Professional Grab Bar installation You Can Lean On

Why Grab Bars Are a Worthy Investment

Installing grab bars is one of the lowest cost and most effective ways to reduce accidental falls within the home. Here are several reasons to have grab bars professionally installed in your home.

#1 – Avoid potential falls and unnecessary injuries

Did you know preventable falls are the leading cause of injuries in adults over 65? These falls lead to an estimated $31.3 Billion in medicare costs annually. (source)

In a recent study, grab bars made it 75% more likely for someone to avoid falling when getting out of the bathtub.

Grab bars help avoid falls in three ways:

1. They support balance—that way, you can avoid falling in the first place.
2. They provide support during transfers. Getting in and out of the tub, going from a wheelchair to a toilet, or even stepping in the shower is far easier when there is something to hold onto – even if you don’t have compromised balance or mobility.
3. They provide something to grab if you fall. When a fall happens, they provide something to grab onto to reduce the impact. This can be the difference between a small bruise and a broken hip.

#2 – Peace of Mind for Family Members

Your friends and family want you to be healthy and happy. They don’t want to see you laid up in the hospital with a broken pelvis.

Making a few modifications to your home makes it safer for you and can lower the stress for your loved ones.

#3 – More Independence

Nobody wants to rely on other people to do simple tasks for them every day. Even my three-year-old daughter constantly says, “Dad, I can do it myself!”

We all enjoy a certain level of independence. Unfortunately, losing balance and mobility is a reality of aging. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just the way it is.

However, by modifying your home with Aging-In-Place services such as grab bars, you can maintain a higher level of independence for longer.

The Stigma of Aging-In-Place Home Modifications

Unfortunately, many aging adults either don’t recognize the value of grab bars or feel a stigma attached to having them.

The reality is that grab bars should be installed before they are essential. Why not make it easier to live in your home and reduce your chances of falling and injuring yourself?

Please get in touch with me today if you or anyone you know could benefit from a grab bar installation in Reno. I’d love to help make your home safer so you can live it in for longer, maintain your independence, and remain in the community you helped build.

What are the best places to install grab bars?

Grab bars can be placed anywhere they would be beneficial, and I can customize the installation to your needs. However, there are standard placements.

Bathtub grab bars:

Grab bars for a bathtub are beneficial in at least two places: Along the back wall of the bathtub and on the side wall to assist in getting in and out of the tub. You will often see two grab bars on the back wall of a bathtub. One placed 8-10″ above the tub, and the other a bit higher to lean on while standing. It may seem excessive, but having multiple grab bars is helpful.

Shower grab bars:

Just as in a bathtub, grab bars should placed for easy entry and, at a minimum, along the back wall. Ideally, you will have grab bars on all three shower walls – that way, you have something to grab onto if you slip.

Toilet grab bars:

Having at least one grab bar beside the toilet can make it much easier to get up and down. In some cases, ADA requirements are to have a bar across the back of the toilet and extend at least 42″ on the side of the toilet. Taller toilets and even toilet seat extenders are available to make it far easier to get up and down from the john.

How much does it cost to install grab bars in Reno, NV?

Grab bar installation in Reno, NV varies from $220 to $600 (materials included) depending on how many you need, the materials they are mounted to, and whether or not additional blocking in the wall is required.

For example, to install four grab bars, you can expect to pay about $350, assuming no blocking or customization is required. This price includes the cost of the grab bars and the fasteners.

Given how much this can save you on medical costs and injuries, it’s very affordable.

What surfaces can I mount a grab bar to?

You can install grab bars on just about any surface, including drywall, tile, natural stone, and even fiberglass, assuming a solid substrate behind the surface materials, such as a wood stud or a thick enough wall to use a Hallow wall fastener.

What are the ADA requirements for Grab Bar installation?

First, ADA requirements only apply in situations where the public will have access to the area where the grab bars are installed (public bathrooms, public showers, gyms, office buildings, retirement homes, etc.). So, you don’t need to worry about ADA compliance in most residential situations.

However, if you want to follow these guidelines anyway, your best bet is to read the ADA guidelines directly here. However, below is a diagram showing the recommended placement of grab bars in water closets and bathtubs and some ADA specifications and load requirements.

Grab bar height:

• Adults: 33″-36″ from the finished floor to the top of the grab bar.
• Children: 18″-27″ off the finished floor to the top of the grab bar.

Spacing:

• Between wall and grab bar: at least 1.5″
• Between grab bar and projecting objects below it: 1.5″
• Between grab bar and projecting object above it: 12″ (except when installed near shower fittings and controls)
• Cannot obstruct required clear floor space

Grab bar engineering:

• Must support 250 lbs of force either vertical or horizontal force at any point along the grab bar.
• Grab bars cannot rotate within their fittings
• Circular grab bars should be 1.25″ to 2″ in diameter
• Non-circular grab bars must be less than 2″ max cross section and between 4″ and 4.8″ perimeter

Can you install grab bars yourself?

If you are handy and willing to do thorough research, then yes. This project requires only basic tools and the occasional diamond hole saw.

But, since grab bars need to support at least 250 pounds, they must be mounted securely. Ideally, you will mount them to studs, but in some cases, that’s not possible.

A pro is going to be familiar with a variety of fasteners for more challenging applications. Plus, a pro can do this job much faster, allowing you to spend time doing what you are best at.

If you aren’t 100% confident, then it’s best to contact me or another handyman with experience mounting grab bars to a variety of surfaces.