Bathroom Wall Reinforcement
Why Would You Consider Reinforcing The Walls In Your Bathroom?
By Jan Morgavan
(September 20, 2006) - You would assume that the walls of the bathrooms in your home are sufficiently reinforced. After all, the local municipalities had to give your home a high five (i.e. passed building inspection) after construction was completed in order for you to purchase your home. One would assume.
Bathroom wall reinforcement is another consideration that can contribute to one’s quality of life and well being. Even though you may not have an interest in what lurks behind your bathroom walls, you may want to continue reading this article just for future reference.
Wall reinforcement in home construction can take on many different aspects. For the purposes of this article, we will limit our discussion to wall reinforcement of the bathroom.
The What
- Solid Wall Blocking
- Whole Wall Reinforcement
These are terms that you will see used interchangeably among various professions to basically describe the same thing, wall reinforcement.
Reinforcing your bathroom walls means installing for example plywood on the walls before any sheet rock, tile, or other finish is installed. Essentially the plywood is installed behind the sheet rock or finished wall. A minimum of ¾” thickness is recommended. You may want to refer to your state’s accessibility codes. These codes tend to address commercial and ADA compliant construction but are also a good reference for residential construction. Note that many accessibility codes do not require whole wall reinforcing.
The Why
Something as simple as installing grab bars in a toilet area where there is no wall reinforcement would give you the answer to the “why” question in short order. This is dangerous and can jeopardize the safety of individuals relying on this type of grab bar installation. In this scenario, sheet rock and tiled walls without sufficient reinforcement cannot withstand the pressure applied to grab bars on a daily basis. Eventually, the grab bars will break away from the wall.
The Where
Common locations for wall reinforcement in a bathroom are around the toilet, shower, and bathtub areas. These are areas where there is most likely a need to install grab bars or a shower seat.
Whole wall reinforcing gives you have more choices when installing grab bars or shower seats. A homeowner’s need and preference can be accommodated with whole wall reinforcing. While the location of a grab bar may be the priority, different size and shapes of grab bars can also be installed much easier.
Another common location for grab bars is in the shower. Making sure whole wall reinforcing has been installed in the shower walls gives a homeowner the flexibility to install grab bars and even a show seat according to their preference. This type of reinforcement can support permanently mounted or portable show seats.
The When
When would a homeowner install whole wall reinforcement?
The most preferred is at the time of construction. And if you talk to many in related professions like home builders or remodelers, they will recommend installing whole wall reinforcing even if you don’t have a need. It may seem unnecessary but the cost is minimal compared to having to remodel at a future time.
Perhaps you already own your home and now have a need to modify your bathroom for accessibility. Installing at the time of construction is not an option for you. Modifications to a bathroom for grab bars or a shower seat after a home is constructed can be tricky. My suggestion is to find a remodeler or builder that has expertise in home modifications for accessibility. You know what your needs are from a functional perspective. A qualified remodeler will know how to modify your bathroom to accommodate your needs.
Certified Aging In Place Specialist
You will find a valuable resource on the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) web site - the Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) Directory. This is a national directory. NAHB members with the CAPS Designation have been trained in aging in place home modifications, common remodeling projects, and solutions to common barriers.
To access the CAPS Directory, click here
For more information on the CAPS Designation, click here.
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