Grab Bar Style and Installation
Grab bar design and installation has improved from the old heavy duty metal bar to a variety of multi-functional attractive grab bar hardware designed to grab bar placement guidelines. Is a friend or loved one struggling with mobility in the bathroom?
Consider adding grab bars — stationary grab bars are permanently mounted to the wall or floor. Fold-up grab bars adjacent to the toilet rotate to pivot out of the way when not in use. Our expert grab bar installation in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia serves people planning ahead as well as families responding to changing mobility needs.
Grab bars for showers are located vertically or horizontally on the wall to the side for getting in the shower, and then horizontally along the back for balance and support. Proper placement depends on how the individual enters, stands, transfers, and reaches within the bathroom. Bathroom grab bars near toilets may be installed horizontally, vertically, or in fold-down configurations to assist with sitting and standing.
In tub and shower areas, combinations of vertical and horizontal bars can provide support at entry points and along bathing surfaces. Professional grab bar installation helps ensure each bar is positioned for practical use and securely anchored to suitable wall framing or approved mounting hardware.
Visit our Grab Bar Installation page to learn more about grab bars for showers and bathrooms, bathtub grab bars, grab bar availability, disability services and installation options.
Grab Bar Installation Resources for Metro Atlanta and North Georgia:
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Choosing the Right Grab Bars for the Bathroom
The best grab bar installation begins with understanding how the bathroom is actually used. A person who needs assistance stepping into a tub may benefit from a vertical bathroom grab bar near the entry point, while someone who needs support while standing in a shower may prefer a longer horizontal bar along the back wall.
Near the toilet, a horizontal wall-mounted bar or a fold-down support bar can make sitting and standing easier. Bathroom grab bars offer increased mobility when it is most needed!
Grab Bar Products: Grab bars are available in many lengths, diameters, finishes, and styles. Traditional stainless steel remains popular, but decorative options in chrome, brushed nickel, matte black, bronze, and other finishes can coordinate with faucets and bathroom hardware. Some models also incorporate shelves, towel bars, or other useful features so that safety equipment blends more naturally with the room.
Professional Grab Bar Installation and Secure Mounting
Proper grab bar installation requires more than simply attaching a bar to the surface of a wall. The installer must determine what is behind the drywall, tile, fiberglass, or other finished surface and identify an appropriate method of structural attachment. When wall studs are located in the desired position, bathroom grab bars can often be secured directly to the framing.
In situations where studs are not positioned where the bar is needed, approved mounting systems may provide another option. Moen SecureMount hardware, for example, is designed to allow certain compatible grab bars to be installed securely when conventional stud mounting is not practical. The appropriate mounting method depends on the wall construction, the grab bar model, and the location of the installation.
Professional grab bar installation is especially important with ceramic tile, porcelain, marble, and other hard surfaces. These materials require suitable drill bits and controlled drilling techniques to reduce the possibility of cracking or damaging the finished wall.
Grab Bar Placement for Individual Needs
There is no single grab bar arrangement that is right for every bathroom or every person. The professional installation of bathroom grab bars considers the height, reach, mobility, balance, and normal movements of the person using the bathroom. A bar that is positioned correctly for one individual may be too high, too low, or too far away for someone else.
For this reason, the placement of bathroom grab bars should be considered before holes are drilled. It can be helpful for the user to stand or sit in the area and demonstrate where additional support would be most useful. The installer can then evaluate whether the preferred location allows for secure attachment.
Grab Bars for Aging in Place
Bathroom safety improvements are often an important part of preparing a home for aging in place. Professional grab bar installation can provide additional support without requiring a complete aging in place bathroom renovation. Bars can often be added near toilets, showers, tubs, and transition areas while preserving the existing layout and finishes.
Many homeowners also choose to install grab bars before they become absolutely necessary. Adding support in advance can make a bathroom easier to use for older adults, visitors, or family members recovering from surgery or dealing with temporary mobility limitations.
Planning Your Grab Bar Project
Before scheduling grab bar installation, consider which areas of the bathroom present the greatest difficulty and whether the user needs assistance with balance, transfers, stepping over a tub edge, or rising from the toilet. Photos of the bathroom can also help an installer evaluate wall surfaces, available space, and possible mounting locations before arriving at the home.
Roll-under and Wall Mounted Sinks
Roll-under and wall-mounted sink styles offer the greatest accessibility. Accessible sink fixtures will a have an easy-to-operate lever style handle that mixes hot and cold water, or two lever handles, according to your preference. One popular roll-under sink solution is a semi-mount sink, placed with an integral cover, to protect legs from hot pipes.
Bathroom sinks are identified by how they are mounted. In addition to wall-mounted and semi-mounted sinks, there are also drop-in, under-counter, above-counter, integral and pedestal style sinks for your consideration, designed according to ADA guidelines, and essential elements in a universal design home.
Accessible Toilets
Toilet selection is dependent on the height that is desired for comfort, type of the toilet and the flushing action. Easy transfer toilets are available in three types: a raised-height toilet, a wall-hung toilet, or an in-wall tank toilet.
Atlanta Home Modifications has the home planning expertise, the CAPS certification training, and the personal experience in working with people in the metro Atlanta area, to enable us to successfully design a well coordinated, attractive and useful bathroom for you. We will help you determine the most attractive and efficient design for your bathroom remodel.
If you are a person with a disability, have a young person in the home with special needs, or are an individual recovering from an illness, you may require aging in place modifications such as a walk-in barrier free tub to make your bathroom accessible.
Contact Atlanta Home Modifications at 770-880-3405 or email us for an in-home assessment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
