How to Install a Grab Bar on Fiberglass Shower
- 1). Locate the studs in the wall that supports your shower enclosure. Use a stud finder or gently tap on the wall with a hammer until you hear the change in noise that indicates that you found a stud.
- 2). Mark the stud location on the wall with a pencil. If the tile for your shower runs straight to the ceiling, mark the location with masking tape. Stretch masking tape from your initial mark straight down the wall so that you can see the entire stud. Locate two studs side-by-side in this manner.
- 3). Line up your grab bar on a diagonal angle, at least 10 inches above the top of the tub. Both ends of the bar must line up with a stud, or the grab bar will not be secure. Mark the locations of the screw holes from the bar on your masking tape pieces with a grease pencil.
- 4). Line up a fiberglass enclosure anchor with the locations of the screw holes. These specialized anchors provide extra support for the space between the fiberglass surface and the wall stud, ensuring a secure grab bar.
- 5). Attach the mounting bracket to the anchor per manufacturer's instructions. Screw or drill the anchor into the wall and directly into the stud. Repeat with the marks at the other end of the grab bar to create mounting areas for both ends of the bar.
- 6). Apply a thin bead of tub and tile adhesive or silicone caulk to the back of the bar's mounting area; this will secure it more firmly to the fiberglass surface. Apply the adhesive on both ends before attaching the screws.
- 7). Line up the grab bar screw holes with those in the mounting bracket. Install stainless steel screws, which come with either the anchor or the bar, into the holes. Drill them firmly into place; the fiberglass should not bend or move at all while you install. Repeat with both ends of the bar to ensure proper security.
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