Fit a toothbrush and tumbler holder to a timber stud wall

Fit a toothbrush and tumbler holder securely to your bathroom wall, checking what's behind the tiles before you drill.

TB-01Gather your tools and materialsGet everything together before you start: the holder kit, a drill with a tile bit and a masonry or wood bit, a detector, a spirit level, pencil and masking tape. Check the kit's screws suit your wall — you may need extra fixings depending on what's behind the tile, which the next steps will help you work out.

1 each · Toothbrush and tumbler holder kit (with screws)

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1 each · Stud and cable detector

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1 each · Spirit level (small)

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1 roll · Masking tape

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TB-02Choose the position and mark it upHold the holder where you want it, at a comfortable height near the basin, and mark the fixing holes with a pencil on a strip of masking tape. The tape stops the drill bit skating on the glazed tile. Use the spirit level to keep the marks level.

1 each · Pencil

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TB-03Check for pipes and cables, and know your stopcockRun your detector over the marked spot, but don't trust it completely — detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed board, and they get confused by metal stud frames. Before you drill, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If there's any doubt, isolate the electrics at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn off the water at the stopcock before cutting into anything that could carry water.

TB-04Work out what's behind the tileSolid brick or block feels hard and gives a dull, solid sound when tapped, with fine grey dust from a test hole. Timber stud walls sound hollow between a line of screw heads roughly 400–600mm apart, and a pilot hole brings out pale wood dust. Metal stud walls also sound hollow, but a pilot hole brings out fine grey metal swarf instead of dust — common in flats and anything built or refitted since the 1990s. Dot-and-dab plasterboard sounds hollow everywhere except at the odd firm patch (the adhesive dabs), and lath and plaster gives a slightly springy, uneven sound with thin wooden strips visible in an old hole.

TB-05Drill the pilot hole through the tileFit the tile drill bit and drill slowly at low speed with steady, light pressure until you're through the glaze, then switch to the correct bit for the wall behind — masonry, wood, or a smaller pilot bit for plasterboard fixings. Keep the drill square to the wall so the hole doesn't wander. Stop and check the debris colour to confirm what you found in the step above.

1 each · Tile and glass drill bit, 6mm

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TB-06Fit the right fixing for your wall typeTimber stud: drive the kit's wood screw straight into the centre of the stud, no plug needed. Metal stud: never use a plain wall plug or ordinary wood screw, as it will strip straight through 0.5mm steel — use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a small toggle-type hollow-wall anchor rated for the holder's light weight. Plasterboard between studs (no stud behind): use a plastic or metal toggle rated for at least 5kg. Dot-and-dab: use a fixing long enough to pass through the plasterboard and adhesive dabs into the masonry behind, typically 60–80mm. Solid brick or block: drill a 6mm hole about 30mm deep, fit a matching wall plug, then drive the screw. Lath and plaster: use a small toggle fixing rather than a screw alone, as the old timber laths can crack.

1 pack · Rawlplug wall plugs (assorted, masonry)

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2 each · Self-drilling metal stud fixings

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2 each · Hollow-wall toggle fixings (5kg rated)

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2 each · Long fixings for dot-and-dab, 70mm

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TB-07Fix the holder to the wallPeel off the masking tape, offer the holder up to the holes and drive the screws in until snug — don't overtighten, as this can crack tile or crush a toggle. Check it's level and give it a gentle tug to make sure it's firmly fixed before you let go.

TB-08Seal the edges and tidy upRun a thin bead of mould-resistant silicone sealant around the base of the holder where it meets the tile, to stop water getting behind it. Smooth it with a wet finger and wipe away any excess with a cloth. Vacuum up any drilling dust and wipe down the surrounding tiles.

1 tube · Mould-resistant bathroom silicone sealant

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1 each · Cloth

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