Yeah, I hear you on the “no-drill” kits. Tried one in my last place just to save a few bucks and avoid making holes, but honestly, it didn’t feel sturdy. The vanity itself was fine after I took it out, but I noticed a couple of scuffs where the adhesive pads were. Nothing major, but still annoying.
I’m with you about tenants leaning on stuff—most of these quick-fix kits aren’t really built for actual daily use, especially if people are rough on things. I’d rather just bite the bullet and do a proper install with anchors and all. Costs a bit more up front, but saves headaches later. Shortcuts usually end up costing more in repairs anyway... learned that the hard way.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had decent luck with the newer no-drill kits—some of them use those heavy-duty 3M adhesives and hold up surprisingly well if you prep the surface right. Not saying they’re perfect, but for lightweight vanities or in places where you really can’t drill, they’re a solid workaround. I guess it depends on how much abuse you expect the sink to take... but for guest baths or powder rooms, I’d still consider them. Just my two cents.
Yeah, I’ve seen those 3M adhesive kits hold up better than I expected, especially when folks actually follow the prep instructions (which, let’s be honest, doesn’t always happen). For a powder room or guest bath where the sink isn’t getting daily abuse, it’s a decent option. Wouldn’t trust it for a main bath or anything heavy, but you’re right—sometimes drilling just isn’t an option. Good call on knowing the limits.
For a powder room or guest bath where the sink isn’t getting daily abuse, it’s a decent option. Wouldn’t trust it for a main bath or anything heavy, but you’re right—sometimes drilling ju...
Definitely agree—prep is everything with those adhesives. I’ve had tenants in older units use them when drilling into tile wasn’t an option. Worked fine for towel bars and soap dishes, but anything heavier or in a high-traffic bath? Not worth the risk. Still, for quick fixes or temporary setups, they’re better than I expected. Just gotta set expectations so nobody’s surprised when it eventually lets go.
Funny timing—I just saw a soap dish pop off in a guest bath last week. The adhesive held for about a year before it let go. I’ll admit, I’ve been tempted to use those for light stuff, but for anything that’ll get yanked on, I always end up reaching for the drill. There’s just no substitute for a good anchor, even if it means patching tile later.