Tools and Materials
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Things to Consider Before Installing Shower Grab Bars
- Avoid mounting grab bars on acrylic tub and shower surrounds that stand out from the drywall underneath. These walls bend and flex.
- If someone in the family lacks grip strength, choose smaller-diameter bars. Decide whether the bar finish can match your bathroom hardware or if it needs to be a non-slip grab bar for better grip by wet hands.
- Some grab bars are specifically made to mount vertically, horizontally, or in either position. (There’s no “right” mounting, so choose what works for you.) Check the package to be sure the model you want works in the position you want.
How to Decide the Placement of Grab Bars
Try climbing in and out of your tub or shower—without any water—to get an idea where grab bars should be placed and mount them where they work best for everyone using that bathroom. Always mount grab bars into a stud that sits behind the wall. Or, if the stud can't be located, use an anchoring device. Be sure there is adequate room within the hollow area behind the wall so an anchoring device will work. Grab bars can be placed vertically, horizontally or diagonally depending on your needs.
At the entry to the shower or tub
- To help facilitate entry and exit, install grab bars in front of the shower or tub, vertically. A smaller grab bar (12-inch, 16-inch, or 18-inch) works well for this purpose, although longer ones can accommodate users of various heights. Having a grab bar here helps prevent the tendency to reach for towel bars, sliding glass doors or other unstable fixtures.
- Installing shower grab bars vertically is good for both shorter and taller people to grip at a comfortable height.
Install a Grab Bar in the Shower or Tub
- Horizontal bathtub grab bars mounted inside the tub or shower provide added stability, whereas diagonal grab bars provide added stability when lowering to sit on a shower seat.
- Generally a 16-inch grab bar works best. In most cases studs are located 16-inches apart from center. Always attach grab bars to studs or use secure mounting anchors the manufacturer recommends.
Install a Toilet Grab Bar
- Installing a grab bar near the toilet can provide great assistance in both sitting or standing. Used in conjunction with a chair height toilet or raised toilet seat and this can further improve comfort and ease of use.
- Generally, a grab bar is installed either horizontally or diagonally near the toilet.
- A diagonal grab bar is more in tune with the natural movement of the hand and wrist and puts less strain on the wrist. They also offer the ability to grip at varied heights, making them comfortable for both shorter and taller people.
How to Install Grab Bars on Wall Studs
Follow these steps if you're attaching the grab bars to wall studs. If no studs are available, follow the instructions in the next section: How to Install Grab Bars Using Wall Anchors.
1. Pick the Installation Spot for the Grab Bar and Locate the Stud
Mark mounting locations on the wall with strips of 1-1/2 inch painter’s tape at the height you need and roughly as long as the grab bar you want. Using a stud finder, locate the positions of wall studs and mark them on the painter’s tape strips.
2. Mark the Mounting Holes
Using the grab bar mounting flange as your guide, mark the pilot hole locations oriented over your stud marks.
3. Drill Holes into the Wall Stud
For mounting on drywall, you’ll need to drill pilot holes using a bit that’s slightly smaller than the shaft of the mounting screw (the core that the threads wrap around). Check the directions for a manufacturer’s recommendation. Drill pilot holes through the drywall and check to make certain you drilled into a stud on the other side.
If you're drilling through ceramic tiles, you need glass/tile drill bits. For driving screws into a stud, use a 1/4-inch bit to drill only through the tile and part of the drywall but not into the stud. For installing the toggle bolt anchors used here, drill a 1/2-inch hole through both the tile and drywall.
4. Install the Shower Grab Bar
Drive the mounting screws that came with your grab bar, or use 2-1/2-inch panhead screws. Slide the grab bar covers over the mounting flanges and apply moderate pressure to the bar to test the strength.
Pay attention to the resistance you feel as you drive the screws. If you feel the resistance slack off before you’re finished, that could be a sign the screw tip broke through the side of the stud, reducing its strength.
How to Install Grab Bars Using Wall Anchors
When no wall studs are available, use two heavy-duty toggle-bolt anchors placed in the upper half of the flange with the metal channels positioned vertically. You can use three anchors per flange in tile over drywall and in plaster walls—particularly plaster over lath—because both are stronger than plain drywall.
1. Mark and Drill the Mounting Holes
Mark the flange hole openings on painter’s tape and find the center of each hole as you would for driving screws into a stud. Tape also helps keep the bit from wandering and tile from cracking as you start the hole. For the toggle-bolt anchors used here, we drilled 1/2-inch holes and carefully removed any loose pieces of drywall paper.
2. Install the Toggle-Bolt Anchors
Hold the metal channel against the anchor’s plastic straps, slide it through the hole, and make certain the metal channel is vertical. Hold the ends of the plastic straps and pull them toward you until the channel seats against the back side of the wall. Slide the plastic cap along the mounting with your other hand until the cap is flush against the wall.
3. Complete the Grab Bar Installation
Using the screws supplied with the anchor, fasten the mounting flanges to the wall on both ends. Apply equal pressure to the screws holding each flange to prevent the bar from rocking and damaging the drywall. Tighten the screws until they’re finger-tight against the mounting flange, then add a half-turn. Slide the covers over the flanges and give the bar a strong pull to test the strength of the bar.
Grab Bar Installation FAQs
1. Are Grab Bars Easy to Install?
Yes, grab bars can be installed easily on wall studs using a drill and mounting hardware. If no studs are available, grab bars are installed using wall anchors for added support and stability. Check your Lowe’s location to see if installation services are available.
2. Do Grab Bars Need to be Installed in Studs?
Ideally, grab bars should be installed on wall studs to support weight and provide stability. But wall anchors can be used in the absence of wall studs.
3. Can Grab Bars be Installed on Tile?
Yes, grab bars can be installed over tiles. Be sure to use a tile drill bit as opposed to a standard drill bit.
4. How do you Anchor Grab Bars?
You can anchor grab bars directly on the wall studs. If there are no studs available, you can use heavy-duty toggle-bolt anchors to install the bathroom safety bars.