Mounting a towel bar to a stone tile wall

[MillCreek]

My wife is pondering some towel bars for our walk-in shower. The shower walls are covered with stone tiles, the same as are on the bathroom floor.  I was interested to see that some towel bars installation instructions now mention using adhesive as an alternative to drilling holes, plugs and screws.  Does the Collective think that adhesive is a practical alternative to mechanical fasteners?  If so, what adhesive would you use for this purpose?  Every time I wander down the adhesive aisle at Home Depot/Lowe's, I am amazed at the variety of products available now.

[K Frame]

This stuff.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-Power-Grab-Ultimate-9-fl-oz-Construction-Adhesive-1989550/206210490#product-overview

[bedlamite]

I'd also consider 3M 5200 marine adhesive.

Is there any kind of coating on the stone tiles?

[MillCreek]

^^^There is not.

[Hawkmoon]

Adhesive is okay for towel bars. Don't use it for grab bars. Are these bars going to be IN the shower? Isn't that going to result in wet towels when you need them for drying?

[MillCreek]

We have a large walk-in shower, 6x6 feet.  Any bars would be mounted on the wall opposite from the showerheads. We currently use four 3M Command metal hooks, for four towels, but my wife is annoyed that the hooks occasionally fall down and the strips have to be periodically replaced.  I personally think the towels dry faster hanging from a hook than folded over a towel bar, but what do I know, apparently.

[K Frame]

You rich West Coaster Seattleites don't have heated towel dryers in your mansion? 

[MillCreek]

You rich West Coaster Seattleites don't have heated towel dryers in your mansion? 

I will carefully avoid mentioning this to my wife lest she think it is a good idea.

[charby]

I will carefully avoid mentioning this to my wife lest she think it is a good idea.

At least got a heated floor or a bidet?

[MillCreek]

^^^ We put a heated floor into the master bathroom when we built the house, and it was one of the smartest things we did.  I kick myself that we did not do the same with the other bathroom.

[Brad Johnson]

Brad

[BobR]

Brad

Would that take a metric or a SAE crescent wrench?

bob

[Fly320s]

Metric, but only left-handed.

[charby]

a serious solution

https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/know-how/build-things/attaching-a-towel-bar.html#:~:text=Apply%20a%20small%20bead%20of,to%20dry%20for%2024%20hours.

[JTHunter]

If you are going to use any kind of adhesive, it might be a good idea to use some coarse sandpaper (60-100 grit) and roughen up a SMALL area of the stone surface and the mating surface of the towel bar.  This will increase the vertical aspect of the profile of both surfaces, giving the adhesive more area for bonding.

[K Frame]

^^^ We put a heated floor into the master bathroom when we built the house, and it was one of the smartest things we did.  I kick myself that we did not do the same with the other bathroom.

I've been in a home completely heated with in-floor radiant. It's freaking incredible. You feel comfortable at much lower thermostat settings because the warmth washes up over you.

[Unisaw]

Ditto on the marine adhesive.  I used it to mount a fixture to hold a shower hose.  Just make sure you clean the tile well and let the product cure before adding weight.