How To Install Toilet Grab Bars?

Toilet grab bars provide you with a safe and comfortable handhold in the washroom. They are mainly designed for elderly people, pregnant women and people with limited mobility to make the sitting up and standing up process easy for them. In this section of the article, we will discuss how to install toilet grab bars in a washroom.

Methods To Install Toilet Grab Bars

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1. Locate The Place Where You Want To Install Toilet Bars

One of the topmost steps in installing a toilet grab is first choosing the ideal place to install toilet grab bars. After that, a stud finder is used to position the studs in the wall where you want to install the toilet grab bars. In case the wall is tiled, a stud finder is used on the dry and plain sides of the wall. A pencil is then used to locate the position of toilet grab bars. Make sure you have the round toilet seats installed to adjust them with your bars.

2. Mark The Bracket Location With A Pencil

Now the grab bar is held onto the wall while applying extra pressure where you want to install the toilet grab bars. A pencil is used to mark the end position of the grab bar brackets and then the grab brackets are removed.

3. Drill The Pilot Holes

Now mark the position of the screw holes and drill a pilot hole on each mark using an electric drill. If your wall is a cement wall or a wall with wood tiling, a conventional bit drill should be used to drill the wall.

Whereas if you have a concrete or a stone wall then a mason bit is used to drill the wall. Drill a hole that is large enough to adjust to the anchor which is usually 3/8 to 1/2 in diameter.

4. Tighten The Brackets With A Screw

Now erase the marks that you have made on the wall with a sponge or a soft cloth. Insert the expansion bolts into the holes and tighten the brackets of the grab bars by using stainless steel screws. Make sure that stainless steel screws are large enough to get into each hole easily.

5. Install The Grab Bars

The edge of the escutcheons of the grab bars needs to be coated with silicone caulk to provide extra protection to the wall. Now place the grab bar brackets by applying pressure against the wall. Use a screwdriver or an Allen wrench to tighten the screws on each end of the bar to fix it securely. Be sure that you’re installing a good high-quality security bar for your toilet.

How High Should The Grab Bars Be Installed?

Grab bars are one of the effective bathroom modifications that give you a comfortable handhold. One of the main questions that have been asked is how high should toilet grab bars be installed.

For horizontal toilet grab bars, a minimum height between 33 and 36 inches from the shower is required.
While it differs from washroom to washroom and from person to person.
For example, pregnant women would only be able to use the grab bars when they are placed lower than the shower.
While a tall person would require grab bars much higher as compared to pregnant women.
While the vertical bar is installed at the entrance of a shower or near a bathtub.
It makes the turning on/off the process of water easy especially for older people.

So it is crucial to install toilet grab bars at the preferable spots to reduce the chances of instability. Moreover, make sure that you choose the best multipurpose security bar for your toilet.

Should Grab Bars Be Vertical Or Horizontal?

One of the major confusion that many of the users have regarding which grab bars should be used, whether they should be vertical or horizontal. For making the turning on/off the process of the water, a vertical grab bar should be installed near the water tub as it ensures balance and stability to the users when they are standing.

Vertical grab bars provide easy gripping while sitting or standing and it provides stability to the older people when they lower themselves to sit down on a toilet. While horizontal grab bars are perfect for the people who want assistance while getting in or out of the bathtub and it provides a safer movement.

Horizontal grab bars are great for wheelchair users for entering in or out of a bathtub. It is usually advised to install longer horizontal grab bars as it provides full coverage of the wall to the users

Where Should Shower Grab Bars Be Installed?

Grab bars should be installed in the most comfortable and ideal position which can be convenient for everyone, especially for elderly people, pregnant women and people with motor disabilities.

Some positions are recommended to install the shower grab bars:

Vertical grab bars should be installed closer to the shower jamb, while the horizontal grab bars should be attached to the sidewall near the shower
Vertical grab bars can also be installed on the faucet wall near the shower handle.
Grab bars can also be installed on a back sidewall near the shower seat.
Grab bars should also be installed on the back wall of the shower.

It is usually recommended to have a minimum of 3 grab bars near the shower stall as it can prevent accidental injuries.

How Much Does It Cost To Install?

Toilet grab bars provide additional security and protection to elderly people and even to people who have undergone any surgery. Toilet grab bars are easy to install and are lightweight, durable and resistant to corrosion which makes them ideal for long term use.

Now the main question comes regarding the cost of toilet grab bars, the average cost for grab bars starts from $80 to $100 or more. While labor charge could cost you $200 for the installation and materials required to install grab bars could cost you $50. Moreover, it is not covered under the Medicare cover.

The actual price of the grab bars depends on region to region and country to country, it is usually dependent on many factors such as :

The size of the bar
Labour you hired
An additional feature that you chose

Final Talk

It is really important to install grab bars to ensure the safety and protection of our family, especially the elder ones. Grab bars provide you with additional protection while sitting up on the toilet seat or while getting up on the bathtub. Grab bars are not just designed for elderly people but they can also be used by normal people whenever feeling weak and fatigued as it provides the perfect balance and stability while gripping the grab bars.