Shower grab bar

[folivier]

I'm adding a grab bar in our fiberglass walled shower. Kinda got ahead of myself and ordered a 16" bar before I measured the wall studs. One side is 14" other is 13". So I can either install it at a 45º angle or vertical rather than horizontal. Or try to return it, but haven't been able to find a quality built 14" bar.
I do have an occasional bout of vertigo so want to be proactive and install this before I fall in the shower.
I'm also using the solid mount system that was mentioned in another post (thanks!)
Any thoughts on installing it at an angle or horizontal?

 

[Jerry1]

Without seeing it, I could imagine that an angled grab bar would look fine. It also has the advantage of providing something to hold onto at different heights. You could also consider mounting it straight up and down (vertical).

 

[pacergal]

I have seen them both ways, and each looks fine.

 

[JoeWras]

It is very common to have angled grab bars.

The commonly accepted best practice is to have the high side toward the drain. Like this:

 

[mountainsoft]

I installed a grab bar in my mother-in-law's shower. I attached one end securely to a stud, and the other end is secured with a kind of toggle bolt between the studs. I don't remember what it was called now, but it's specifically made for that task. It is very strong, no issues.

 

[toddm]

I was going to install a grab bar, but didn't feel confident in getting it done right. I saw these suction cup grab bars at Home Depot, and tried them. They work very well, no installation required, and I can move them for cleaning.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-16-in-Suction-Cup-Grab-Bar-FGB196GB-THD/312272470

 

[Jerry1]

I was going to install a grab bar, but didn't feel confident in getting it done right. I saw these suction cup grab bars at Home Depot, and tried them. They work very well, no installation required, and I can move them for cleaning.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-16-in-Suction-Cup-Grab-Bar-FGB196GB-THD/312272470

I’m sure that’s nice to steady yourself but the rating is for 75 pounds. If you slip and are holding on to that bar, it’s not going to help you.

 

[toddm]

I've just used them to steady myself, never my whole weight. However, I weigh 200 pounds, and I'm unable to pull them off the shower without undoing the latches. (Maybe I'm just weak) I agree they may not be for everyone, but they've worked well for us.

 

[Jerry1]

I've just used them to steady myself, never my whole weight. However, I weigh 200 pounds, and I'm unable to pull them off the shower without undoing the latches. (Maybe I'm just weak) I agree they may not be for everyone, but they've worked well for us.

75 pounds is not light weight. However if you were to fall, you’d definitely put more the 75 pounds of pressure on the bar. As you said, good enough to steady yourself, which should prevent you from ever having to deal with a fall.

 

[OldShooter]

... haven't been able to find a quality built 14" bar. ...

If you haven't found these guys: https://www.grabbarspecialists.com/ it might be worth a phone call. I have bought from them several times and have been impressed with the quality and the speed. If they don't offer a 14" length maybe they can refer you to someone else who can help.

 

[folivier]

I do have one of these at the cabin but no way would I expect it to hold my 200+ pounds if I fall. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093L6Q72J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
I've had it come loose at one end a couple times, noted by the indicator.
That's why I want a solidly built bar attached directly to the wall studs. After mounting the one at home I'll mount the second one I already bought at the cabin.

 

[skyking1]

Not helpful in this case, but when you build or remodel, put in continuous blocking at ADA height. I did that in our bathroom. I can screw in a grab bar anywhere now, and it is trivial to do when you are framing.

 

[OldShooter]

This is more for someone looking at new construction or a remodel, but in planning a new shower I discovered that several manufacturers offer hand shower hardware where the vertical tube is also an ADA compliant grab bar. They look the same as the non-compliant ones, so no cosmetic penalty. No significant cost penalty either IIRC. I don't think one of these eliminates the need for a conventional grab bar but IMO it's a nice supplemental safety feature.

Example: https://www.build.com/delta-51900/s1199654?

 

[skyking1]

^ that would be very helpful.

 

[camfused]

LOL. This reminds me of a few years ago, I ordered an installed a shower grab bar for my MIL. When the box arrived, I started chuckling. DW asked why, and it was because on the box it came in there was a picture of a man and woman in a shower, where she was holding on to the bar and there was little doubt of what he was doing to her. Needless to say, I did not show the box to my MIL.

 

[Midpack]

Without seeing it, I could imagine that an angled grab bar would look fine. It also has the advantage of providing something to hold onto at different heights. You could also consider mounting it straight up and down (vertical).

+1, I’d have no problem installing at an angle to anchor both ends in a stud. Good that you’re being proactive OP.

 

[rk911]

I'm adding a grab bar in our fiberglass walled shower. Kinda got ahead of myself and ordered a 16" bar before I measured the wall studs. One side is 14" other is 13". So I can either install it at a 45º angle or vertical rather than horizontal. Or try to return it, but haven't been able to find a quality built 14" bar.
I do have an occasional bout of vertigo so want to be proactive and install this before I fall in the shower.
I'm also using the solid mount system that was mentioned in another post (thanks!)
Any thoughts on installing it at an angle or horizontal?

we have two grab bars in our tub/shower, one horizontal, one diaganol. i think they look fine. judge for yourself.

 

[folivier]

Thanks for all of the tips. Unfortunately the developer/builder of our 55+ retirement community totally missed the ball on making our houses handicap accessible. It would have been so easy to design large doorways, no threshold bumps, either add grab bars or add bracing for them.
My architect son will be here tomorrow so I'll put him to work.

 

[Bigdawg]

We are starting to think about this type of stuff. It has come to the forefront because in October I received a new right hip and on December 5th, I received a new left hip. We have a temp bar system on our downstairs toilet. At 6'6" and dealing with my physical therapist, it has come to my attention that literally everything in my life is too short for me. 4 years ago when we built this house we had the kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities built 1.5 inches higher than standard. DW at 5'3" doesn't seem to mind. We couldn't go too high on the toilets (or shower) otherwise her feet would be dangling. We just purchased a new couch and are having 2 inch risers made. I am on Amazon right now looking at bathroom bars but will probably hold off for a little while. It's a short persons world. I just have to live in it.

 

[folivier]

Try being a left hander, everything is designed for using your right hand.
Yeah, in order to make our home handicap accessible would require ripping out the fiberglass shower to build a better one. Opening up the wall to the toilet closet for wheelchair/walker access. That would also give us more room for a bigger shower. And like I mentioned earlier the developer/builder didn't think of doing any of that in our 55+ community.

 

[wolf]

Many, many, years ago. Installed grab bars in parents shower. Was told by installers.
Grab bar "end support piece". There will be "3" holes for the screws.
2 screws must hit wood. The 3rd can be drywall. (use insert).
Screws must be long enough to go thru, tile/fiberglass/drywall/cement and then into wood.

 

[Ronstar]

I’d say the angle install would be fine. MIL has a chair now in her shower and I think an angled grab bar would work better than a horizontal for getting up from a chair.

 

[Badger]

Thanks for all of the tips. Unfortunately the developer/builder of our 55+ retirement community totally missed the ball on making our houses handicap accessible. It would have been so easy to design large doorways, no threshold bumps, either add grab bars or add bracing for them.
My architect son will be here tomorrow so I'll put him to work.

I have always wondered why houses, apt, etc. aren't built with many of the things that make it handicap accessible. Most of them are things that make the house more comfortable and safe for everyone. The cost would be almost negligible during construction.

Cheers!

 

[Sunset]

I have always wondered why houses, apt, etc. aren't built with many of the things that make it handicap accessible. Most of them are things that make the house more comfortable and safe for everyone. The cost would be almost negligible during construction.

Cheers!

While the cost to add it would be negligible, builders would naturally multiply the cost by 10x since its a feature.

Some of the changes like wide doorways, to me are nice and luxurious, other changes like grab bars around the toilet would feel unneeded and ugly.

We were just at a relatives house, it was 10 stairs to get to the front door, and once inside, you had to decide on the small landing go up or down about 8 more stairs. Good thing nobody was in a wheelchair

 

[JoeWras]

Sunset touched on the reason.

Builders compete with each other. Every penny counts. Where they can cut, they will.

Two things make this set in stone:
1) Young families (typical new home buyers) don't want it.
2) It is tricky to do. After it rips out, it will create call-backs, which builders hate. And a bar ripped out of tile can be very expensive.

This won't change until uniform building code changes.