We get a number of requests to install fittings in the bathrooms of homes, offices and units in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. These fittings are quite varied and can include any or all of the following:
- installing toilet roll holders
- installing towel rails
- installing towel rings
- installing shower curtain rails
- installing shaving cabinets
- installing bathroom shelves
Whilst these jobs may seem fairly straightforward, an experienced handyman knows that these jobs can present challenges that need care and attention. One of the main challenges we face when asked to install these fittings onto a tiled bathroom wall is drilling into ceramic or porcelain tiles. These tiles, particularly porcelain tiles can be very hard to drill into and there is always a small risk of cracking tiles, which we warn clients about. Drilling into ceramic tiles requires careful, non hammer action on the electric drill and either a masonry bit of the correct size or a diamond tipped drill bit for very hard tiles. The drill speed needs to be slow and we find that regular cooling of the drill bit helps make the job easier and more reliable.
Towel rails and shower curtain rods need to be carefully measured out prior to drilling to ensure they are level and that the drill holes do not line up with grout lines in the tiles.
Shaving cabinets can carry a lot of weight and need to be secured very firmly to the wall to ensure long term safety and reliability of operation. We have seen several jobs where bathroom fittings have not been installed properly and we have to undo the previous work and redo it properly!