Slippery showers are one of the most common places for falls, and for seniors, that risk can feel especially frightening. If you or a loved one has a fiberglass shower, you may be wondering, can a grab bar even be safely installed there?
It’s a smart question, because while grab bars are one of the simplest and most effective safety upgrades, fiberglass presents unique challenges that can make installation tricky.
The good news is that yes, grab bars can be installed in fiberglass showers, but it requires the right tools, techniques, and sometimes professional help to ensure they’re secure.
This article explains what makes fiberglass different, the safest installation methods, and the best options if drilling isn’t possible.
Quick Rundown: Installing Grab Bars in Fiberglass Showers Safely
- Yes, It’s Possible: Grab bars can be securely installed in fiberglass showers with the right methods.
- Avoid Weak Fixes: Toggle bolts aren’t strong enough, use mounting brackets or kits made for fiberglass.
- Follow Proper Steps: Locate studs, measure spacing, drill pilot holes, and mount with reinforced hardware.
- Test for Safety: Always perform a strong “grab test” to ensure the bar won’t fail in an emergency.
- DIY or Pro Help: Confident DIYers can install, but hiring a pro prevents damage and guarantees safety.
- Alternatives Exist: Suction grab bars can work on smooth fiberglass but aren’t reliable for full weight support.
Let’s begin by looking at why grab bars are so important in the bathroom and why fiberglass showers require special consideration.
If you’re interested in installing a grab bar in a fiberglass shower stall, we’ll tell you everything you need to know ahead.
Can Grab Bars Be Installed On Fiberglass?
You might have heard that installing any sort of grab bar or towel bars on fiberglass shower walls is impossible to do.
Admittedly, fiberglass showers may sometimes have space between the frame and the shower unit itself. That makes installing standard grab bars more challenging but by no means impossible.
However, you do need the necessary tools, which we’ll recommend more in the next section and in the one after that, especially.
Using toggle bolts or mounting wings or other such attachments is not going to get the job done. What you need for installing shower grab bars is none other than mounting spacers and brackets.
The difference between toggle bolts and mounting brackets is this: toggle bolts are fine for installing lightweight shower accessories such as a horizontal bar (like a towel rack).
If you have an adult lean on an attachment that’s held together with toggle bolts, however, the attachment could come right off the wall. That’s not at all what you want for your senior loved ones!
Grab bar mounting brackets are designed for heavyweight applications and won’t buckle under the weight of a person.
How Do You Install A Grab Bar In A Fiberglass Shower?
You’re happy to learn that you can indeed install a grab bar in your senior’s fiberglass shower. How exactly do you do it? Here are the steps to follow – based on using a vertical grab bar.
Buy A Grab Bar
If you don’t already have a grab bar, then buying one is first on the list. Look for one with special mounting plates for fiberglass, such as the Solid Mount mounting kit.
These are designed to spread the pressure out so the side of the wall doesn’t crack or break if someone grabs it.
Also be sure that the grab bar has a weight limit that works for your senior. The standard amount of weight supported is 300 pounds, although you can sometimes buy safety bars that will hold more weight.
Grab bar sizes vary: an ideal shower bar has an average diameter of at least 11 ½ inches. If you decide to purchase a horizontal grab bar, it should be at least 32 inches long.
Determine Where The Grab Bar Will Go
This next step will involve you coordinating with your senior parent or loved one. Have them step into the shower where they would normally stand and reach out with their arms.
Where would the grab bar be most natural and thus the most helpful to them?
Maybe it’s higher up on the shower wall, or slightly lower down if they shower in a seated position, or even in the center.
The positioning of the grab bar is important, so take some time to get it right. The bar shouldn’t be closer than 1 ½ inches from the wall.
A vertical grab bar should be closest to the faucet handles and the faucet end wall in the bathroom. Horizontal grab bars must be at least 34 inches over the floor and no more than 36 inches.
Feel free to mark that spot on the wall surface with a pencil, as you’re going to have to drill some screw holes anyway.
Find The Stud
Now that you know roughly where on the wall the grab bar will go, you need to locate the closest stud in the wall frame behind the shower (TIP: we’ll go more in depth into how to locate a stud in a fiberglass wall a little later on in this article).
Then, use a nail to poke through the fiberglass to be sure you are in the center of the stud. If you aren’t, move a little to the right or left and try again with the nail.
Once you have located the exact middle, hold the bar against the wall and trace a circle around the top and bottom of the bar to denote where you’ll mount the grab bar.
Measure Between The Shower Wall And The Stud
Next, you want to determine how much space is between the shower wall’s top surface and the edges of the stud that will hold the vertical bar.
Having this measurement will allow you to size the mounting flanges (spacers) appropriately. Feel free to cut the flanges down if they’re too large initially.
Drill A Pilot Hole Into The Studs
Drill a 1/8 inch hole into the wooden stud where the top and bottom of the bar will go.
Adjust the position of the bar slightly to the right or left if you miss the stud, then try again. Usually the mounting plate will cover the incorrect hole.
Install The Grab Bar
Mount the bar with the hardware provided in the Solid Mount mounting kit.
Conduct A Grab Test
You’ll want to be sure the bar will hold if your senior grabs it while falling. The easiest way to do this is to yank on it as hard as you can.
We recommend that you have someone standing next to you, who can help keep you from falling if the bar gives way.
For more details on installing grab bars in a fiberglass shower – check out our step by step guide!
Professional Installation vs. DIY
If you’re not comfortable with DIY projects or don’t have the right tools, it’s worth hiring a professional. A handyman or contractor can ensure the grab bars are installed securely and won’t damage your shower.
Do Suction Grab Bars Work On Fiberglass?
You may be wondering if you can skip all the fuss of installation and just put up a suction shower grab bar. But, do suction grab bars even work on fiberglass?
The short answer is: it depends.
Suction grab bars rely on suction cups to create a strong hold on a smooth, non-porous, flat surface like tile walls or fiberglass.
In order for this type of grab bar to work properly on fiberglass, the suction cups must have a good seal. If they don’t, the grab bar may come loose and cause you to lose your balance and fall.
To help ensure a good seal, make sure the suction cups are clean and dry before attaching them to the fiberglass surface.
Well, there are certainly some potential benefits to suction grab bars, as they offer a firm grip that is suitable for old people with weak or aging hands (make sure to get one with extra strong suction).
These suction cup grab bars can also be easily installed and moved around as needed, making them an excellent option for seniors who should take some safety measures in the home.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to suction grab bars. One of the main concerns is safety, as suction cups won’t bear much weight and may not be strong enough to support an individual’s movement.
Additionally, suction grabs can sometimes detach from the wall before they are meant to come off, which could result in injury or further loss of balance.
So, while suction grab bars may seem like a good option for seniors, it is important to carefully consider all the risks associated with these devices before choosing whether or not they are right for your particular situation.
