# Toilet paper holder pulled out of wall. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540 "2020-03-15T17:06:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/1 "2020-03-15T17:06:04Z")
As the title. Two many little kids. Unfortunately the last time this happened I used a toggle dry wall anchor so this time the hole is too large to span. We are horrible at dry wall patching and do have any of the original paint so I was looking for a new holder that has a plate that I could attach and cover the damaged drywall. I have not been able to find one. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/2 "2020-03-15T17:43:21Z")
Posting a photo of the current holder would help _a lot._ ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/3 "2020-03-15T17:55:17Z")
How about mounting a piece of 1x6x18" board screwed into two adjacent studs with the TP holder screwed into the board? That oughta fix their little red wagons. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/4 "2020-03-15T18:49:41Z")
Here are the pictures: [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/fE0dauB.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/3EP2Uvi) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/5 "2020-03-15T18:58:03Z")
I don’t think you are going to be able to fix that without some drywall patching. I would think about running a piece of wood (or strip of plywood between the two mounting points, and extending it past them by a few inches. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/6 "2020-03-15T19:07:03Z")
Another option; just get the kind of toilet paper holder that’s freestanding and sits on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![cmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@cmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmore)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/7 "2020-03-15T19:48:34Z")
see if you can find a recessed holder that will sit in the wall inside the area that’s pulled through or mount a magazine holder right there and place the toilet paper roll elsewhere or what he said above about the 18" board (the purpose of that is to span studs 16" on center). this would definitely work and definitely be solid. the 18" board would look slightly awkward in relation to the toilet paper roll holders width. best to place the board behind the drywall, but that’s currently above your pay grade. I have other solutions, but none that are necessarily easier than learning how to patch a piece of drywall. it’s super easy, and your kids will damage other walls before it’s all over, right? and you don’t have any paint? really? I don’t wanna hear it. go to home depot and have enough mixed up for that and the next repair or touch up you’ll have to do. it’s cheap. get latex and thin it before use. you won’t need much ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/8 "2020-03-16T00:10:19Z")
Options: 1. Move that holder a few inches left or right, until one of the supports is directly over a stud in the wall. Then fasten it down with big screws deep into the stud. Then at least one side ois securely attached. You could change it to vertical or diagonal mount, and get both supports screwed solidly into that stud. (But you’ll still have to fix the already-damaged drywall.) 2. Move the holder down about 6" into that wooden area. Even if it’s just paneling, it is probably still stronger than drywall. So should last for months longer until the little brats pull it out. 3. Cut away enough of the drywall to locate the studs on either side, and install a solid wood crosspiece between the studs at the location where you want the TP holder. Attach solidly, via glue, toe-nails, or screws to the studs. Could be either a 2x4 of 1x6 board or whatever, as people have suggested. Then you screw the holder securely into that. Note that you’ll still have to replace drywall, even more, and paint to match. But in drywall, repairing a small hole or a large one is about the same effort. 4. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/9 "2020-03-16T00:55:13Z")
You can surface mount a piece of wood. It’s often done in schools and offices. Remember the pencil sharpener at school? It was often mounted on a board. I’d get a plaque board that’s a little decorative. Home Depot sells them. Amazon has them too. Buy a small can of Minwax stain, and polyurethane. Apply to the board. Stain is optional. You can just apply polyurethane. [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Darice-5-in-W-x-7-in-H-Wooden-Rectangle-Plaque-in-Unfinished-Wood-30055903/303631614](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Darice-5-in-W-x-7-in-H-Wooden-Rectangle-Plaque-in-Unfinished-Wood-30055903/303631614) Make certain one end of this board is screwed into the wall studs. Use #8 wood screws, 2 1/4 in long. Then mount the TP dispenser with #8 3/4 inch long wood screws. This is a way to make a solid repair without patching sheetrock. The best way has already been suggested. Cut out sheetrock, install board & toenail into studs, patch, and paint. A lot of DIY for someone that’s unsure of their skills. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/10 "2020-03-16T01:07:38Z")
btw, I know studs are 16 inch on center. That plaque board is 7 inches long. There’s a good chance the TP holder is close to one of the studs. This board will attach to a stud & cover the damage to the wall. If you’re really unlucky and the TP holder is exactly centered between studs. Then you’ll need a 16 in board. That’s not going to look as nice. So find the studs with a small nail. Measure and see what length will work. Plaque boards come in several lengths. A 12 in board is an option. Obviously, the unsecured end of the board requires Molly bolts since it’s not over a stud. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/11 "2020-03-16T01:09:16Z")
On home repair, never half ass it, fix it correctly. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/12 "2020-03-16T01:26:17Z")
The OP is lucky that one wall already has wood paneling. A similarly stained plaque board would actually look pretty nice. The stain doesn’t have to be an exact match. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/13 "2020-03-16T01:27:45Z")
The OP is lucky that one wall already has wood paneling. A similarly stained plaque board would actually look pretty nice. The stain doesn’t have to be an exact match. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/14 "2020-03-16T01:45:41Z")
Double post. Software glitch… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/15 "2020-03-16T02:39:08Z")
Finding the studs is step one. Regardless how you plan to do the repair. You can easily find the studs with a bent coat hanger. Use the holes already in the wall to probe for the studs. Measure the wire, add 1 in, and Mark the wall with a pencil. That mark will be close to the center of the stud. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/16 "2020-03-16T03:30:30Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > {…} 2. Move the holder down about 6" into that wooden area. Even if it’s just paneling, it is probably still stronger than drywall. {…} > [@aceplace57](#): > > The OP is lucky that one wall already has wood paneling. {…} Umm, that ‘wood paneling’? It’s the floor. OP correct me if that isn’t right. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![cmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@cmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmore)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/17 "2020-03-16T04:11:23Z")
I still like my idea of the recessed holder. quite a few styles. hard not to like at least one > **[recessed toilet paper roll holder at DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=recessed%20toilet%20paper%20roll%20holder&iax=images&ia=images)** > > DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified. ---
**Author:** ![tampora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@tampora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tampora)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/18 "2020-03-16T05:06:22Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > If you’re really unlucky and the TP holder is exactly centered between studs. Then you’ll need a 16 in board. That’s not going to look as nice. If this is the case, two TP rolls side by side would look nice and fill the space. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/19 "2020-03-16T06:59:37Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > Options: > > 1. Move that holder a few inches left or right, until one of the supports is directly over a stud in the wall. Then fasten it down with big screws deep into the stud. Then at least one side ois securely attached. You could change it to vertical or diagonal mount, and get both supports screwed solidly into that stud. (But you’ll still have to fix the already-damaged drywall.) > > 2. Move the holder down about 6" into that wooden area. Even if it’s just paneling, it is probably still stronger than drywall. So should last for months longer until the little brats pull it out. > > 3. Cut away enough of the drywall to locate the studs on either side, and install a solid wood crosspiece between the studs at the location where you want the TP holder. Attach solidly, via glue, toe-nails, or screws to the studs. Could be either a 2x4 of 1x6 board or whatever, as people have suggested. Then you screw the holder securely into that. Note that you’ll still have to replace drywall, even more, and paint to match. But in drywall, repairing a small hole or a large one is about the same effort. > > 4. This would be my suggestion as well. Eliminates drywall repair. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540/20 "2020-03-16T11:03:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Another option; just get the kind of toilet paper holder that’s freestanding and sits on the floor. There is also a design that hangs on the side of the tank. Not very attractive, but functional. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-holder-pulled-out-of-wall/849540.md?page=2)