Shower and Tub Safety bars

[edfiero]

I'd like to install a safety/grab bar in my shower and one in the kids tub. Both present problems.

In the shower, the wall is tiled all the way to the ceiling, and my stud finder can't detect the studs thru the tile. Any secret to making sure I hit a stud when I go to drill a hole??

Now the kids tub is different, it has one of these fiberglass surrounds. Although the surround doesn't go all the way to the ceiling, so I can find the stud, the surround does NOT fit flush to the wall. It is contoured/shaped in such a way that where the grab bar would go is actually about 3/4 inch away from the drywall behind it. Is there any way to get a solid connection to a stud here with this gap between the back of the surround and the wall?

 

[CT18]

The tile wall you would just put anchors or tapcons into the grout lines. The fiberglass you would have had to have backing put in or try using toogle bolts.

 

[Jamesplumbing06]

I dunno. Old tile wall? Like with stretch woven screen and concrete? Yeah anchor to that kinda of tile. But new 1/4” tile with 1/4” backer and maybe 1/2” drywall. I think I would find a stud. But you have to have the good stud finder. Find the back side of that wall if it’s interior. Find those studs then go back to shower and measure.
Far as tub surround goes. Your S O L. Unless you want a 3” hole in fiberglass.... imagine. You weigh 180. Your holding the bar one day when you slip. That bar needs to hold your force not just your weight. I always try to stand on bar and push. I weigh 220. If I can’t pudh it off you ain’t pulling it off. Tub surround fails every time. You have to think about the structure not the type of anchor. Yes I know you said kids bath. But I hear guest bath. That biggest guest will break that biferglass.

 

[CT18]

I forgot they did say grab bars. We have used stainless toogles in tile showers for grab bars and they are still holding.

 

[TomFOhio]

I agree, you need something solid to fasten too. If someone slips and grabs a bar and it pulls out of the wall then
someone could get hurt bad. Call a carpenter and have him put them in for you.

 

[Mikey]

Below is a site that offers several mounting kits. I usually follow James' advice and go behind the shower wall and find the studs or cut open the wall and install backing board in the stud cavities. If there's a huge gap between the fiberglass shower wall and the drywall behind, you can cut out the drywall from the backside, and install a backer board that fits snug against the shower. You might get away with epoxying a 2x6 to the shower wall, but I'd anchor it to the studs. Time to get creative.

https://www.grabbarspecialists.com/proddetail.php?prod=The-Solid-Mount&cat=15

 

[edfiero]

Below is a site that offers several mounting kits. I usually follow James' advice and go behind the shower wall and find the studs or cut open the wall and install backing board in the stud cavities. If there's a huge gap between the fiberglass shower wall and the drywall behind, you can cut out the drywall from the backside, and install a backer board that fits snug against the shower. You might get away with epoxying a 2x6 to the shower wall, but I'd anchor it to the studs. Time to get creative.

https://www.grabbarspecialists.com/proddetail.php?prod=The-Solid-Mount&cat=15

Hi Mikey,
I came across these things myself, but didn't want to shell out 30 bucks just for some fancy fasteners.

What about the idea of putting some expandable spray foam between the fiberglass enclosure and the drywall? This should limit the amount of deflection I get in the surround when I tighten the screw into the stud. Not the greatest solution but it avoids cutting large holes in the opposing wall to install a backer board.

 

[Mikey]

I probably wouldn't trust the "normal" spray insulating foam, but there are some structural foaming products that might work. AeroMarine Pour Foam is used in the boat repair business and looks pretty tough, although it's a "pour" foam, not a "spray" foam.