How to Install Handicap Bars in a Tile Shower

Installing handicap bars in a shower can act as a safety precaution and also as a necessity. In some cases, the Americans with Disabilites Act requires by law that certain showers be equipped with grab bars.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drill Masonry bit Wood bit Stud finder Tape measure Mounting screws Silicone caulk

1. Locate the studs in your wall. Use an electronic stud finder if you have drywall above the tile in your shower. Tap a small nail into the wall to make sure the stud is there, then repeat the process 16 inches (horizontally) from your first stud.

2. Drape a tape measure or yard stick directly below your stud marks to pinpoint where you'd like to install the grab bar on the tile in your shower. Mark this spot with a pencil. A 16-inch bar will be placed horizontally, but an 18- or 24-inch bar will need to be installed at an angle since the studs 16 inches apart. Measure accordingly.

3. Put a piece of tape over the tile where you need to drill your first hole for the grab bar. Use a 1/8-inch masonry bit with slow but even pressure so as not so slide off your mark or crack the tile. Penetrate the tile and its backing/cement, but do not drill any further.

4. Change your bit and use a wood bit 1/16 narrower than the screws provided with your handicap grab bar. This will make initial holes in the wall studs.

5. Add a little silicone caulk to the holes before mounting the handicap grab bar. This ensures water will not leak into the holes or damage the wood studs or cement backerboard.

6. Install the screws provided into your holes and allow for a few hours for the caulk to fully dry. Do not over-tighten the screws. Doing so may crack the tiles.

Tips & Warnings

• Not all electronic stud finders are completely accurate, so tap a small nail into the wall to make sure you have found a stud before you begin any drilling.