5 Mistakes When Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom
Sometimes when I work with people in their homes, they take me to the bathroom and say with great pride, “Look, I installed grab bars in my bathroom!”
The thing is I saw mistakes with the grab bars that they chose and installed, and these mistakes made it so they weren't as safe and independent in their bathroom as they could have been.
Since I don't want that for you, please stick around and learn about five mistakes that people commonly make when picking a grab bar. Keep reading below or watch the video!
Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom Can Be Difficult
Your doctor may have told you something like, “You need to put grab bars in your bathroom so you don't fall!” You're trying to do the right thing by putting grab bars in, but you realize that picking out grab bars isn't as clear cut as you thought it was going to be.
Maybe you have some questions like:
What kind of grab bar should I install?
Where should I put it?
How big should it be?
After all, you can't just walk into a big box store and pick the first grab bar you see on the shelf. That's just not going to work!
Picking the right grab bar allows you to safely and independently take care of yourself in the bathroom. However, if you don't have a lot of experience with grab bars, it's hard to know how to avoid mistakes when picking them.
Today, we're going to go over five mistakes that people make when picking out grab bars. You'll learn what to do and what not to do when picking them out.
Plus, I'll share an additional resource that will help you in customizing your grab bar placement next to the toilet.
Let's get started!
#1 Not Considering the User When Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom
Elderly woman and little girl.
The first mistake that people make when picking a grab bar is not considering who is using the space. Is it going to be an elderly person, a child? Is it going to be a whole family with a wide variety of ages?
Who is using the bathroom?
When you consider who's going to be using the bathroom, that's going to help you pick the right grab bar to serve everyone needs. A great resource to support you on this journey is the free Grab Bar Guide. Download it here!
Yes, people of all ages and abilities benefit from using a grab bar in the bathroom. For instance, my toddler uses a grab bar when she gets in and out of the shower. And I didn't even teach her!
She just did it on her own.
Even though someone in your household may not need the grab bar at that moment, it's okay to go ahead and install grab bars, especially by the toilet and shower entrance. You never know during times of injury or illness when somebody might need a grab bar. If there's already one in the bathroom, then it's already in place to be used.
Picking the right grab bar is an investment in your health and the overall health of your family!
#2 Not Designating the Grab Bar's Purpose When Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom
The second mistake people make when picking out a grab bar is they don't think about how that grab bar is going to be used.
It's important to be crystal clear on designating the job of that grab bar in your bathroom. For instance, if your shower and your toilet are close together and you want to put one grab bar to be used by people in both places, you're going to want to make sure that that grab bar is going to be easy to reach for the person in the shower or the person on the toilet.
If a grab bar is hard to reach for the shower or toilet user, maybe you need to consider putting another grab bar for that person to use for that specific task.
Blue Maxima vinyl coated grab bars in a white bathroom.
Grab bars can be used for all kinds of regular bathroom tasks. You can have a grab bar to use just for getting on and off the toilet, getting in and out of the shower, standing up and sitting down at the bathroom sink or a bench in your bathroom.
The possibilities are endless!
I recommend taking a look around your bathroom and then going through your morning routine and your evening routine through your head. Could you use a grab bar on the wall to hold on to while taking off your socks? If so, then you may want to put a grab bar there and designate it for that specific purpose.
#3 Not Knowing Your Comfort Grip When Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom
The third mistake people make is one that very few people consider—not finding your comfort grip.
Your comfort grip is the position that feels the most comfortable to you when gripping the grab bar. There are three comfort grip positions:
Palms facing each other
Palms facing up
Palms facing down
Palms face each other
Palms facing up
Palms facing down
If you'd like to learn how to figure out your comfort grip, download the free Grab Bar Guide and follow the instructions in Step Two. There’s also a free Grab Bar Guide video series that you can find here.
Knowing your comfort grip helps you pick the right grab bar for your bathroom if you're putting a grab bar next to the toilet or the shower.
If your comfort grip is palms facing each other, you're going to install a grab bar vertically. The image below has an example of a grab bar installed vertically.
If your comfort grip position is palms facing up or down, you're going to want to install a grab bar horizontally. The image below has an example of a grab bar installed horizontally.
Your comfort grip will ensure the grab bar is installed with the best orientation for your satisfaction. It doesn’t take long to figure out. And it will pay off in the long run every time you use the bathroom!
#4 Not Knowing the Stud Location When Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom
Studs in an upstairs room during a remodel.
The fourth mistake that people make when picking a grab bar is not finding studs in the wall.
It's so important to install your grab bars into studs or wood blocking so that they adequately support you when you hold on to them. If your grab bars are not installed into studs or wood blocking, then there's a good chance that you could pull them out of the wall and fall down.
We don't want you falling on your butt naked in your bathroom!
If you know where the studs are located near your toilet and your shower, that's going to help you pick the right grab bar for your needs. That’s because we need the flanges on the grab bar to line up over the stud! That will help make sure that the grab bar is properly secured in studs or wood blocking.
We don’t want flanges being installed into dry wall only! Unless you like living dangerously!
If you don't know how to find studs, it's time to hire a contractor. Get those professional stud finders! If you'd like some tips on where to look for a contractor or how to hire one, go ahead and look for it in the grab bar guide back in the appendix.
#5 Not Knowing the Grab Bar Length When Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom
Maria Lindbergh sitting on a toilet while a helper measures from her back to the end of the knee.
The last mistake I see people make all the time is not figuring out the right length of grab bar when picking grab bars for the bathroom.
If you're installing a grab bar horizontally, you really only need to know the distance between the studs. That’s because that will be the length of grab bar that you need to install in the wall. For more tips on how to find grab bar length for horizontal installation, download the free Grab Bar Guide here and check out Step Three.
If you're installing a grab bar vertically along the stud, there are a couple of tips that can help you figure out the right length for your needs.
The first thing we need to know when figuring out the right vertical grab bar length is who's using the grab bar. That's right! We're coming all the way back around to the beginning of this blog post!
Marking measurements on the wall next to a measuring tape where each person using the bathroom needs to grip.
If there's only one person or more than one person with similar height using the bathroom, you can select a shorter length grab bar. Shorter grab bars come in lengths around 12-24 inches. That will be enough space for everyone to grip the grab bar comfortably.
If there are multiple people using the bathroom and they're all different heights, you're going to want to go with a longer length grab bar. The longer length grab bar will make sure that everybody of all different heights can use it. Luckily, grab bar lengths, go up to 52 inches long, so you're not going to have a problem choosing the right length for your needs.
I highly recommend using the first three steps in the Grab Bar Guide to help you navigate finding the right length of vertical grab for your household’s unique needs!
Take a look at all the different grab bar lengths we offer in the Bathroom Solutions Shop here.
Did We Answer Your Questions About Picking Grab Bars for the Bathroom?
All right. Let's review the top five mistakes people make when picking a grab bar:
Not thinking about who is using the grab bar
Not considering what the grab bar will be used for
Not figuring out the comfort grip
Not finding the studs
Not figuring out the grab bar length
Avoiding these mistakes will help you save time, money and effort in the long run. You'll be able to pick the right grab bar that will help you stay safe and independent in the bathroom.
Do you have tips on how to pick the right grab bar? Please put them in the comments down below!
(Pssssttttt . . . did you know we have an awesome online course for people who have a hard time wiping after using the toilet? It’s an awkward topic that you can learn how to solve in the comfort and privacy of your own home! Learn more about the course HERE!)
