Re: Shower Stall Grab Bars

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

@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

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

novamc1 · ‎07-02-2015

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.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

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.