Installing Disability Handles: Where to Install Grab Rails

Installing Disability Handles: Where to Install Grab Rails

Grab rails are a simple and inexpensive way to make life more convenient for people with mobility impairments. They’re also a great addition to any home, especially if you have an entryway or stairway that could be difficult to navigate. If you need help installing them, here are some tips and helpful hints on the best places to install them in your home.

Why install grab rails?

Installing grab rails is one of the first (and easiest) steps in making your home more accessible for the elderly and/or those with disabilities. You’ll be able to make it easier for people with mobility impairments like people with disabilities, individuals who use wheelchairs, or older adults to manage their day-to-day tasks, while also making your home more comfortable and easy to maintain.

As you install grab rails in your home, you’ll create a safer and more stable environment for everyone inside. The added stability will help prevent falls for children and seniors alike. Grab rails can also help reduce the risk of trips and slips when getting into or out of beds, bathtubs, showers, etc.

Making your home more accessible, will allow you to maintain your active lifestyle, and enjoy your home for many years to come. Quality grab rails can be used in most rooms for those with mobility issues, there are a wide and extensive range of grab rail products to be fitted for disabled people and the elderly, and are considered to be the cheapest, cost effective home adaptations installation.

How to install disability handles?

First, make sure you have the right size rail for your space. It should fit snugly against the wall and be anywhere from 1/2 to 3 inches in depth. Next, drill a hole into the wall where you want the rail to go. This can be done with a drill or screwdriver using a drill bit that’s not too large.

Installing disabled grab rails will be the same process no matter it’s placement, so whether you’re installing the latest shower grab rail or kitchen hand rails, you may follow the same instructions each time. However, stainless steel grab rails may be slightly harder to install as they are considered more durable grab rails they may require more power to pierce through, however, most stainless steel grab rails will come with pre-made holes for the correct screws already formed.

Installing your rails into doorways with pre-existing molding

If you have pre-existing molding, installing grab rails can be a bit tricky. You’ll need to find a solution for the edges of your molding that are flush with the surface of your wall or door. You can install in these areas by using clear silicone caulk on the edges of your molding and pressing it into place; this will act as a base for the rails. This method works by creating a small bead of caulk between the rail and the edge of your molding and then adding more in areas where there is not enough space.

If you don’t have any pre-existing molding:

You can simply use removable adhesive strips to attach your rails to flat surfaces like walls or doors. These strips are easy to apply without any special tools and they only take minutes to stick down. The strips come with Velcro on one side and nails on the other, so you can simply affix them to surfaces quickly with no tool required.

Installing the rails in a bathroom

Grab rails are typically installed in the bathroom. A handrail is typically installed on the wall, either to the side of a tub or shower, or around a toilet. Grab rails can make a significant difference in the daily routine of elderly people, as it allows them to have access to more freedom and movement in their home once more.

Unlike most disability and special equipment grab rails come in a variety of designs such as polished chrome, white plastic, steel rail and more, with a comprehensive range of colours and materials you’ll likely be able to find the perfect shower or bath rail to fit your bathroom design. In some cases disability equipment providers will offer a collection of versatile grab rail designs as part of a set, meaning you can pair your grab rail to the same design as the toilet seat covers and other extra equipment for your home.

Bathroom installations and renovations for the elderly and disabled are the most common home adaptation, as our loved ones and ourselves get older, having a sense of independence is still very important, updating and renovating your bathroom to include smaller home and bathroom adaptations can ensure that peace of mind when it comes to taking care of yourself at home.

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