Putting a handicap grap bar on the side of a vanity with it renforced by a 2x2 or 2x4 piece of wood on the inside of the vanity? THis is what my father n law wants to do for his dad whom weighs 220 lbs. and needs a lot of help off the toilet. They are trying to save money and not buy a higher toilet or put the grab bars to studs .
2007-03-17 16:16:35 · 9 answers · asked by Trina V 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Put it to the studs, PERIOD! Its the safest. The studs have more structural integrity than the cabinet side. The cabinet side may only be made of 5/8 particle board. That isn't strong stuff and it may be even weaker if its been there any length of time, due to the moisture common in bathrooms.
2007-03-18 10:05:18 · answer #1 · answered by Denny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what the vanity is made of, most are a cheap particle board, even with 2x4 reinforcement it will still be weak, especially since it will be used everyday sometime 3 or 4 times a day. I would suggest buying the handicap toilet, and putting in some grab bars, you can get the kind that mount on the floor also. This poor guy has it hard enough the least you can do is make life a little easier. Tell him not to be such a cheapskate
2007-03-17 16:27:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am assuming that space is more of an issue than the cost at this point. Proper wall anchors for the grap bar are only a couple of bucks and rated to 360 lbs.
But if the issue is space, the vanity mount should work as described "IF" the vanity is securly anchored to the wall and braced to accomodate a lateral load. Reinforce corner bracing than secure the two by prior to anchoring.
2007-03-17 16:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by functionalanarchist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i don't know if that will work or not . i do know from looking after my mother as she was dying that you don't have to buy a new toilet or install permanent grab rails. you can go to a pharmacy or medical wheel chair sort of store and buy
a thing that clamps on to the toilet and makes the seat much higher as well they have all manner of things to help people get up off the toilet or out of a chair . i suggest you check this out before you build things that you may not need and may not be as safe as the well tested products.
some of the things they have such a bench sort of thing to get in and out of the bath are rental and you return them when the person no longer needs them
2007-03-17 19:30:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm going to agree in part with answer number one. I've done more bathroom remodels than anything else lately.
The issue is less about the substance of the vanity or how you add support structures. More important is,,,beyond raising the seat with a foam type prosthetic, is how the DAD is able to PULL/LIFT from that seated position.
Certainly it may be embarrassing to test any theory or measurements, but critical to its eventual effectiveness. HE needs to be seated there and YOU or whomever, needs to have samples/aids/models, to gauge height, his strength levels, etc. before any "construction/ modifiction" is attempted.
The cost of a foam riser is modest, as it the BAR and bracing/hardware. With no offense at all,,,,at what COST can we equate one of the most personal, yet often embarrassing experiences the elderly might have to endure?
Steven Wolf
2007-03-17 17:55:51 · answer #5 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can get an extender for the toilet that will add height. It costs about $25 for a cheap one.
2007-03-17 16:22:55 · answer #6 · answered by Gone fishin' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
accident waiting to happen...just put it in the studs where it belongs...there's no skimping on safety just because they want to avoid drilling into the wall.
2007-03-17 17:06:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
you know they make huge toilet seats they are like six or eight inchis tall try that
2007-03-17 20:22:12 · answer #8 · answered by q-fire 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with mysticdu
2007-03-18 03:24:27 · answer #9 · answered by shermisme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋