How To Install A Grab Bar In A Fiberglass Shower

Grab bars help prevent accidents in tubs and showers. They can be
installed on ceramic tile or fiberglass. Grab bars are not actually
mounted on the surface; they are secured to the wall by drilling into
a stud. There are kits available for installing grab bars on
fiberglass surrounds.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things
You'll Need
Tape measure
Pencil
Stud
finder
Drill
2-inch hole saw
Drill bits
Mount
kit
Hacksaw
Wrenches
Phillips head screwdriver
Small
screwdriver set

Use your stud finder to locate two
studs in the back wall of the fiberglass surround. Mark the center of
the studs with a pencil. Measure from the back edge

Getting into and out of your bathtub and shower can prove a slippery
proposition, especially for an elderly or handicapped person, or
someone recovering from an accident or injury. Grab bars provide a
little extra assurance. Grab bars should be able to hold about 250
lbs. of weight. A fiberglass bathtub and shower, however, offers only
a thin skin to attach to, which will break under far less pressure.
The solution is to anchor your grab bar to the studs behind your
fiberglass.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll
Need
Stud finder (optional)
Carpenter's pencil
Carpenter's
level (at least 3 feet long)
Marker
Masking
tape
Drill
3/16- to 1/4-inch drill

Fiberglass shower stalls offer the convenience of a shower in smaller
bathrooms where space is at a premium. While shower stalls are safer
to get into and out of than a bathtub, there is a danger of slipping
any time water is present. A grab bar provides a secure handhold in
the shower, and can prevent a serious injury. Mount the grab bar to
the studs in the wall behind the
shower.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need
Stud
finder
Pencil
Finishing nail
Hammer
Crayon
Laser
level
Grab bar
Drill
Screws
Screwdriver
Paper
towel

Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs
above the shower's wall.
Mark the approximate locatio

A fiberglass tub surround fits over the walls surrounding your tub or
shower pan. The fiberglass acts as a barrier to the moisture produced
by the shower, protecting the walls from rot. A shower or tub surround
typically comes in three pieces, each one fitting over one wall. The
installation process is fairly simple to understand, but skills are
required to get it right.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things
You'll Need
Carpenter's level
Pencil
Fiberglass shower
walls
Silicone adhesive
Tape measure
Hole saw
Silicone
caulking
Caulking gun

Place the end of a
carpenter's level at the edge of the tub or shower, so it is
vertically oriented along

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
each year thousands of older citizens fall and are seriously injured
at home, with a small percentage of these injuries resulting in death.
Installing bathtub safety grab bars can be an effective way to prevent
unnecessary falls. Place grab bars not only in your bathtub, but
anywhere additional security would help prevent a dangerous fall.
Consider installing safety grab bars in a shower and next to the
toilet.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need
Tape
measure
Stud finder
Masking tape
Drill
1/8-inch drill
bit
5/32-inch drill bit
2-inch No.12 stainless steel pan head
screws

Grab bars offer additional support for people climbing in and out of
tubs. People with injuries or disabilities and the elderly may benefit
from properly installed grab bars. Cornell University says that,
'According to most national and local building codes, grab bars must
be installed to sustain 250 pounds of dead load force.' The college
recommends that grab bars be anchored through fiberglass enclosures
and into studs for the most secure installation. Because of the way
fiberglass tubs are installed, a space usually exists between the stud
and the enclosure. That space needs to be made solid in order to
properly install a grab bar.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions
Things You'll Ne

Grab bars can be helpful for people with physical disabilities.
Especially in a shower or tub, considering how slippery they can
potentially be. Even people without disabilities are susceptible to a
fall in the shower. To avoid a broken tail bone, or worse, you can
install a grab bar yourself. They are inexpensive and can be installed
in a few easy steps.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things
You'll Need
Stud finder
Marker
Electric drill
Drill
bit
Silicone caulk
Caulk gun

Determine where
you want the grab bar to go and locate the studs in the wall. Using an
electronic stud finder is the easiest way to find the studs.
Place
the grab bar s

Grab bars give people support as they step into and out of the bathtub
or shower, helping in the event a person loses his balance. Because of
the strain that users place on grab bars, anchor the bars into the
wall studs to ensure the bars can handle the strain without pulling
out of the way. An improperly anchored grab bar can lead to serious
injury or worse, making the extra effort of finding the studs worth
the trouble.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll
Need
Stud finder
Finishing nail
Hammer
Level
Masking
tape
Marker
Drill
Bathroom caulk
Screws
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class='error'>Find the center of each grab bar above the tub or
shower's surround using a stud f

Because there's a gap between the sides of a one piece tub and shower
enclosure and the wall, installing a grab bar is a challenge. If the
bar is attached with screws through the enclosure, the fiberglass is
sure to buckle and possibly crack when the screws are tightened. One
option is to remove the enclosure and place spacer blocks between the
two surfaces. However, this method is both costly and time consuming.
The simplest option is to use special anchors designed to fill the gap
between the enclosure and the wall
stud.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need
Stud
finder
Grab bar
Pencil
Long carpenter's level
Erasable
grease pencil
Steel measuring tape<

Grab bars provide a secure, safe way to get into and out of a bathtub,
but only if they are properly installed. A fiberglass wall on a
bathtub's enclosure provides a unique challenge since there is an
empty space between the fiberglass and the wall studs. Using a
traditional method of mounting the grab bar to the wall will cause the
fiberglass to bow and eventually break, unless you use a special
fiberglass mounting kit to install the grab
bars.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll Need
Stud
finder
Pencil
Level
Marker
Drill
Wire hanger
Tub
caulk
Fiberglass anchor kit

Use a stud finder
to locate the studs toward the top of the wall ne

Fiberglass showers are often preferred to those with tile walls
because of their lower cost. A fiberglass tub can offer the same
slipping danger as its tile counterpart, however. If you are worried
about injuries in the shower, a grab bar is a good investment. These
bars are mounted to the shower wall and serves as a secure handhold
when entering and exiting the shower. A grab bar is not difficult to
install in a fiberglass shower.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions
Things You'll Need
Stud finder
Pencil
Grease
pencil
Level
Drill
Waterproof caulk
Mounting
screws
Screwdriver

Determine the ideal location
for the grab bar in your shower. It should b

A fiberglass tub surround fits over the walls surrounding your tub or
shower pan. The fiberglass acts as a barrier to the moisture produced
by the shower, protecting the walls from rot. A shower or tub surround
typically comes in three pieces, each one fitting over one wall. The
installation process is fairly simple to understand, but skills are
required to get it right.Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things
You'll Need
Carpenter's level
Pencil
Fiberglass shower
walls
Silicone adhesive
Tape measure
Hole saw
Silicone
caulking
Caulking gun

Place the end of a
carpenter's level at the edge of the tub or shower, so it is
vertically oriented along

Fiberglass is a common choice for shower enclosures, since it is
resilient and water-resistant. It can also be slippery, however, and
when the soap and water start running, it can be difficult to step in
or out of the tub or shower without falling. Installing a grab bar can
provide extra support to keep you safe when you
shower.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll
Need
Stud finder or hammer
Pencil
Masking tape
Grab
bar
Fiberglass anchors
Drill or screwdriver
Adhesive or
caulk
Screws

Locate the studs in the wall that
supports your shower enclosure. Use a stud finder or gently tap on the
wall with a hammer until you hear the ch

Grab bars offer additional support for people climbing in and out of
tubs. People with injuries or disabilities and the elderly may benefit
from properly installed grab bars. Cornell University says that,
'According to most national and local building codes, grab bars must
be installed to sustain 250 pounds of dead load force.' The college
recommends that grab bars be anchored through fiberglass enclosures
and into studs for the most secure installation. Because of the way
fiberglass tubs are installed, a space usually exists between the stud
and the enclosure. That space needs to be made solid in order to
properly install a grab bar.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions
Things You'll Ne