What we do
- Bars at the shower or tub entry and inside the tub
- Toilet-side bars, fixed or fold-down
- Studs located behind tile and plaster
- Rated hollow-wall anchors where no stud lines up
- Sealed flanges and a pull test on every bar
- Towel bars used as handholds replaced with proper bars
In Alhambra homes
The CDC says falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year. In Alhambra, where about 77 percent of homes were built before 1980 according to a city housing report, many bathrooms have tile set over thick mortar beds or plaster, which calls for careful drilling and longer fasteners.
Get a quote in one text
Send a photo of the tub or shower and the toilet area, and tell us who will use the bars. Our number for photos is (626) 684-3505, and the price comes back before any work is booked.
Placement first
We stand in the bathroom with you and mark where you reach when stepping in, turning and sitting. Bars go there. Framing is found or bridged to suit the spot, not the other way round.
Drilling vintage tile
Older glazed tile chips if drilled fast. We use diamond or carbide bits, tape the surface, and drill slowly through tile and mortar to the framing.
Fasteners
Into studs we use long screws through the flanges. Where a stud is not in place, we use anchors rated for grab bar loads, never plastic plugs.
Sealing
Each flange is sealed to the tile so water does not get into the wall, which matters in a shower.
Other aids
A handheld shower on a slide bar, a shower seat mount, or a bar by the bed or steps can go in the same visit.
Pull test
Every bar is pulled hard before we leave. If one moves, it comes off and is mounted again.
Shower seats and benches
Wall-mounted fold-down shower seats need the same solid backing as grab bars. We mount them into framing at a height that suits the person using it.
Bars outside the bathroom
Steps into the garage, the edge of a sunken living room, and the side of a bed are other places a bar or rail helps. The same mounting rules apply.
Choosing bars
Textured or knurled bars give a better grip when wet. Lengths of 16 to 24 inches suit most spots; we help you choose before you buy.
Rental homes
Holes in tile are permanent, so renters should check with the owner first. We can patch holes neatly if bars are removed later.
Visit length
Most visits cover several bars and run a few hours, depending on tile and framing. Send photos first so we arrive with the right bits and anchors.
Matching finishes
Bars come in chrome, brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and white. We can help match your faucet so the bars look like part of the bathroom.
Checking existing bars
Bars installed years ago with plastic anchors can loosen. We test and remount any that move.
Toilet areas
A bar beside the toilet, or a frame-style rail where there is no wall nearby, helps with sitting and standing safely.
Sources: CDC, Older Adult Falls Data; City of Alhambra, housing needs report (age of housing stock).
Repair guides for this job
- Hanging heavy mirrors and art on plaster-and-lath wallsHow to hang mirrors, art and shelves on the plaster-and-lath walls in Alhambra's older homes without cracking them, plus the hardware we use.
- Mounting a TV over a Spanish Revival fireplaceWhat to check before mounting a TV over the plaster or tile fireplace in an older Alhambra home: wall structure, heat, viewing height and wire routing.
- Keeping tall furniture and TVs in place when the ground shakesHow to secure tall furniture, TVs and wall hangings in an older Alhambra home so they stay put in an earthquake, including tips for plaster walls.
- Getting new furniture built and settled in an older houseBefore flat-pack furniture arrives at an older Alhambra house: measuring doors and arches, tall pieces under coved ceilings, sloped floors and anchoring.
Looking for a handyman in Alhambra for more than one job? Send the whole list and we’ll price it together.
We serve Alhambra first, plus Monterey Park, San Gabriel and other nearby cities. Have a question? See the handyman FAQ.