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Discussion Forum

Grab Bars Inside Molded F/G Tubs

jimz | Posted in General Discussion on July 29, 2004 03:31am

This may sound like a TOH kinda question, but does anyone have a technique and/or product for providing a grab handle inside a molded fiberglass tub?  Have an elderly client who needs something sturdy to hold onto & steady himself while showering.

The types of grab bars that I seen offered at our plumbing & big box stores all seem to assume that you have a solid surface onto which the bar is being mounted.  And while I have a 98% confidence level of hitting a stud behind the fiberglass tub, I realize that there would also be a 1/2 to 3/4″ air gap  between the backside of the F/G tub wall before hitting the stud, making the mount unsafe. Suggestions??

Rookie

 

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  1. IronHelix | Jul 29, 2004 04:09am | #1

    Is this a tub only or a tub/shower unit?

    Is there an access panel for the plumbing? 

     If yes, is it full height to allow access to the back side of the area between the F/G and the studs.

    Or can you install an access panel after you cut open the wall to slide a construction adhesive ladened oversized piece of 3/4 AC plywood between the tub/shwr wall and the studs and wedge it in position against the tub with some loooooong wedges.

    Let it set overnight.....install grab bar next day, refinish wall or install access panel.

    OR....Remove the wall in the next room, install plywood & G/B, nail & refinish drywall, paint room.

    Tedious.....but it can be done............Iron Helix

  2. User avater
    BillHartmann | Jul 29, 2004 04:16am | #2

    TRy these and see if they have a version for mounting over FG.

    http://www.wingits.com/

    1. DanH | Jul 29, 2004 04:25am | #4

      Yeah, that's what I was talking about. They'll work with any FG surround thicker than 1/4".

    2. jimz | Jul 29, 2004 03:34pm | #7

      Thanks all or you for the tips, but the tub is currently installed & I have no desire to tear out walls from the other side.  As us baby boomers age, I'm sure that requests like this will increase. The Winglts which Bill suggested appear to be an alternative, since the website claims that Winglts are compatible with 1/4" acyrlic/fiberglass tub surrounds.  "Armed" with this info, think that I can now talk more intelligently with my plumbing supply store. Rookie.

  3. DanH | Jul 29, 2004 04:19am | #3

    If you can guarantee NOT hitting a stud then there is a sort of super-sized toggle bolt that can be used. They're pricey, something like $30 apiece, but certified to bear the required weight on most surfaces (though the FG would have to be thick enough). A place that sells convalescent supplies would carry them.

    Otherwise, you could probably drill a small hole in the center of the mount point and inject something to firm it up. Urethane foam would be a little too soft, but you could, eg, inject the urethane, then hollow out the area a bit and inject something harder.

  4. woodbutch777 | Jul 29, 2004 03:09pm | #5

    We glue an oversized piece of ply and screws bars on before sliding it in. Polyurethane const adhesive works awesome. I usually do a dry run and measure twice before glue and screw. Also if possible have owner check height and location ADA location specs not for everyone

  5. TrimButcher | Jul 29, 2004 03:19pm | #6

    Here's a grab bar for fibreglass tub surrounds:

    http://www.adaptiveaccess.com/solidmount.php

    Regards,

    Tim Ruttan

    1. jimz | Jul 29, 2004 05:18pm | #8

      Tim: A very interesting alternative to the Winglt - thanks! Do you have personal experience with this product?  Rookie

      1. TrimButcher | Jul 30, 2004 10:37pm | #10

        Sorry, no personal experience - something I came upon while researching construction methods for disabled.

        Regards,

        Tim

      2. DanH | Jul 30, 2004 10:59pm | #11

        I used the Wingits to install grab bars in my parents' house. They worked very well. (But if you're installing through tile, be sure to buy the special carbide hole saw.)

        Only problem I had was on the back wall of one tub where they (unknown to me) had double studs. So when I tried to drill a hole right in the middle of the stud cavity, I hit another stud.

  6. 1110d | Jul 29, 2004 05:45pm | #9

    Commercial code (which doesn't apply here) requires that the grab bar be anchored to solid blocking.  There is a system out there which is designed to retrofit a grab bar onto drywall.  It has some oversized anchors specifically for this purpose.  That said, it still won't work on a shower enclosure.  With the enclosure you have two problems.  One is that there is nothing solid to anchor to.  The wing anchors may just be your best bet for this.  The second problem is the gap behind the enclosure and the wall surface you are anchoring to.  This problem isn't present in a glue up surround, in that case the above retrofit bar would work.  In the past I used spray foam for bridging the gap.  Cheesy, but it did the job.  BUT!  That wasn't for a grab bar though.  That was only a towel bar.  I know that you don't want to open the wall up, but this person will be actually using the bar as a grab bar.  It would not reflect well on you to have the bar come off the wall.  He could be seriously hurt from the fall.  In a elderly person, a broken pelvis is often a fatal injury.  Think about the potential consequences for not opening the wall up.

     

    Certified boat fetish.

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