The shower can be a very scary place when all those soap suds start to accumulate on the floor of your shower. One way to feel safer in the shower is to install a grab bar to the wall. Here are the tools you will need and directions to properly install a grab bar in your tiled bathroom shower.

Once you have acquired a grab bar you need to collect the tools needed to install it. The following are the tools you will need:

Philips-head screwdriver

Drill

1/8 inch masonry bit or glass and tile bit

Stud finder or a length of wire

Tape measure

Silicone caulk

Sharp awl or carbide glass and tile drill bit

Wood bit, 1/16 narrower than the size of mounting screws

The first thing that you will need to do to install your grab bar is to locate a wall stud. If you have access to a stud finder this will help greatly. Run the stud finder along the wall until a wall stud is located and mark the spot with a fine point marker. If you do not have an electronic stud finder, no worries, just take a 1/8 masonry bit or glass and tile bit and simply drill a hole into the grout. Then take your length of wire and make a bend in it. Put the wire in the hole and by spinning it left and right you should hit a stud. If you do not locate a stud, the hole that you just drilled can be filled with a slight bit of silicone caulk. Make sure to flatten the dab of silicone caulk so it does not protrude from the grout line, allow the caulk to dry for about three hours. If you have powdered grout handy, mix up a bit and patch the hole. Re-drill another hole until you locate a stud. When you do find a stud, measure 16 inches from that hole and you should be able to drill into another stud.

You will want to mark your stud locations so that you can measure from the base of the tub to determine the placement of your bar. Place your bar so that each end is over a stud and mark the screw holes that are in the mounting bracket.

To drill the mounting holes into tile you will need to make a starting point for the drill bit or else the bit will run across the tile. To make a starting point use a sharp awl or afore mentioned drill bit. Using your hand, twist the instrument on your make to make a slight impression on the tile; this will keep your drill bit from slipping. Do not use a punch or you are likely to crack your tile. Use the glass and tile bit to drill your hole. If using a masonry bit, place tape over the tile and drill slowly to avoid shattering the tile. You don’t want to break your tiles when screwing the mounting brackets on either so use a bit that is 1/32 wider than the size of the mounting screw you will be using. Start drilling the hole slowly and with even pressure so as not to slide off your mark. Use light pressure when drilling to avoid cracking the tile.

Make sure not to drill deeper than the tile and it backing. At this point, you will need to change your bit to the wood bit 1/16 narrower than the screw. This will make a pilot hole in the studs.

The final step is to mount the bar. Silicone caulk will need to be applied to the holes before mounting; this is to protect the wood and backing boards behind the tiles from leaking water. Simply screw the bar to the wall. You will want to use stainless steel screw or they will rust. Tighten the screws firmly making sure to not over tighten them or they will crack the tile.

You should now have your grab bar properly installed. You can now take a peaceful, relaxing shower and feel safer in the process.

Would you like to save money, make your bathroom look better, and be able to take pride in the fact that you did it yourself? Decided to start a home improvement project can be a little freighting but with the right tools and information, you will soon be on your way. You will have the confidence to do it yourself and know that you have done a good job.

The first step to getting started with your new faucet project is getting the information to do the job. You need to consult the web and/or educational books to make sure that you have all that you need to make this process happen.

Once you have all your information compiled and feel ready to undertake your home improvement project, you need to look at all the different faucet manufacturers for the best quality for the money you are willing to spend. You will want to purchase a faucet that is durable, as well as, blending well with your existing bathroom accessories.

You now have the perfect faucet purchased. It is sitting in its box awaiting its new home on your bathroom vanity. You need to make sure that you have the correct tools available. This would include:

A basin cock wrench or pipe wrench

Philips-head screwdriver

Flat-head screwdriver

Slip-joint and adjustable pliers

Adjustable wrench

Bathroom caulk and caulk gun (plumber’s putty will also work)

New flexible faucet supply tubes

Thread sealer

Your next step in this process would be to remove the old faucet. To do this, you will need to shut off your water supply either under the sink or at the main water-supply valve. The hot and cold water supply tubes will need to be loosened. At the faucet stem, loosen and remove the compression nut with a basin cock wrench or pipe wrench. To remove the faucet now, all that you need to do is remove the nut holding the faucet to the sink. The faucet should lift off.

Chrome-plated brass hardware may start to decay after time so you may wish to change that as well. A bucket should be placed under the drain to contain excess water still in the drain. A new stopper may come with your new faucet. If this is the case, you might like to change that also. This will give you a consistent look on your new design.

You will need to wrap your faucet stems with a thread sealer. Before inserting the faucet stems into the correct holes install the rubber gasket to the base of the faucet. Don’t worry if your faucet did not come with a rubber gasket. A bead of caulk will do the trick. When you have the faucet in position, you can thread the washer, nut, and mounting nut on to the faucet tailpiece. Tighten these nuts by hand.

You may now attach your supply tubes to the faucet stems. Make sure that you apply thread sealer to the shut off valve threads. Tighten the coupling nuts to the supply stems. Be careful not to over-tighten the nuts. Reconnect the hot and cold water supply stems.

You are now ready to clean the supply tubes to your new faucet. To do this you need to remove the aerator from the faucet. Now turn on the water. You will need to check for leaks while the water is running. If there are none, shut off the water and replace the aerator.

Now sit back and enjoy your new bathroom faucet. You can take pride in the fact that you just installed it yourself.