What height should grab bars be, and how are they installed?

Placement follows how the person moves through the room. At the toilet, bars go on the side wall and behind the toilet to help with sitting, standing and transfers. In the shower, bars go where you step in, where you stand under the water, and beside the seat. A vertical bar at the shower entry helps with the step over the curb. We set exact positions during the walkthrough with the person who will use them, adjusting within the 33 to 36 inch range for their height and reach.

A grab bar is only as strong as what it is fastened to. Drywall and tile alone will not hold a person's weight, and towel bars are not built for it. During a remodel, with the walls open, we add solid blocking between the studs exactly where each bar will go, so every bar is anchored into wood. Blocking for a shower seat goes in at the same time. If the walls are not being opened, bars still have to be anchored into studs or solid backing, so we check the wall before choosing a location.

Grab bars no longer have to look clinical. They come in brushed nickel, matte black, brass and other finishes that match faucets and shower trim, and some double as towel bars or shelves while still rated for support. A textured grip helps when hands are wet. Grab bars are part of every accessible bathroom we build, and a tub-to-shower conversion is the easiest time to add them, since blocking goes in before tile. Adding bars and blocking within the existing layout does not require a building permit.