Grab Bars
Modifications of the surroundings come about necessary especially when one inevitably grows older and faces the unavoidable challenges connected with home living. Among the top common accidents occurring at homes is falling and slipping that lead to fatally breaking one’s bone. However, these accidents can be barred when one knows the use and safety of grab bars. For people with limited capacities of moving around and elderly individuals who are restrained from doing simple and usual chores, grab bars are sure to provide security and disallow you for any falling along your ramps, steps and hallways. These tools can be utilized all through your home. A grab bar will keep your balance and give you an accessible and safe surrounding besides reducing the dangers of falling. Thus, it is the highly cost-effective bathroom and home modification made.
For shower grab bars, install grab bars that are vertical in shape. They must be approximately 18 to a maximum of 24 inches long from the end of its showerhead. If you are setting up grab bars for persons with disability or injury, let that person set the most suitable location for him or her. For bathtub grab bar, horizontally position the grab bar. Place it in the bathtub enclosure. It must be around 36 inches from the tub’s bottom so a bather can grip the bar and help him or her stand from sitting.
Vital tools are needed when installing a grab bar system. Among these is electric drill, pen that is felt-tipped, measuring tape, hammer or rubber mallet, screwdriver and rubbing alcohol. The United States set a requirement on the appropriate specifications of grab bars. Through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, grab bars require to support 250 pounds weight. The surface of the grab bar must be level and do not rotate. Grab bars’ side must be 42 inches long and its rear must be 36 inches long.
Installation
In installing the bar, locate first the mounting holes so the bar fastener easily slides in the holes. Find the center distance and measure the inside of the bar flange. Make sure that the surface of the wall is clean enough then you can place a mark for the exact location of the holes. Use your pen. Use the masonry bit in drilling the pilot hole through its surround, whether it is a tile or another material. Hold the safety grab bar, attached with fasteners, and test out if pilot holes are lining up the fastener’s centers.
Use the hole saw with a diamond tip to cut the holes in the tiles, enlarging the pilot hole. Use the screwdriver to back out the bolt of fasteners. You can install the fastener temporarily to the grab’s end using the screws that are stainless steel. Wipe the surface of the wall using rubbing alcohol for the tape to stick to it. Take away the paper covering the faceplate’s adhesive. While fixed to grab bar, insert the fastener into the wall’s hole. Tightly press the bar in the direction of the wall for fasteners to correctly adhere on the wall. Using the screwdriver, quickly and firmly punch the bolt head to the faceplate. Simultaneously pull the bolts and stiffen it using your hands. Finally, connect the grab bars to fasteners using screws that are stainless steel.
Generally an aid placed in bathroom stalls for physically challenged individuals, grab bars are known as architectural tools. They are metal cylindrical, smooth bars built up on the rear and side stall walls, designed to aid handicapped persons shift from sitting on the wheelchair to standing and moving to the bathroom seat. It always is not easy getting in or out of the shower room even if you are able and fit. So would be worse for individuals with sprained ankles or sore knees. One finds it closely unworkable maneuvering inside safely if they do not have any secure handles to grip or hold onto.
Do not put one’s life into any perils of falling and slipping. Prevent these accidents using dependable and safety grab bars.