How to Install Porcelain Soap Dishes and Toilet Paper Holders

Place and center the fixtures in the desired locations. Take note of the tiles that need to be removed to make room for the wall bases of the fixtures.

Put on safety glasses. Remove the grout around and between the tiles chiseling it with a grout saw.

Drill successive holes with a drill and a masonry drill bit to create X shapes across the tiles. Space the holes approximately 1/2 inch apart. Take care to drill only through the tiles, not the wall behind them.

Break out the tiles with a chisel and a hammer, using the drilled holes as starting points for the chisel.

Clean any remaining tile bits or adhesive from the exposed wall by scraping them away with a putty knife.

Spread thin layers of tile adhesive on the exposed wall and on the backs of the fixtures. Firmly press the fixtures in place, leaving 1/8 inches of space between the edges of the fixture and the adjacent tile edges. Place a level along the tops of the fixtures to check for evenness. Make any necessary adjustments.

Temporarily tape the fixtures to the surrounding walls with masking tape until the tile adhesive dries.

Cut matching tiles to fit any remaining gaps around the fixtures. Measure a gap, and cut a piece of tile 1/4 inch smaller in both directions with a tile saw.

Apply tile adhesive to the back of the cut tile and to the wall with the gap. Center and press the tile piece into place. Allow the tile adhesive to dry.

Use a rubber float to push tile grout into the spaces between the fixtures and the adjacent tiles. Wipe away excess grout with a damp sponge. Allow the grout to dry, then paint it with grout sealer and a small, round paintbrush.