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Short Summary
Main recommendation: Install a safety grab bar in the shower, using washers and longer screws when mounting over tile, so the bar is securely anchored to the wood studs behind. The video walks through installing a Moen safety bar with concealed set screws, positioned to avoid cracking the tile and to look neat. It frames the bar as an important fall-prevention fixture for aging parents.
Key Points
- Concealed set screws hide the mounting screws, giving a clean look; the package includes extra set screws for convenience.
- Mount the bar using one of three hole positions on the plate; washers in the package let you install it in various locations, and the speaker had already located studs beforehand.
- Because the shower is tile over tile, standard 2-inch screws would only reach about a quarter inch into the wood, so the installer switched to #10 three-inch screws with the included washers.
- Place the top mounting hole as far from the edge of a tile as possible to reduce cracking, and wait a day or two after tiling before drilling.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions: Remove the two covers and set aside all six screws. Locate the studs, and place the bar on the wall where it will be centered on a grout line for appearance. Mark a dot or cross where each hole will be drilled. Drill with a glass and tile bit on low speed with moderate pressure; in tile-over-tile installs, drill a bit deeper than usual. Start one screw loosely at each end with washers, test the bar's position, and mark the screw locations so the bar can be realigned after removal. Fully tighten the screws once the alignment is confirmed. Reinstall the set screws by placing each one on the Allen key, inserting it, and turning until it clicks; then give it about six twists. Install the decorative rings and tighten all set screws, then snap the covers into place.
- The speaker notes this particular screw is not in a wet part of the shower, but if it were, or if screws are changed, apply clear silicone over the screw head and hole to prevent water exposure.
- Ceramic tile is easier to drill and fixture-install than porcelain, and it does not affect waterproofing or shower strength, according to the speaker.
- Install the bar on a stud-supported location; the speaker notes the bar can be mounted in several positions on the plate.
Bottom Line
A grab bar is a worthwhile safety upgrade for a shower used by older adults, and with tile-over-tile walls the key is using longer screws with washers that reach solidly into the wood studs.
