Most towel bars use what is known as a "surface mounting". Surface mounting is used when access to the back of the material to which a knob or pull is affixed is inaccessible, or when no visible mounting is desired. It is sometimes called a blind mounting because no visible means of mounting are evident.

The components of a surface mounting are as follows:

• An anchoring device, such as a wood screw (for use with solid wood), a toggle bolt (for use on thin substrates like tile or drywall), or a plastic or metal anchor (for use in thicker substrates).
• An aluminum bushing, or sleeve, used to create a post to which the hardware is mounted.
• A mounting rose, or washer, against which the bushing rests
• A set screw that goes through the side of the hardware and is tightened into the bushing to affix the hardware to the post

The first step to making a surface mounting is to create a post projecting out from the surface to which the hardware is to be mounted.

The second step is to slide the pull over the newly created post. Then, using the small screw set at a right angle to the post, the pull is secured to post.