Fit a kitchen roll holder to a solid brick or block wall

Fix a kitchen roll holder securely to your wall, checking for pipes and cables before drilling.

KRH-01Plan the positionPick a spot near the worktop or hob where the roll is easy to reach but not in the way of your arm when cooking. Mark the height with a pencil and check it's level using a spirit level. Leave enough room below for the roll to turn freely and for your hand to tear off a sheet.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Spirit level

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KRH-02Check for pipes and cables before you drillKitchens are full of pipework and cabling, especially near sinks and worktops, so run a detector over the marked spot before touching a drill. A detector helps but doesn't catch everything — deep cables, metal-backed board, or pipes outside the usual safe zones can still be missed, so drill carefully and be ready to stop. Find your stopcock now (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you nick a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit and turn off the water at the stopcock before you drill.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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KRH-03Drill through the tile without cracking itStick a strip of masking tape over the mark so the drill bit doesn't skid on the glaze. Use a tile bit on a slow speed with the hammer action switched off until you're through the tile — going too fast or using hammer action on tile is what cracks it. Once through the glazed surface, you're into the wall behind and ready for the next step.

1 each · Tile drill bit

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1 roll · Masking tape

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KRH-04Drill the fixing hole into the brick or blockSwitch to a masonry bit matching your wall plug size (usually 5mm) and switch the hammer action on. Drill to the depth marked on the plug packet, typically 40mm, holding the drill level so the hole doesn't wander. Pull the bit out now and then to clear dust, and brush or vacuum the hole out before fitting the plug.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 5mm

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1 each · Small brush or vacuum nozzle

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KRH-05Insert the wall plugPush the wall plug into the hole until it's flush with the tile. If it's tight, tap it gently with a hammer — never force it in crooked, as that weakens the fixing.

1 pack · Wall plugs, 5mm x 40mm (pack of 10)

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KRH-06Fix the bracketDrive the screw into the plug, leaving the head standing a few millimetres out if the bracket needs to hook over it, or flush if it needs to sit flat. Check the bracket is level once fitted, then tighten fully.

1 pack · Screw, 4mm x 40mm (pack)

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KRH-07Attach the roll holder and testSlot or clip the roll holder onto the fixed bracket following the maker's instructions. Load a roll and pull off a sheet a few times to check the holder stays level and doesn't shift on the wall.

1 each · Kitchen roll holder

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KRH-08Tidy upWipe away drilling dust from the worktop and tile with a damp cloth, and peel off the masking tape. If the hole sits right next to a sink splashback, run a thin bead of sanitary silicone around the fixing to keep water out. Put your tools away and give the tiles a final wipe.

1 each · Damp cloth

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1 tube · Sanitary silicone sealant

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