Translation: no drilling required.
German engineering solves the bathroom grab bar installation problem.
intercst
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Your not going to find that on Temu.
Andy
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At least not for a while.
But if I was worried about the suitability of the suction cup grab bars, I’d adopt those German mounts before bringing in a contractor to tear apart the bathroom.
intercst
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I’m not convinced any grab bar is the way to go.
If you’re worried about slipping in a tub, will you have the reflexes and strength to stop the fall, even if the bar holds (especially if your hands are soapy)?
As we plan to stay in our home as long as feasible, I’m in the process of getting bids to take out our bathtub and replace it with a walk-in shower. Seems the safest route considering our ages (even though we do a brisk walk and go up and down the stairs several times daily).
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As we remodeled the hall & master baths a few years ago, I took measurements, pictures of the open walls, so I knew where the studs are, also discovered vent pipes in the walls as well, also measured their locations… And I added 2" blocking between the studs, at points I guessed grab bars would be needed… One wall in the master bath is a pocket door, I don’t trust that wall to be useful, I’d be asking for problems, if I used it to support anything… My weight is better than it was, but like my ladders, I like some safety margins… I have some grab bars in both showers, tub, but want to add a few more, bought them, just too lazy, so far to drill the ceramic tile and install them… I now wish I’d added even more blocking, a bit higher, but… One of these days…
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The piece of mind is worth it.
Andy
1 Like
I was taking care of my elderly mother and needed to convert my guest bathroom into a walk in shower. The bars were there to keep her steady when she was in the shower. The seat was so she could sit down while showering. I do not think she could have grabbed and held herself up if she actually slipped in the shower.
Andy
If I was installing a grab bar for an elderly parent, I’d likely do something more substantial. As long as I still have my wits about me, and I’m remembering to give the grab bar a yank when I step into the shower, I think the risk is manageable. I’m more worried about getting run over in an intersection when I walk the dog.
intercst
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Have you considered getting a seeing eye dog? 
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I don’t think that would make a difference. A couple of years ago, a guy got run over in the crosswalk while the “Walk” sign was illuminated. How much worse can it get? They reported a story from Seattle today that there’s somebody running over pedestrians for sport and filming it.
intercst
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Which piece? 
DB2
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When my mom went into a retirement home she asked me for a chair for the bathroom. I found a plastic one with holes that served as drains.
The Captain
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I suspect that the grab bars in showers aren’t so much meant to grab while falling, but more to hold on to while using the other hand to wash various areas of the body, and bending/leaning in the process, and thus to avoid the risk of a fall in the first place.
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Putting up strong enough grab bars and bannisters can too easily become a fake out, something you do instead of doing what is actually necessary. The necessary is to practice practice practice using grab bars and staircase bannisters and the like long before you need them.
Practice brings habituation, and habituation becomes REFLEX, and only with automatic reflexes you have scored the big bingo. Then if you slip your body itself will automatically grab.
For four generations now (we are not certain about most of my great great grandparents) we have not had a single oldster with a broken bone.
d fb
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This is a nice looking way of putting the adhesive in! But it looks to be still soft when they removed it. I wonder how well it holds over time?
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The front piece. 
Andy
1 Like
Installing grab bars is realm of homeowner DIY. You just need a tile bit and be able to locate the studs accurately.
Good point.
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