Is there a special height that I must install a grab bar in my bathroom?

This is a great question. There is generally no mandated height requirement or placement locations for grab bars in a single family home. The laws that guide the industry in commercial applications do provide a good guideline for installation.

Your bars should be placed at a height that feels most comfortable and secure. A smaller woman may want her bars placed lower then a very tall man. Bars may also be placed at an angle or vertically. Concentrate on your ability to move, not your inability.

One of the most important things to consider when installing a grab bar is the reinforcement behind the drywall or tile. It is much better to install a large area of reinforcement behind the area where you will be installing the bar. This reinforcement can be plywood or other lumber material securely attached to the framing. The larger the reinforced area the more flexibility you will have in the future.

Abbie Sladick, CGR, a certified Aging in Place Specialist by the National Association of Homebuilders and expert in Universal Design, has consulted on many articles and publications. She is a member of the advisory council for the National Kitchen and Bath Association and has also sat on the American Society of Interior Designer’s (ASID) National Council on Aging in Place and Universal Design. She was recently recognized by Qualified Remodeler Magazine as a Top 500 Remodeler, and has received the Master Design Award for Universal Design. Sladick also founded and oversees two companies: Abbie Joan Enterprises www.abbiejoan.com, a remodeling firm specializing in interior remodeling projects, and Great Grabz, www.greatgrabz.com, a designers and manufacturer of decorative grab bars and safety fixtures.