How To Install Bathroom Grab Bars 

Good video... Some suggestions... 1) When drilling on the tiles -- don't drill on the grout line if possible! 2) before punching & drilling - place some painters' tape on the tile to increase friction for the punch and drill & reduce chance of cracking 3) If you have a rubber washer - place it on the drill near the shank - so if it drills in and bangs the tile it will have a cushion... In a bathroom situation, the wall was (hopefully) treated to be waterproof... if you drill into the grout & tiles you may want to use silicone sealer where the screws are - just to help the waterproof wall... BEST

I'm a 71 year old gal and I put up 2 by your method. Mine were really hard to drill because when the tile was installed 30 years ago the guy put chicken wire and thick, thick concrete as a backer. He told me if we ever had a tornado to get in the bath tub and now I believe him. It was hard work but I'm glad I did it with your help.

Adding a little silicone before installing the insert and a little in the hole of the insert before installing the screw, will help with any water that will seep in behind the end caps.

Brian just made the BEST common sense comment ever made on RU-vid, “If you base any important decision in your life on a RU-vid video it’s probably not the best course of action.”

I just used this same method to install a grab bar today. Worked out just fine. I bought a package of 10 anchors of the same brand used in the video, and I put 5 on each side. Then I tested it by grabbing it from different positions and it held my weight of 220 lbs without any problems.

This was very helpful and gives me confidence to put this up for my 78 year old mother!

Suggestion: put a piece of painter (or any) tape on the two cover plates to keep them from sliding along the bar. Tape them together and then a little on the bar will keep them in one place. They can scratch up the bar before it's installed. And they always just get in the way of the work.

Your tub has drywall above the tile. You could find a stud above you tile line and transfer that to attach directly into a stud

About to do this at my home for when my parents come to visit. Reading through the comments, I see people think these are to catch the falling weight of an elderly or disabled person. Let me say, these are to help maintain balance. Any elderly person in need of a grab bar isn't going to have the strength to catch their falling weight. These are meant to maintain balance and prevent falls, not arrest falls. I'd venture to bet most able bodied people won't have the grip power to arrest their own falling weight under ideal circumstances. Mathematically, the total weight of someone falling turns out to be much more than people realize, and no senior citizen would be able to catch themselves anywhere near the bottom of a fall with a grab bar. That said, I will do my best to locate a wall stud... or two.

Watched your video last night, installed two grab bars this morning for a friend, install was easy! Thank you!

A friend of mine had one these installed in his bathroom because of his elderly mother years ago. The handle was so old and rusty that he had to replace the entire tiled wall. He realize that water leaked into the handle covers, right through the screw mounts and right into the back of the wall. This caused damage to the wood frame behind the wall which were all damp when he torn down the bathroom wall. Obviously the slow leak into the wall through many bath showers.

Know the Code on Grab Bars! Code requirements for grab bars are part of the Int'l Code council’s ANSII-ICC A117.1 standard. Many contractors get it wrong, meaning the bath won’t pass inspection and exposes both contractor and owner liability. In showers, the tops of horizontal grab bars need to be 33-36 inches from the floor. In a transfer shower, bottom of vertical bar must be 3-6 inches above horizontal bar on that wall. Part of installing is to know the code on grab bar, would be wise to put link in description otherwise people will just assume it's only about installation and place them where they want and won't be placed for optimum safety.

Extremely helpful thank you, my wife and I are first time home owners so easy to understand videos like this is nice to reference from! Cheers from San Diego!

Great video - thanks for wearing a mic and framing the shot so we can see and hear you without getting seasick! Lots of good comments here, too!

Fantastic help! This will be my first installation of a grab bar through tile. I appreciate your review of the necessary tools and actually showing the drilling through the tiles, which is the part I'm concerned about the most.

Great video, much appreciated! I agree with the comment below about using some silicon on a project like this. After all the effort we put into waterproofing the wall before the tile goes up, and grouting and sealing with great care, it seems wrong somehow to start drilling holes in the finished product, although there is no alternative when a grab bar is needed. I am about to do the same thing in my tiled shower, and I will apply silicon to the anchors when they go in, as well as to the screws and possibly also the inside rim of the cover flange.

Ty Jose anchors are not made for 3/8" of tile on a backerboard. They are for 1/2" drywall. If you want to do this, use a set of butterfly anchors, and squeeze a Sh77 ton of silicone in there to waterproof. Otherwise, in his application, you can easily find a stud since it's not tiled up to the ceiling. Pro tip: Many bathrooms are fabricated with shi77y studs and cripples everywhere, so be cautious as the stud might not be completely from the ceiling to floor. (Sadly, people do cheap stuff to attach wallboard.)

Thank you for this video, clear and concise. As with any project adjustments may be need as he said at the beginning of the video, don't base your whole project on a RU-vid video. Sir great job 👍

I really had no idea but your video made it seem easy! Thanks! I feel confident going in to do the job.

Nice to watch a tutorial at RU-vid without music, for a change.

I watched the video to see how to easily find a stud but was glad to see that the correct plastic anchors will hold over two hundred pounds. Thanks for taking time to video this.

Perfect! Just installed the grab bars as you described. No problem! Thank you for this posting!

Thank you so much for that clear and concise video. Your disclaimer is very funny, but a good reminder about learning everything from RU-vid! Hahaha!

Thank you! That should work for me . Was worried about finding studs, In a wall used a stud finder it goes off every where.

Straight forward, easy to understand. I would use a stud finder to see ifone end of the bar would be attached to a stud, and use molly billy bolts on new construction, i.e. house built in the 60's going forward, I give an A+++++ Frank Donovan

Thanks for the grab bar installation guide - very helpful!

Good job sir! You did a great job giving pertinent information. Thanks for the video! BE SAFE, GOD BLESS!🇺🇲🙏❤

A clever way to get the centre to centre dimension. I usually look for the dim. on the fitting instructions but your way is quicker

What a surprise to find you here! Thanks!!

Very helpful. I put masking tape on the tile and it was much easier to start the hold.

Unless the bar was installed on the studs by chance otherwise it has a major flaw: the screw in the tiles cannot hold the weight. To me it is more like a nice looking decoration than a useful safety grab bar.

Thanks for a chuckle with the 'Basing major life decisions on RU-vid videos'. Great line man!

Thank you for doing it & explaining it so easily.

great video lot of helpful hint and tips thank you for the video. I laughed so hard when you said not to take advice from a RU-vid video. keep up the good work.

Great instructional video. I wish ALL of RU-vid's videos were this straight-forward.

great tutorial and lots of good pointers from readers....next week project.

You made it look easy. About ready to give it a try. I assume you don't have to hit studs... Thank you for taking the time to show things you have learned. Good teacher.

I simply took a shiny new ceramic drill bit and put it in the center of my drill spot and just gave it a few twists and made a nice little notch. No slippage here! :)

Thank you for sharing this great tutorial!!

He did a great job step by step. Great job on the presentation.

The 18 inch bar installed on a slant is perfect for 16 inch studs.

Glad you posted this. Thanks

You are correct, I never use this type of wall anchor, the best I feel is a toggle bolt the size applicable to the item to be attached.

I'm doing this tomorrow so thank for the tips

well-done video - it gave me more confidence to install one of these for my Mother-in-law. One suggestion is that you caution folks to not go crazy when tightening the screws with a cordless drill. Maybe those anchors don't strip, but I always do a final tightening by hand, because it is all too easy to strip a screw anchor using a power tool - don't ask me how I know that!

Great job. Thanks for posting.

Very useful explanation. Thank you so much. Great teacher!

Thanks you for posting this, very helpfull

Great video.....very clear and helpful.

Good Job, dude! I watch tons of DIY home-fixup videos, and yours is great. I was thinking if i can find the studs, I'm sunk! But you did it with heavy duty wall anchors!! Didn't know that would work with something like this where someone will be bearing their wieght on it to pull themselves up, or to balance. You are straight forward, to the point, no bs. Now I'm gonna intstall grab bars in my mother's bathroom right now. Thanks a million!!

Hey thanks for making the video. That was informative.

Very good demonstration.Thanks!

Overall very helpful. Would suggest adding sealant to holes

Great video. Thanks for your help.

Where to start? I put the first bar vertical just over the outer edge of the tub to help the person get in and out. I drill the holes with a tile and glass bit which is shaped like the playing card spade and vacuum the dust as I drill. The 2nd bar goes where it will do the most good for the user; sometimes horizontal and sometimes on an angle upward toward the shower head. I use Togglers that are like a fancy moly. I never drill into a tile joint because it increases the chance of cracking the tile. Put wax on the screws when installing and caulk around the top and sides of the flange but not the bottom to give any possible moisture a way out. Put caulk into each screw hole. I install 60 - 70 each year for a local organization.

Great Job!!!! Nice and Easy!!!Thank you!!

Really Helpful. Thanks so much.

Nice video , I like the scratchall.

Suggestion....AT 84 I have planned for the grab rails and have installed 5 in the shower plus the wall over the Jacuzzi plus the hallway between the master bath and the bedroom. When I try to get from the bathroom to the bed, the room is pitch black in spite of night lights in the room. A grab bar on the doorless entrance jamb really helps steady you until your eyes adjust. Saves hand prints on the entrance jamb too. Another big plus is a toilet “ELEVATOR”. A fiberglass 4 inch spacer that fits under the entire toilet. About $125 on internet plus another $100 for the plumber. Best money you will ever spend. I have set many toilets but at 84, it’s just too much lifting. Comes with a new rubber flange seal and mounting screws .......I also have a grab bar in the jamb alongside the toilet and one on the wall in front of the bidet. Keep this in mind.......getting old is not for sissies.....the alternative sucks. JoeB Jo

Fantastic tutorial!!

Lousy anchor for a grab bar. As a fastener salesman for forty plus years, I would recommend Wellnuts, which are rubber and can handle a lot of vibration. Unfortunately they require a large hole, 1/2" for a number 10-24 machine screw if I recall. Since you have three holes to work with on each end, you might consider one per end for a more secure installation. Incidentally, a fastener's safety factor is one quarter of published pullout, so the hold you stated should be divided by four. Did you also consider what is holding those tiles to the wall? If you have studs, find them and use them if possible.

Informative video, thanks.

Good Lord, with all of the great wall anchors available today, I would never use those cheap plastic "push-in" wall anchors to secure a grab bar. Most of the time they simply pull right out of the hole. With so many stronger ones available today, why take that chance when installing a grab bar for a loved one. Just my humble opinion.

Perfect explanation of the job I want to do. Putting in a new tub and tile and wanted to install a handle bar too. Did you say the right size drill bit comes with the anchors? Is that a regular drill or a rachet drill?

Job looks good. Many thanks.

Thanks fella. I need to install one for my 90 year old mom! The house was built in 1964 and I don’t know if I’ll be able to locate both studs.

Came here for grab bar "how to" and came away thinking this guy looks a little like Eric Clapton, say circa 2001. Good vid for me: answered some questions I had concerning anchoring.

Thanks for the help brother.

Grab bars are nice but please for Seniors add a shower bench and a handheld shower wand for further safety.

great job and you can use clear tile caulk in the screw holes and around the fixture and please give the size of the drill bits and screws even though they may be different for someone else. again thank you.

Great video! Very helpful! Thanks.

Best disclaimer ever. If you base anything important in your life on a youtube video... not the best course of action.

Thanks for the video. It really help. Thumbs up!

Very helpful, thanks!

Awesome video! Thnx.

I tape those end flanges in middle of bar to keep them from rolling around.

Nice video, I'm going to use snap toggles anchors .

thanks for the tips

very nice video am install one but with the stud some time its very hard to find this because the contractors don make this like the prints said, but was a god idea to put anchors, they really hold heavy weight?. thanks

Thank you for taking the time and effort to share. I am sure that grab bar is not going anywhere. However, I would try to avoid putting an anchor in the grout. Many people claim grout is softer than the surrounding material, which I agree, and has inconsistent strength. A hammer drill, rather than a regular drill might have been easier, but if that was a regular drill, which it sounded like, it looked like it did a very smooth job. I like the way you marked the hole pattern. Trying to hold the bar in position while marking all the holes is more prone to error. I would also blow the dust out of the holes before inserting the anchors. Nonetheless, I am sure your installation will work.

Well done.

Holy crap. Did not know you had a plumbing channel.

Good stuff!

I’m paralyzed wheelchair with a little handyman in me... paralyzed waist down... 2 things - duct tape will hold things in place while y’all mark holes, drill, etc.... Most importantly - to the installer PLEASE after install try it out! Put weight on it! In case in comes off the wall. Don’t let the ‘end user’ get hurt without you trying it first! (Yes! I’ve had bars & permanent shower benches fall off wall with me on it!) Thank you!

For added strength, Use a product called wing-its they are rated for hundreds of pounds and designed for mounting grab bars through tile.

Thanks for the video. Evidently I have porcelain tile in my shower as drilling the holes was exhausting. I purchased the same anchors kit as shown the included drill bit didn’t cut very well. So I switched to a carbide tile bit that I bought and it wasn’t much better, the tip shattered after a couple holes. Went back to the old bit and eventually finished but took ~15 min. per hole. I have another bar to install so will try with a diamond bit on the next one.

Meant to say if I "CAN'T" find the studs I thought i was sunk! lol..... Thanks again :)

Thanks, I got it now.

Thanks!

Awesome advise following you tubers

fine job!!!

From the Moen website: Hello and thank you for your interest in Moen products. The Moen LR8716D3CH Securemount Designer Ultima 16-Inch Grab Bar, Chrome comes with wood screws for a mounting into a stud. For installation in a hollow wall, Moen SecureMount Anchor part SMA1000CH is sold separately. If they wanted it mounted to dry wall they would provide the anchors. Studs only. Do your loved ones a favor.

Thanks good video. I have to install a grab bars for my ant. I going to try to find the studs in the wall first, but sometimes that does not work out. So the video you made with the ankers support was great. I am just going to have to fine the right kind thanks aging.

This video saved me hours of possible grief - especially the bit about mounting one hole first, then marking/drilling the others. My compliments on a clear and understandable tutoring.

Excellent...

Nice video, I recognize you from the marlin 795.

My Step-Father fell in the shower a couple of days ago. I've decided to put grab bars into their shower. Thanks for the video, it's going to help a lot. You make it seem easy. As far as the others who say the strength doesn't multiply by fasteners, that may be true but my parents aren't going to hang like a monkey off of these bars. Screwing into studs is the best bet, but when that's not a possibility due to whatever reason, the bars will still help a person considerably since most uses are going to be to gain / regain balance; not recover from a full blown slip. If you slip on soap or something in the shower and you're going down fast, it is highly unlikely you're going to have the time or muscle memory to grab onto the bar. Even if you did grab onto the bar, can you hold up your entire weight with one hand?

thank you so much

Great video! But if the anchors (wall plugs) are flush with the surface wouldn't they crack the tile when they expand? I would probably want to sink them deeper into the hole.

Thank You !