Combination shower bar and grab bar?

A standard shower bar is too weak to be used as a grab bar. If a regular grab bar and a regular shower bar together cost less than a combination shower/grab bar, you can always go that route but there is a risk of accidentally grabbing the wrong bar and hurting oneself.

I assume you mean the one supoorting the sprayer, but for handrails, I have installed a couple of these in my house. There have rubber pads on the back side for better grip and the styling is less 'institutional' than the normal rounded end bars. Bought at Lowes, 'Home Care' line by Moen.LR8724DIGBN 24 inches, brushed nickel, with rubber pads on inside.

http://www.moen.com/home-care-by-moen/stainless-24-grab-bar/_/R-CSI:LR8724D1GCH



Installed one of these in wife's house. (Two houses while we try to finish rehabs and try to sell both.) White, smoother lines and shape. Excellant grip with grey rubber strips. Also from Lowe's. This was 24 inch but I assume others available.
White with grey rubber grips. SafeHome Liberty Hardware Mfg, Winston-Salem NC. Made in China. No. SH5024W. Plastic caps on ends snap off. Pry from wall end, parallel to wall. End away from wall has tab under a slot. About $45

http://www.libertyhardware.com/search/detail/?searchType=retail&ID=SH5024W&FIN=W


Mounts: Mine were new framing so I used stainless steel lag bolts deep into 2x8 blocking framed into the wall. For Rae's existing non accessible wall cavity, I used the HomeCare by Moen, Secure Mount SMA 1002CH. Plastic anchors.Curved track, holds elongated plastic skid in place while push it in, turn 90 degrees, and then pulls against sheet rock like a toggle. Made in China. $20 pair. They aren't really strong or rigid enough for a true ADA mount in my opinion.


kcj

Mary-Anne said:

By request, the tilers rebuilding our bathroom to make it accessible to Gooserider
put blocking next to where the shower would be.
I have today learned that a company name Alsons sells a shower bar which is strong enough to
also use as a grab bar. They have a way to attach their hand held showers to it.
Presumably their showers cost more than some competition.

So, I am wondering, is this a good idea? Is there a reason other shower bars don't do this?
Is ti worth paying extra for this?

Thanks,

Mary-Anne

Click to expand...

If it is ADA compliant than the tube diameter supposedly fits the average human hand better than a towel bar would. (among other specs)
The new standards call for all horizontal bars - (the ones I've seen) . All the bars in our bath are at angles - and are easier to use, IMO. (can't double as towel rods but that's not what they are there for). The one on the shower controls end couldn't be used for a shower handle either because it comes out at an angle to the edge of the shower.

If you are putting that type of shower handle holder in , then it makes sense that anything in the shower that could be used as a grab point be strong enough to be one.
You may still want (have to have) the horizontal bar under that one.

Not for the shower, but for the rest of the bathroom, I put these

http://www.amazon.com/Safety-First-S1F524PC-Mounting-Residential/dp/B000RN5EQ0

instead of regular towel bars in the bathroom of the "cottage" (guest house) that we built for my in-laws. Then we added a few more as my FIL's health declined. That way, they could use them as towel bars but if they grab for support, there is no danger of the bar failing like a regular towel bar would do. We used the regular surface mount grab bars in the shower, also had a couple mounted vertically outside the shower. That bathroom has so many grab bars now its a little rediculous since we're trying to rent it out as a normal (as opposed to accessible) guest house.

Peace,
- Sequoia