A grab bar is one of the best bathroom safety devices to prevent an accident from slipping on a wet surface getting into or out of a bathtub or shower stall. If you’re remodeling the bathroom and the walls are open, it’s easy to install a grab bar because you can build in a wall cleat or blocking to provide a firm foundation for the bar between the two wall studs where the bar will be installed. The challenge is installing a grab bar on finished walls.
When that’s the case, a good choice is to use anchors designed for the purpose. WingIts (www.wingits.com) is a blind fastening system, designed for installing on sturdy walls made of tile over plaster and lath or tiled walls with at least 1/2-inch-thick cement board or drywall wall behind them. A carpenter will charge $405, which includes labor and material, to install a 24-inch chrome grab bar. If you have carpentry skills and tools, you can make the installation, for $50, the cost of the grab bar and anchoring system, and save 88 percent. No matter who makes the installation, a grab bar is a worthwhile investment in safety.
