Grab bars provide extra security in your home’s bathroom and protect you from the danger of slippery bathroom floors. Adding grab bars will make your bathroom safer and more versatile, especially if they are correctly installed. Grab bars are easy to install, and you will undoubtedly be satisfied with the security and convenience that they will provide. Keep reading for a guide on how to install shower grab bars in your bathrooms.
Where to Install Shower Grab Bars
To know precisely where grab bars should be placed, try climbing in and out of your tub or shower and mount them where they work best for everyone using that bathroom. You can mount grab bars vertically, horizontally, or diagonally depending on your needs. Knowing how to install shower grab bars will save you much and enable you to learn a new useful skill.
Foremost, you should mount grab bars into a stud that sits behind the bathroom wall. If the stud can’t be located, you can use an anchoring device. Be sure there is adequate room within the hollow area behind the wall so that an anchoring device will work. It pays to know where and how to install shower grab bars, and for more convenience, here are a few tips on where to install them:
At the Entry to the Shower
Vertically install a grab bar in front of the shower or tub to help facilitate entry and exit. A smaller grab bar works well for this purpose, although longer ones can accommodate users of various heights. Having a grab bar in this specific location helps prevent reaching for towel bars, sliding glass doors, or other unstable fixtures. Vertical grab bars are also suitable for both shorter and taller people to grip at a comfortable height.
In the Shower or Tub
Grab bars that are mounted horizontally inside the tub or shower provide added stability, whereas diagonal grab bars provide added balance when lowering to sit on a shower seat. In most cases, studs are located on the center 16 inches apart. It is best to attach grab bars to studs or use secure mounting anchors that the manufacturer recommends.
Near the Toilet
For great assistance in both sitting or standing, installing a grab bar near the toilet helps a lot. When used with a chair height toilet level or raised toilet seat, it can further improve comfort and ease. Most grab bars are installed horizontally or diagonally near the toilet, while a diagonal grab bar is more in tune with the hand and wrist’s natural movement that puts less strain on the wrist. They also provide a good grip at varying heights, making them comfortable for both shorter and taller people.
The Tools Needed to Install a Bathroom Grab Bar
The following tools are necessary to install the most common design of shower grab bars on a tile shower wall:
- Electric drill with a 1/8-inch masonry bit
- One 1/4-inch carbide-tipped hole saw
- Felt-tipped pen
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
- Rubbing alcohol
- Rubber mallet or hammer
How to Install a Bathroom Grab Bar
The following tools are necessary to install the most common design of shower grab bars on a tile shower wall:
- Locate the one 1/4-inch mounting holes so that the center of the grab bar fastener slides into the holes. Ensure that the wall surface is clean, then mark the mounting holes with the felt-tipped pen.
- Use the masonry bit to drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole through the surround at each mark, whether it be tile or another material.
- Hold the grab bar, with the fasteners attached, to the wall to check that the pilot holes line up with the fasteners.
- For you to cut holes in tile, use the 1/4-inch diamond-tipped hole saw to enlarge the pilot holes. You can also drill a series of closely-spaced holes at the perimeter with a carbide masonry bit and use a cold chisel to carefully chip out the waste. Use a hammer-drill for a quick job, because they add speed hammering action to the turning drill bit.
- If you hit a wall stud while you drill a hole, you can mount the grab bar directly into it with two 1/2-inch-long #12 screws rather than the fastener.
- Next, back the bolt out of the fastener using a screwdriver until its end is flush with the nut at the reverse end of the fitting.
- Install the fasteners temporarily to the ends of the grab bar with the provided screws.
- This time, wipe the wall surface around these holes with rubbing alcohol so that the tape sticks to it, then remove the paper that covers the sealant on the faceplate.
- Insert the fasteners into the wall holes while they are attached to the grab bar, then press the grab bar toward the wall tightly, so that the fasteners can connect to it in the right place.
- Remove the grab bar from the fasteners firmly and quickly punch the head of the bolt toward the faceplate using a screwdriver. You can also hit the screw gently and securely using a hammer or rubber mallet.
Simultaneously pull on the bolt and tighten it by hand. To tighten the bolt very tight, use the screwdriver.
Finally, attach the grab bar to the fasteners using the screws.
Conclusion
Accidents and injuries in the bathroom are among the most common and most severe accidents in the home. The consequences of slipping or tripping are usually severe because bathrooms have small spaces, hard surfaces, and sharp edges, and involve water. But with the right measures, you can protect yourself and your family from unfortunate bathroom mishaps.
Grab bars may seem ordinary, but they can make all the difference when it comes to making your bathroom safe. As long as you know how to install shower grab bars in your bathroom, it is not a complicated project, and you will significantly reduce the chances that someone in your home will fall and be injured. Know more about Shower Grab Bars.