For the purpose of installing the shower grab bar, I am going to focus on bar No. 2 from above. This is the angled shower bar located along the sidewall or long back wall of the shower.
Find the Studs
The first thing we have to do is find the studs (two for this bar). Without studs, the grab bars will not have enough strength to hold up in case of a fall.
The easiest route is to use a stud finder. However, as I noted in DIY Tips For Mounting A Flat Screen TV, there are other ways to locate a stud.
- If you knock on the wall with a stud behind, it should sound solid.
- If you knock on the wall with no stud behind it, it should sound hollow.
- Press into the wall and see if it gives in a little. Chances are, if the wall holds firm, a stud is behind it.
- Studs are generally 16” from each other in the U.S. If you know where one stud is, you should know where others are.
As our friends at The Family Handyman point out, if the wall tile extends to the ceiling, drill 1/8-in. holes with a glass-and-tile or masonry bit in a horizontal grout line instead. Patch the holes later.
Mark the studs with a pencil, both at the center and edges of the studs. You can find the edge of the stud as you hammer in a nail. If it goes in easily, that means no stud is there. If there is some resistance, then the stud is still there. Remember, most studs are one and a half (1.5) inches wide.
Extend Stud Marks to the Tile
Most showers have some sort of tile along the walls. As you can imagine, it is more difficult to screw into a stud behind tile than drywall. Either way, it must be done.
Move down, along your stud location and mark the studs on the tile. A long level would be perfect. Make sure you mark the center and edges once again on the tile.
Then, take your shower grab bar and hold it firmly in the exact location where you want it installed. At the edge of each shower grab bar (mounting flanges), there should be two or three screw holes. With your pencil, mark at least two of the holes (the ones within the stud) on each edge of the bar.
Drill Into the Studs
Drill a 1/8-in. hole with a glass-and-tile bit at the mark closest to the center of each stud to confirm the stud location. Make sure you hit the stud. If not, confirm the closest stud and try again.
Do not drill the bar in right away. We are just drilling small holes to make sure we are still in front of a stud.
Attach the Shower Grab Bar
For extra support, use some caulk or tile adhesive for the edge of the mounting flanges. It’s a small step for extra support.
Now, with holes drilled and caulk in place, screw or drill the grab bar into the wall with the screws recommended by the manufacturer. The screws should go in at least one (1) inch deep.
After you have drilled the bar into the wall, tug and pull on it. Make sure it is firmly in the wall.