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As we age, simple things often become difficult to do. One of those things is getting in and out of places such as bathtubs. In most cases, the solution is installing a grab bar, which comes in all different shapes, sizes, and installation methods.
Adhesive grab bars are the easiest to install, but studies have shown that they’re not always as safe as they’ve been portrayed. The bars can come loose from the wall and are designed to sustain significantly less weight than a grab bar screwed into the wall.
Today, I’ll discuss the ins and outs of adhesive grab bars. We’ll talk about how safe they actually are and some things you can do to ensure that your loved one is staying as secure as possible. Let’s get started.
Why Adhesive Bars Aren’t As Safe as Mounted
Adhesive grab bars, while they are incredibly easy to install, come with some challenges.
Grab bars are typically installed in showers, bathtubs, or beside toilets. They can also be installed near a bed. This means that there are quite a few surfaces that the grab bar is expected to stick to.
Adhesive grab bars are typically made from one of three types of adhesives:
- Solvent-based grab adhesives: Solvent-based adhesives are the most common adhesive. You may see this being used in various construction applications. They cure quickly, meaning it doesn’t take much time to install things. The detriment to solvent-based adhesives, however, is that the glue turns to brittle over time.
- Water-based grab adhesives: Water-based adhesives are based on acrylic polymers and are also often used in construction. Like their solvent-based counterparts, these adhesives also cure quickly, but only if the temperature is just right. In the cold, they practically refuse to cure. The downside to this adhesive is that it doesn’t hold well to surfaces that repel water.
- Hybrid or MS polymer grab adhesives: Hybrid adhesives are a newer market item. They are usually made from modified silicone or something similar. They provide a stronger bonding and can usually work on a variety of surfaces. These also usually don’t go brittle over time.
More often than not, the adhesive you find with grab bars is either solvent or water-based. Neither of these sticks well to shower or tub surfaces, and both come loose with time.
Adhesive Versus Mounted Grab Bars
While both adhesive and mounted grab bars are designed to perform the same function, there are vast differences between the two.
Mounted grab bars are screwed into the wall itself. This means that they can support significantly more weight, which, in this case, is a good thing. The last thing you need is your grandmother pulling herself out of the shower and falling head-first onto a tile floor because the grab bar came loose.
The downside to mounted bars is that they can come loose if not installed properly. They also take significantly more time and effort to install. Usually, it’s a lengthy process of finding the best place to install it on the wall, drilling holes, and securing the grab bar.
Mounted grab bars also have limitations on where they can be placed, and they cause permanent damage wherever they are placed. However, their security in use goes far beyond what any adhesive or suction bar could do.
Adhesive grab bars are held up by a layer of adhesive, usually about ¼ inch (0.635 cm) thick. In most cases, you can peel the backing off and simply stick them to the wall. The ease of installation when it comes to adhesive grab bars is unsurpassable.
The problem is that the adhesive isn’t designed to last long-term. Most adhesive grab bars are still made with either solvent-based or water-based adhesives. If you use a solvent-based grab bar, it will mount securely upfront, but over time the adhesive will become brittle. You have no way of knowing when it has lost its grip.
If the adhesive is water-based, it will last significantly less time than solvent, especially if you’re installing the grab bar in the shower or tub. Bathrooms are full of moisture, and the water vapor tends to seep in and completely destroy the adhesive. This happens with both solvent and water-based adhesives.
In addition, water-based adhesives don’t do well sticking to water-repellent surfaces, as I discussed when talking about various types of adhesives.
The Verdict: Are Adhesive Grab Bars Safe?
Adhesive grab bars can be safe if they’re made with the right adhesive. Hybrid adhesives are still very new to the market; thus, they are rarely used for grab bars. If you can find a grab bar that is made with a hybrid adhesive, then it’s going to be a lot safer than water and solvent-based grab bars.
In most cases, however, adhesive grab bars aren’t safe for continued usage. I don’t want to discredit them completely because they can be a great solution for short-term use. The important thing is to not leave them for too long without reinstalling a new one.
The problem you’ll most often encounter with adhesive grab bars is that the adhesive either turns brittle or dissolves over time. This can be a dangerous situation for an elderly individual who desperately needs support.
The other problem is that adhesive grab bars often don’t support the same amount of weight as mounted grab bars. However, they do support significantly better than suction grab bars. While we didn’t get into suction grab bars today, I wouldn’t recommend going in that direction.
During your search, you may come across no-drill grab bars. How safe are no-drill grab bars? Are they reliable option? Find out the answer in my other guide. Are No-Drill Grab Bars Safe? What You Need to Know
Final Thoughts
There are three primary types of adhesives used for grab bars – solvent based, water based, and hybrids. Hybrids are still new to the market, so usually, they will be solvent or water based.
These adhesives aren’t normally built to adhere well to showers and tubs where grab bars are typically installed, and the glue can come loose over time. This can and does result in the grab bars falling at random.
In the end, adhesive grab bars can be safe if installed properly with hybrid adhesives, but most of the time, they aren’t safe for long-term use.
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