OrkoPolo wrote:
I am installing a 16" grab bar from Liberty Hardware inside a
fiberglass shower stall for a 6'4" 220lb man. More information he

http://www.libertyhardware.com/searc...A5316SN&FIN=SN

I have two questions:

1) Do I need to do anything to re-enforce the space between the shower
stall and the wall stud? There is an air gap of approximately 1/2"
between the outside of the fiberglass enclosure and where it is going
to enter the 2"x6" stud. The installation instructions do not refer
to this. Do I need to do anything besides drill the holes and use the
anchor bolts that were included in the package?

2) The fiberglass shower unit is not flat. There is no place to mount
the bar where it is flat, like shown on the installation instructions,
since the whole enclosure is curved slightly. Therefore if I follow
the instructions, the wall mounts will not be flush against the walls
of the shower, making a leak possible. What would you recommend using
to provide a gasket between the wall mount brackets and the fiberglass
shower encosure? I was thinking of just finding some 1/2" foam rubber
with sufficient compression to make a good seal, and possibly caulking
just in case. I would want this to last a long time though...so no
shortcuts if I can help it.

Please provide guidance on this type of installation as soon as
possible, since my father-in-law will be out of the hospital and in
his home on Monday afternoon. I would like him to be able to take his
first shower without worrying about the installation.

Thank you in advance!

Ideally, it should be a hard mount, although toggle bolts should hold
for awhile.
1. What is on the backside of the wall? A closet or dark corner of a
bedroom, hopefully? Can you cut an access panel directly behind where
the bar needs to go, and either shim the gap with plywood, or just tape
some plywood to the back of the shower until you can get some bolts
through the handle and plywood? Stainless bolts with bigass fender
washers under the nuts will last for years. That is basically how we
used to mount hardware on the decks and gunwhales of fiberglass boats.
If you can spread the load over, say, a 1 foot square panel behind the
fiberglass, that should be plenty strong to prevent cracking. Cover the
access hole with a masonite panel, and maybe hang a picture over it,
until you can patch the wall.

2. How to make a flat mounting flange fit a curved surface- local dealer
for the grab bars may sell matching gasket sets. If not, you can fake it
with gasket material from auto parts store or industrial supply. Or if
you have the ability to machine hard rubber, carve down a couple of
hockey pucks to match the curve, and bolt through them.

--
aem sends...