To remove a ceramic towel bar from drywall, including the ceramic posts at the end, first cut through the bar extending between the posts. Then, tape off the area around both posts. Because the ceramic posts are glued to the wall, you will need to use an oscillating tool to cut through the cement that holds the posts to the wall. If necessary, you can then use a chisel for popping the post free. With the posts removed, all that’s left is to sand the area, patch it with joint compound, and repaint.
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How Do You Remove a Ceramic Towel Bar Without Visible Screws?
If your ceramic towel bar doesn’t seem to be held in place with screws, it’s likely glued to your wall with construction adhesive. This makes removal trickier but not impossible. Don’t try to forcefully pry the towel bar free with a chisel or scraper‚—this can damage your drywall. Instead, use a precise cutting tool, such as an oscillating multi-tool or Dremel, to cut through the adhesive at the point where the ceramic meets the wall. This causes less damage to your wall.
7 Steps for Removing a Ceramic Towel Bar From Drywall
When it comes time to remove or replace a ceramic towel bar, it’s essential to do so in a way that prevents damage to your drywall. Rather than tear a gaping hole in your drywall that requires extensive patching, use this method to remove the bar quickly and easily.
Cut the Bar
Before you can remove the ceramic posts glued to your wall, you need to get rid of the bar that runs between them. Although you can pop out some plastic bars, many don’t allow for this simple removal. If the bar doesn’t come free with gentle pressure, cut through the middle of the plastic towel bar with a hacksaw or reciprocating saw. Then, remove and discard the two pieces.
Protect the Surrounding Wall
With the bar itself gone, place painter’s tape on the wall around the base of each ceramic post. This will protect your drywall from scrapes, gouges, and other damage during the removal process. This step only takes a few minutes but can save hours of repair work.
Use a Multi-Tool to Cut Through Adhesive
Rather than attacking the ceramic post with a hammer, chisel, or pry bar, use a precision tool to cut the adhesive that bonds the post to the wall. This oscillating tool is ideal for making the precision-cut between the wall and ceramic post without damaging your drywall. To use it, position the front of the blade in the seam between the post and drywall. Then, work slowly, allowing the blade to saw through the dried adhesive. The post should pop off easily as you cut.
Use a Hammer and Chisel if Necessary
Only use brute force methods to remove the ceramic post from the wall if a precision cutting tool can’t get the job done. Using a hammer and chisel is more likely to damage drywall. However, if you carefully insert a chisel or this flat pry bar between the ceramic post and the wall, you can achieve good results. Hammer lightly and angle the pry bar so that it does not dig into the drywall. The ceramic post will come free of your wall.
Sand Adhesive Off Drywall Surfaces
After removing both ceramic posts, there will be some adhesive residue left on your drywall. Remove the painter’s tape applied in Step 2. Then, use a sanding block or small electric sander with 100-grit sandpaper to sand the adhesive down. Once the adhesive is removed and the wall is smooth, stop sanding. Run your fingers over the surface to ensure it is level and the adhesive is fully removed.
Repair Damaged Drywall
After sanding, your wall will need some TLC. Where the drywall is rough, gouged, or textured differently than the surrounding wall, you will need to repair it. Apply 2–3 coats of joint compound, waiting 24 hours between coats. Sand the joint compound with the right grit sandpaper to a smooth finish between coats and slowly build up your drywall patch to make a seamless repair.
Repaint the Wall
With the position of the former towel bar patched, you can now hide the drywall seams with paint. It’s essential to patch the area properly, then prime and paint the entire wall. Painting a small portion of the wall will result in an obvious patch job. Once the entire wall is repainted, you’ll never be able to tell you previously installed a towel bar there.
How Do You Remove a Towel Rack From Drywall?
To remove a ceramic fixture, such as a towel rack, from a drywall surface, you must:
- Cut through the plastic bar that spans between the two ceramic posts.
- Tape the wall around the base of each ceramic towel bar post.
- Use an oscillating multi-tool to cut through the adhesive between the wall and the towel bar holders.
- If absolutely necessary use a hammer along with a chisel or pry bar to pop the towel bar holders from the wall.
- Sand adhesive residue off your wall with 100-grit sandpaper.
- Patch the drywall with 2–3 coats of joint compound.
- Re-prime and paint the wall to remove any trace of the previous towel rack.
In just a few steps, you can fully remove a ceramic towel rack and repair your wall. You’re then free to install a new towel bar in that location or choose an even better place to store towels in your bathroom.
