Archive for August, 2010
Now that you’ve located your studs, you need to place you grab bar, making sure that two of the three screws on each side will be mounted firmly into the stud. If you are mounting the grab bar horizontally, use a level to assure you are mounting the bar levelly. You can mark the holes with a pencil, using the grad bar holes as a template. Remove the grab bar and place a level on your top holes across and your bottom holes across. Make any necessary adjustments and recheck for level.
After you’ve determined the final position of your holes, it is time to drill. Remember to use a glass and tile bit if you will be drilling into ceramic tiles. You will need to create a starter hole for each screw hole to keep the drill from skittering out of place and scratching the tile. By putting your drill in reverse, you can create a small starter hole that will make you drilling job so much easier.
After you’ve drilled you holes, use the provided screws to mount your grab bar. For this step it is handy to have an extra set of hands to hold the other side of the bar until you have a screw in each side. Remember that you can use a traditional screwdriver or use your drill a slower speed. Once all of the screws are in place you can test the grab bar’s stability by grabbing on and trying to shake it. If you’ve gotten all six screws in a stud, you will have a safe and sturdy grab bar to make your bathroom safer.
Now that you have gathered all of your tools, it’s time to pick a location for your grab bar. If you want a horizontal installation, pick a spot 33 to 35 inches up from the bottom of the tub. Remember to allow space so you can access the water supply. A sixteen inch bar works well for this application, as the studs should be sixteen inches apart. The grab bar needs to mount directly into the studs to achieve its full weight capacity.
If you’ve chosen a 24 inch grab bar, then a diagonal installation will be simplest. By placing the grab bar at a 45 degree angle, you will span the two studs necessary for proper installation. The bottom of the bar should be 6 to 10 inches above the tub top and extend upward toward the rear of the tub wall.
Next you will need to locate the studs. Stud finders work well on drywall. If you will be installing into a ceramic tile tub surround, locating the studs is a little trickier. You can knock on the wall if the tile only extends part way, or you can go into the room that shares the common wall and use a stud finder or knock on the wall to find the stud.
Once you’ve located the stud, drill a small pilot hole and put a wire through it to find your stud’s center. Your next stud should be just sixteen inches away. Come back next time for Part 3 where we’ll drill the mounting holes.
You’ve decided to add grab bars in your bathroom to make entering and exiting the tub easier. If you have not chosen a suction-cup grab bar, you will need to gather some tools before you start installation.
A tape measure, a pencil, and safety glasses are needed for most projects and this one is no exception. You will need the pencil and tape measure to mark the location of your drill holes. As you will be using a drill, safety glasses are a must. No one should ever use power tools without eye protection. You will also need a level to make sure that your grab bar is straight.
A drill, either corded or cordless is necessary to put mounting holes in the wall. You will also need to select an appropriate drill bit by determining the size hole needed as well as the material you will be drilling.
A stud finder is an easy way for a do-it-yourselfer to determine where the studs are located in the finished wall. Being able to mount your grab bar with screws into studs will make for a very sturdy grab bar. If you are unable to mount both ends of the bar into a stud, you need to rethink your positioning. You want at least 2 of the 3 screws on each end to be in a stud. Plastic anchors and metal mollies can be placed into the drill holes before the screws to sure up the screws that do not hit the studs. The anchors will expand as you put the mounting screws in them, and help prevent the screws from loosening over time.
A screwdriver, either Phillips or flat, is necessary depending on which type of screws you are using. You can also use a screwdriver attachment on you drill, but use care no to go too fast with the drill and strip out your screws.
Come back next time when we’ll move on to the placement and measurement of your grab bar.