A Touch Of The Old West For Your Modern Home: Wrought Iron Towel Bars
When most people think of wrought iron, they think of railings and artistic porch supports -- that sort of thing. But did you know that wrought iron towel bars are also available and can be mounted in many different locations in your home? A wrought iron towel bar evokes images of simpler times and places: colonial and pioneer living, as well as life on the old West.
Many homeowners was shy away from using wrought iron towel bars in their home, thinking that these accessories will look best only with a pioneer or country decor theme. Not so! I have seen wrought iron towel bars used in all sorts of homes, including one apartment using an ultra-modern motif!
One important caveat: some types of wrought iron towel bars can weigh substantially more than other types, so you must make sure that these towel bars can be securely mounted onto your wall. Do not attempt to mount a wrought iron towel bar using nails, as these can be easily pulled out -- for best results, use screws of the appropriate length.
Along with the use of proper length screws, heavier wrought iron towel bars must be mounted directly into the wall framing (wall studs). This will provide a sure, secure anchoring for your wrought iron towel bar. If you simply attach your wrought iron towel bar to the wall surface without anchoring it to the wall stud, it can come down -- especially when it is loaded up with heavy towels. Another thing to be careful of when you buy wrought iron towel bars is the mounting hardware that is included with your purchase -- these are the screws that you will use to attach the towel bar to your wall. Inspect these carefully, and make sure that they are good quality screws. Some sellers of wrought iron towel bars do not include very good mounting screws with their tile bar units, and this can cause problems. In fact, some people selling wrought iron towel bars do not include mounting screws at all, they just sell the towel bars themselves. If, after inspecting your mounting hardware, you feel that the quality is questionable, you can usually find very good mounting screws at your local hardware store. Also if you will need help locating the wall studs when you install your wrought iron towel bar, you can purchase an inexpensive stud finder from your local hardware store as well. Finally, since your wrought iron towel bars are of course made from iron, you should periodically inspect them for signs of rust or deterioration -- particularly if you have been hanging damp towels on these towel bars. If you detect any signs of rust or other problems, you can carefully take down your wrought iron towel bar, and either gently sand off any rust areas or take it to a professional ironworker for proper restoration. Professional restoration is preferred when your wrought iron towel bar is in very poor condition. Properly selected, properly mounted, and properly maintained, your wrought iron towel bar will give you many, many years of faithful service -- and will still be looking as great as the day you purchased it!
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