a surface its maker names. tesa describes its Smooz towel rod as Towel rod, with tesa® Power.Kit technology (all-in-one adhesive mounting solution)
. From its product sheet:
- tesa's figure:
Holding power up to 12 Kg
. - Surfaces:
Works on tiles, metal, natural stone, marble, concrete, wood, glass and many types of plastic
. - Not for:
Does not work on wallpaper, stucco and other surfaces with non-stick coating
. - Room: tesa's product sheet lists Bathroom as its application field.
- Before you hang anything on it:
Curing time 12 hour(s)
.
The figure is for the rod as tesa sells it, with its own adhesive. We do not apply it to any other rail. The table above also lists tesa's waterproof strips, which tesa names for bathrooms and rates per strip. They go on with a primer, and tesa warns: tesa® Powerstrips Waterproof Primer: Hazard warnings: May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Keep out of reach of children.
tesa lists the rod's figure under Technical Information (average values)
on its product sheet and says of that section: The values in this section should be considered representative or typical only and should not be used for specification purposes.
Its warning on the adhesive:
tesa.Power.Kit Glue: Warning! Hazardous respirable dust may be formed when used. Do not breathe dust.
Sources: tesa, tesa Smooz towel rod, Product Information BNR 40320, en-GB, as of 25/02/25. Checked ; tesa, tesa Lavaa shower basket medium, self-adhesive. Checked .
Can you stick a towel rail to a painted wall?
We can't give an answer for a painted wall yet. Painted plaster and painted plasterboard are not among the surfaces tesa names for the towel rod, so the checker gives no maker rating there.
Surfaces tesa does not recommend for this adhesive include loose plaster, of which it says The tesa® Power.Kit securely latches onto loose plaster. Our technology is stronger than the surface and might tear it off the wall.
and wallpaper: The adhesive will stick to your wallpaper until the bitter end. Unfortunately, it might separate from the wall during adhering.
Its waterproof strips are not for those walls either: Not suitable for stone, cement, wallpaper, plaster, enamel varnish and plastics such as PP, PE and PTFE
.
Sources: tesa, Towel Bar without drilling for gluing. Checked ; tesa, tesa Waterproof Strips Xtra Large, Product Information BNR 40519, en-GB, as of 25/02/25. Checked .
How do you fit a stick-on towel rail?
With tesa's adapter and glue, left for the waiting time tesa gives before anything hangs on it. tesa's steps for its towel rails with this adhesive, in plain words, with its waiting time in its own:
- Clean the tile until it is free of dust, grease, limescale and other residues. Do not use non-stick cleaners or cleaners that contain silicone: tesa says they weaken the adhesive. Then clean it with rubbing alcohol.
- Take the adapter ring out of the pack, peel the foil off the adhesive on its back, and press the ring firmly onto the tile where you want it.
- Open the glue tube with the tube spanner, put its opening into the larger hole in the ring, and press glue in with the spanner until some comes out of the smaller hole.
The adhesive must cure for twelve hours. Do not touch the adapter during this time and do not check the strength under any circumstances.
- Then put the towel bar on the adapter and tighten its screw with an Allen key.
Source: tesa, Towel Bar without drilling for gluing. Checked .
How do you remove a stick-on towel rail?
tesa says the rod is Removable without a trace and reusable with adapter BK20-2
. Its steps for taking a glued bar off, in plain words:
- Unscrew the towel bar from the adapter. Then grip the adapter ring with a pipe wrench and turn it slowly and carefully clockwise off the wall.
- If glue is left on the tile, scrape it off gently with a thin spatula or scraper.
Source: tesa, Towel Bar without drilling for gluing. Checked .
A rail hung on tesa's waterproof strips comes off differently. tesa's steps are with the drawing.
tesa's removal steps for its waterproof strips, in its own words:
First stretch the tab of the Powerstrip® to around 3-5 cm, hold object tight - don't press it on, and keep stretching the Powerstrip® parallel to the surface
(do not pull strip away from the surface, as Powerstrip® may rip)
Source: tesa, tesa Waterproof Strips Xtra Large, Product Information BNR 40519, en-GB, as of 25/02/25. Checked .
Source: tesa, tesa Smooz towel rod, Product Information BNR 40320, en-GB, as of 25/02/25. Checked .
When does a towel rail need drilling?
When your wall is not a surface the rail's maker names, or the rail comes with no adhesive and no maker's figure for one. A rail fixed to that wall then needs a wall fixing.
What's my wall? gives the fixing, drill bit and screw for your wall; if it is tiled, choose Tiles over a wall and then the wall behind them.
Questions
Can a stick-on towel rail go in the shower?
tesa does not say its stick-on Smooz towel rod can go in the shower. Its product sheet lists Bathroom as the rod's application field and does not mention the shower. tesa's waterproof strips are different. tesa says: Specially developed for humid environments and usage directly in the shower and bathtub area
. It adds: With a holding power of up to 3 kg per strip and its extra large size, they are ideal to securely fix objects to smooth surfaces and tiles.
Sources: tesa, tesa Smooz towel rod, Product Information BNR 40320, en-GB, as of 25/02/25. Checked ; tesa, tesa Waterproof Strips Xtra Large, Product Information BNR 40519, en-GB, as of 25/02/25. Checked .