topic Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars in Home

Shower Stall Grab Bars

maisiebrook — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 04:59:42 GMT

My new house has a very nice shower stall with marble tile and I see the need to have some grab bars installed to minimize the risk of slipping. I think I know where i should place them, one near the shower door to hold onto while I step out, and a horizontal one behind me as I shower. Any advice on brands and where to purchase other than the big box stores and suggestions from my plumber and handyman?

Also any suggestions on where to purchase a shower chair...I guess most of them are teak. TIA.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

ECBG — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 05:15:30 GMT

The best info is likely to be the plumber or the handy man. There are grab bars now that look like a curve, or a ocean wave. You can often find them at the places that sell bathroom fixtures.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

gardenman — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:30:00 GMT

When I did our bathroom remodel I had my Mom and Dad pick the locations for the grab bars. I then added blocking between the studs to give them something solid to secure to before I put up the tile backerboard. There's nothing worse than falling, grabbing a grab bar, and having it come off in your hands. You really want some solid structure behind the bars. Your local building code may specify where the grab bars should be, so checking with them may be wise, but I opted to let those who would be using the grab bars pick out where they wanted them. My grab bars are so solid they'll never come loose.

As to shower chairs, they also come in plastic if you don't want teak.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

ID2 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:49:43 GMT

Oh the grab bars shown here are definitely not to be used! These would break in a heartbeat! My parents had some heavy duty ones installed in there condo being they were elderly. I can say from first hand experience they have to be STRONG. Both my parents relied heavily on their grab bars. Get ahold of a licenced handyman and have them installed by him.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Campion — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:37:48 GMT

I highly recommend professional installation of serious grab bars. If one should come loose due to insufficient strength and bad positioning, it could be very dangerous. Yes, they look a bit hefty and not artistic but they are very good to have and I can see I'd like them, too, in my shower. It's easy to get dizzy if you have various medical conditions.

As to a chair, I recommend a medical shower chair. They aren't expensive and they can have the height adjusted to suit you the way you want to sit in the shower. This particular one will also fit into a smaller tub, as in a guest bathroom. I use it in my shower, but when I broke a leg, it was in the guest bath and I could pull the curtain around my cast sticking OUT of the tub, and sit facing out to the room (crosswise in the tub) and have a shower despite the cast. Yes it is NOT pretty but you have to realize that functional equipment sadly is not made with style in mind. It is made with strength and function in mind. This has handles in the seat, and it's light enough to lift, yet holds up to 250 lbs of load. If you despise its looks, you can tuck it into a closet or behind a screen or behind a shower curtain between uses.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Cookie2025 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:41:16 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
The best info is likely to be the plumber or the handy man. There are grab bars now that look like a curve, or a ocean wave. You can often find them at the places that sell bathroom fixtures.

WOW - that is like art work in the bath - very nice !

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Krimpette — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:49:43 GMT

When my elderly mom was living with me, I had to have a grab bar installed in the bath tub area. She was definitely not a shower person. I had the plumber install a substantial grab bar. He was a substantial man and he knew exactly there to position the bar most securely. He even sat in the tub and pulled himself up a couple of times to prove to me (and to him) how secure it was). Not a job I felt comfortable entrusting to a handy man.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Snoopp — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:21:59 GMT

I'm not sure my plumber would do this type of job. May I ask what the scope of the job is if you have tile? Do you need to replace the tile (which could be expensive)?

I had a grab bar installed when I put in a new bath but that is a different situation.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

maisiebrook — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 04:24:32 GMT

I am not completely moved in to the house yet, but I have showered there during a couple of visits and recognize that it is better to be safe than sorry. I have done a little research and know that there is more to it than just installing them where you want them. I just hope it doesn't mean redoing the entire shower stall. I guess the previous owners were not concerned.

Thanks for the feedback.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

151949 — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:21:50 GMT

When we moved here I had them installed around our bathtub. The man who did the installation was adamant about having to put them into the wall where there was no tile, so I am not 100% happy with the locations. They do drill a very large hole to install them and then put in a large bolt holder that spreads open inside the wall (are those called mollies?) so that it would not come loose when you need it most. I was impressed with the sturdiness of the hardware he used and mine are very solid. They have saved me from falling as I get out of the tub a few times!I NEVER get up unless I'm holding on to one.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Lilysmom — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:12:54 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
When I did our bathroom remodel I had my Mom and Dad pick the locations for the grab bars. I then added blocking between the studs to give them something solid to secure to before I put up the tile backerboard. There's nothing worse than falling, grabbing a grab bar, and having it come off in your hands. You really want some solid structure behind the bars. Your local building code may specify where the grab bars should be, so checking with them may be wise, but I opted to let those who would be using the grab bars pick out where they wanted them. My grab bars are so solid they'll never come loose.

As to shower chairs, they also come in plastic if you don't want teak.

I did the same as gardenman when I built my house. I sat in the tub and we determined where they should go. The were installed on blocking between the studs. I am very confident they are built to last and sage to use. I wouldn't go for anything but curved bars, no pointy ends to prevent injury in case of a fall. LM

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

gardenman — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:32:33 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:
@gardenman wrote:
When I did our bathroom remodel I had my Mom and Dad pick the locations for the grab bars. I then added blocking between the studs to give them something solid to secure to before I put up the tile backerboard. There's nothing worse than falling, grabbing a grab bar, and having it come off in your hands. You really want some solid structure behind the bars. Your local building code may specify where the grab bars should be, so checking with them may be wise, but I opted to let those who would be using the grab bars pick out where they wanted them. My grab bars are so solid they'll never come loose.

As to shower chairs, they also come in plastic if you don't want teak.
I did the same as gardenman when I built my house. I sat in the tub and we determined where they should go. The were installed on blocking between the studs. I am very confident they are built to last and sage to use. I wouldn't go for anything but curved bars, no pointy ends to prevent injury in case of a fall. LM

Mine are the same way. They curve back into the wall, so there are no pointy ends. By having blocking behind them there's no chance of them pulling out. They are rock solid. You can use molly bolts and other hollow wall anchors, but nothing beats a solid structure. Molly bolts and other hollow wall anchors can/do pull out of drywall. They're pretty good on backerboard, but nothing beats solid structure. If you just try to secure the grab bars to studs, you want to be sure you're in the middle of the stud and unless you have x-ray vision that's hard to do. When you've got solid 2X blocking behind the grab bars you can't go wrong.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

novamc1 — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:12:58 GMT

When we needed a "specialist" in installing grab bars and types of shower chairs, we got excellent service from a small company in the Wash DC area, called "Get a Grip". The company was referred to us by a physical rehab therapist after DH had surgery.

A therapist or orthopedic specialist might be a good source to consult if you need these things, too.

The shower chair that one poster pictured here is what we originally got for my husband, but ours had an extra removable seat attached to it, so a person could transition from outside the tub to inside by sliding on the seat and without having to "climb in".

When we tore out the master bath and remodeled it recently, all tiles and walls were stripped to the bare wall studs, backer boards were installed behind the new drywall where grab bars might go, and we chose some very nice-looking shiny chrome grab bars to match the shower head and faucets....... they were made by Kohler or Moen, don't remember the brand.

We used a bathroom design firm for the remodel, so hardware and fixtures could be selected from many catalogs, plus nice samples were on display in the design firm's showroom, and we didn't have to settle for the ordinary goods at a big-box store, even though those probably would cost less than what we got.

We've just signed a contract on a soon-to-be-built home, and I'm not thrilled with the styles of bathroom fixtures the builder offers.........might have to override those and go buy our own. I like pretty hardware........including something as utilitarian as grab bars.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

151949 — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 22:54:39 GMT

Mine were installed by a professional referred to me by the Physical therapist after my knee surgery so I would say he would certainly know how to best do them.I just know I've had them for 5 years now and they are still rock solid.

Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Group 5 minus 1 — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 19:41:32 GMT

Teak? I think plastic would be a lot better.