{"id":10021,"date":"2016-09-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-04T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeline.philips.com\/resources\/blog\/2014\/09\/how-to-install-grab-bars-in-no-time.html"},"modified":"2023-08-21T11:48:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T16:48:24","slug":"how-to-install-grab-bars-in-no-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/how-to-install-grab-bars-in-no-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install Grab Bars in No Time"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Falls are a major health risk for seniors. For this reason, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/how-to-help-a-senior-overcome-a-fear-of-falling\/\">fall prevention is a top priority for many<\/a>. Something as simple as installing grab bars in your shower and toilet area can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/balance-training-can-reduce-falls-and-fall-injuries\/\">help prevent falls<\/a>, according to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/preventing-falls-home-room-room\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Institutes of Health<\/a>. Learning how to install grab bars isn\u2019t difficult, and it can often be done in about an hour.<\/p>\n<h2>Deciding What You Need<\/h2>\n<p>Grab bars come in a variety of lengths and can be installed in a number of ways. Horizontal grab bars, often mounted in the shower or beside a toilet, are the most common. Usually constructed from 24-inch bars, these should be installed between 33\u201336 inches from the floor (though they can be lower for shorter seniors). In some cases, horizontal grab bars may be placed at a 45-degree angle, allowing them to be used by people of varying heights. This also makes it possible to screw both ends into a stud, which makes the overall installation process easier.<\/p>\n<p><i>Note:<\/i> Before you start this project, consider reaching out to a friend, family member, or another local expert who can help you confidently identify the tools you\u2019ll need and help you get the job done right.<\/p>\n<h2>Preparing for the Install<\/h2>\n<p>Before you can begin installing the grab bars, you will need to find the studs in your wall. Grab bars cannot be anchored to drywall, because they cannot support enough weight. Using a stud finder, locate and mark the studs in the area where you need grab bars. You can also use blocking if the studs aren\u2019t where you need them. Add blocking by nailing a 3\/4-inch piece of plywood that is at least six inches wide to the studs. There are also grab bars with special anchoring devices for use in walls where attaching to a stud is impractical or impossible.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Americans with Disabilities Act recommends that all grab bars support at least 250 pounds. While this may not seem necessary for your home, it\u2019s still a good rule to follow. To ensure that your bar is equipped to handle the proper amount of weight, install the screws that secure its mounting flanges at least an inch into the wood.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Install Grab Bars<\/h2>\n<p>Hold the mounting flange against the wall and mark where the holes should be drilled. If you\u2019re drilling into tile, it\u2019s a good idea to use an 1\/8-inch bit to drill a small hole first. Then you\u2019ll need to use a 1\/4-inch drill bit designed for glass or tile. If you\u2019re drilling into drywall, a normal drill bit should do the trick.<\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t fit all three holes onto the stud, you\u2019ll need to use a plastic anchor to keep the third screw secure. Once the flanges are attached using the included screws, you can attach the bar itself according to the instructions that are included.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing how to install grab bars can prevent a serious fall, keeping you safe from injury and preserving your independence. Fall-proofing your home is a worthwhile investment that can easily be done on a budget; adding grab bars and other\u00a0adaptive devices\u00a0in your bathroom is a great place to start.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Falls are a major health risk for seniors. For this reason, fall prevention is a top priority for many. Something as simple as installing grab bars in your shower and toilet area can help prevent falls, according to the\u00a0National Institutes of Health. Learning how to install grab bars isn\u2019t difficult, and it can often be<a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.com\/blog\/how-to-install-grab-bars-in-no-time\/\"> Read more >><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-prevention"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v26.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Install Grab Bars in No Time | Lifeline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Something as simple as installing grab bars in your shower and toilet area can help prevent falls, according to the National Institutes of Health.\" 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