Be Careful When Installing Grab Bars
There is nothing worse than installing a toilet grab bar
around your toilets, only to find out later that they weren't supported
properly. If you've ever went to grab onto a safety grab bar around a
bathtub or a toilet, only to find out that it pulled off the wall, it
probably wasn't secured properly.
This isn't something that happens a lot in commercial properties, hotels
or new construction, but if you're seriously considering installing grab
bars around your toilets and bathtubs, it wouldn't be a bad idea to make
sure that they were installed correctly.
I have seen these grab bars attached in so many different ways that
create safety hazards for anyone who put enough pressure on them. It's
never a good idea to install a grab bar with out having sufficient
backing behind the areas that you are planning on attaching them to.
In other words, if someone is going to install a grab bar, there's a
good chance that they are going to need to attach something to the
exterior of the wall, that will support the weight of an individual as
they use them, or someone will need to remove the drywall or plaster to
install the proper wood supports.
The main point that I'm trying to make here, is that most standard sized
grab bars will not be able to be installed properly in most homes, with
out installing the proper packing first. When ever someone installs a
grab bar incorrectly, it's going to create a safety hazard for anyone
who uses it and applies enough pressure to it eventually.