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Ceramic Bathroom Hardware

Eclectic-ware
Published by John W. Wagonis in Bathroom Hardware · 14 December 2019
Originally Posted on August 17, 2015. Updated to reflect current information.

AC Products ceramic bathroom hardware is Made in the USA. We like giving a plug to products that we offer that are born in America. So that is one great thing about this hardware. The next, is the colors. There are several different series of ceramic pieces that AC Products offers. The Stylish 700 Series, the most extensive, has approx. 40 selections – ALL of which are available in about 80 colors each.

You will find a few differently styled soap dishes. Three sizes of corner shelves, the jumbo coming with or without a hook beneath it. A matching vanity soap dish and toothbrush holder. Some recessed items such as the 3 shower caddies, recessed soap dishes, and recessed toilet paper holder. There are surface mount toilet paper holders and robe hooks. And then the popular ceramic towel bars. And not just in one size or color. The towel bar posts are all the same size, but you have a choice of 4 bar lengths, of which you can alter any of them shorter. The bar can come in white or clear, you can choose that too. And you have a choice of 4 mounting methods – and then all of that in 80+ ceramic colors. So the model 730 towel bar technically can come in 2500 different combinations. Don’t ask us to show you a picture of every combination, not gonna happen. You have to use your imagination a little to picture all the solutions available to you. Not every bathroom has white, bone or biscuit ceramic tile. Some people need a grey-tone soap dish or corner shelves for their shower. The next guy may want a blue tone, and the girl next door may want a Sandstone colored shower caddy. The 700 Series (and 900 Series) is awesome for choices. And about those mounting methods. There are several to choose from.

Ceramic bathroom hardware mounting methods
Ceramic bathroom hardware mounting methods

The most popular mounting method is thin-set. What thin-set means is that the hardware piece is generally glued to the backer board using the same adhesive that the tiles use. And you must have an opening in the tile for it to fit into. Most pieces are sized to fit into a 4×4 opening, but that is not uniform for all pieces, especially a few of the larger items. Some people call thin-set “recessed”, that is not correct. Yes, the protrusion on the back will recess into the tile depth, generally 1/4" to 5/16". The definition for recessed, as you can see in the picture above is that it fits into the wall 3 or more inches. The recessed TP holder shown needs 3-5/8" of depth to fit in the wall – into a 6×6 opening. The mud set item shown above can be considered semi-recessed. It does not require as deep of an opening to fit into. You must have 1-1/4" or more. And it is called mud set because professionals prefer to create a mud pack and push the piece in place and that is how they mount it. It can be mounted with adhesive also if you choose.

The two other mounting methods, flat back and clip on have their specific purposes. Flat back was created as a simple solution for repairs or after thoughts. Flat back can be mounted to ANY flat wall surface. It can go over tile, it can glue directly to sheetrock or backer board. It can glue onto a wood or paneling style wall. We do not promote it being glued directly to drywall, that is not considered best practice. For normal drywall mounting, on a smooth unblemished surface, use the clip on mount. The mounting clip will secure to the drywall using screws and drywall anchors, then the towel bars, soap dishes, and surface mount TP holder slide down over the tapered clip and wedge themselves in place. For more detailed explanations about the 5 mounting methods, please visit that link.

The other AC Products collections: Series 500, 600, 800, and 900, can be viewed on our website. There is a lot to see and we are not going to try to cram any more into this blog post. You can view a ton of data, a lot of colors, and other helpful information on our website. And again, AC Products bath hardware is Made in America, right here in Ohio. Quality craftsmanship and very nicely designed hardware....


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