- Handyman
- Installation & Setup
- Home Safety & Security
Bathroom Accessory Installation (Towel Bars, Toilet Paper Holders, Grab Bars)
Want to add a towel bar, toilet paper holder, hooks or a shower curtain rod to your bathroom, or put in grab bars beside the toilet, at the tub or in the shower for an older family member? Your handyman installs, replaces or re-secures bathroom accessories and grab bars to suit the type of product, the wall material and what is behind the wall. Grab bars are fastened into wood studs inside the wall, existing wood blocking, or anchors made specifically for grab bars, using a method the product instructions allow, so your accessories are secure and your grab bars are safe to use.
- Service area
- Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond
Common issues
Accessories for a new or renovated home
Install towel bars, towel rings, hooks, toilet paper holders, shower curtain rods or glass corner shelves in one visit, levelled to suit their positions and heights.
Loose towel bar or toilet paper holder
Common causes include loose mounting screws, the wrong type of anchor, or old holes in the wall that have become enlarged. Your handyman checks the base and the wall, then tightens it, replaces the anchors or moves it to new holes.
Grab bars for an older family member
Add grab bars beside the toilet, at the tub or in the shower to make it easier to get in and out of the tub, sit down and stand up. Placement, type and number are based on the user's needs; if an occupational therapist has made recommendations, you can share them too.
A grab bar that looks more like a towel bar
A regular towel bar can't support a person's weight. If you want one to double as a grab bar, choose a dual-purpose product rated as a grab bar and have it installed the way a grab bar is installed.
Drilling into tile or a tub surround
Tile, stone, glass tile and fiberglass／acrylic surrounds each need different drilling tools and mounting methods. A surround needs to be fastened to the structure behind it, or anchors suited to that surround need to be used.
Replacing old grab bars or accessories
Remove old screw-mounted pieces and install the new ones. If the new and old products have different hole spacing, new holes are needed; patching the old holes must be arranged separately.
Installing a plug-in heated towel rack
Mount a heated towel rack that plugs into an existing GFCI-protected outlet in the bathroom (it will not be installed inside the shower) and test that it powers on. If the outlet has no GFCI protection, a licensed electrical contractor must be arranged separately.
What the pro will do
- 1
Your handyman gets details on the address, property type, building age, whether you own or rent, the type and number of accessories and grab bars, the product models or installation instructions, the wall material, the surround brand and where items will go. For grab bars, they also ask about the user's general needs and whether an occupational therapist has made recommendations. They collect photos of the whole wall, the surround, the distance between the toilet and the side wall, and any old accessories.
- 2
On site, they locate studs, any existing wood blocking, the space behind the wall, and pipes and wiring, and confirm the mounting method against the product instructions. If the chosen spot has no suitable structure, they first explain the options, such as moving the spot, switching to specialty anchors the product allows, or arranging separately to open up the wall. Work begins only after the scope and price are confirmed.
- 3
They drill and install as agreed, and waterproof holes in wet areas according to the product instructions. If work within this service needs to change, such as switching to grab bar anchors or adding more grab bars, your handyman confirms the scope and price with you first. If they find damp or damaged walls, or the job needs work outside this service, such as opening up the wall, connecting wiring or repairing tile, your handyman stops first, and that work must be arranged separately.
- 4
They check that accessories are secure and level, complete a pull test and a push-down test on the grab bars, explain the mounting method used and what to look for in routine checks and cleaning, and tidy the work area.
Good to know
Don't use a towel bar or toilet paper holder for support
Regular towel bars, soap dishes and toilet paper holders aren't designed to bear a person's weight, and pulling hard on them can make them break or come out of the wall. Wherever you need something to hold on to, install a grab bar.
Suction-cup grab bars are for balance only
A suction-cup grab bar can't support your full body weight, and you should check that it is secure before each use. Wherever a bar needs to bear weight, install a grab bar fastened to the wall.
Share product details in advance
Photos of the grab bar and anchor models, packaging or installation instructions help your handyman confirm the mounting method the product allows and whether its length allows it to be installed at an angle.
Check your surround warranty first
Drilling into a fiberglass／acrylic tub or shower surround may affect the surround's warranty. Homes less than ten years old may also be covered by a new home warranty, so please check with the warranty provider before installation.
Check grab bars regularly
Watch for any looseness or damage. If a grab bar is loose, stop using it and arrange to have it checked. Mild soapy water is all you need for cleaning.
Position and height vary from person to person
The right position and height for a grab bar depend on the user's height, dominant hand and how they move. If you're unsure, ask a doctor or occupational therapist first.
Local tips
Adding grab bars is a voluntary upgrade
We have found no law requiring you to install grab bars or reinforce the wall when simply drilling to add grab bars in an existing home; it is a voluntary safety upgrade. The BC Building Code requires installed grab bars to withstand a specified force, but how much a grab bar can actually support once installed depends on the product, the mounting method and the condition of the wall, not just the weight shown on the product. Bathroom renovations or work that opens up walls and involves a building permit must be confirmed separately under the rules of the city where the home is located.
Newer homes may already have blocking
Under the BC Building Code, houses, townhouses and some apartment／condo units with a building permit applied for on or after March 10, 2025 should have grab bar blocking in the walls beside the toilet and the tub／shower in at least one bathroom (Vancouver follows its own Building By-law). Older homes can't be assumed to have blocking, and even in a newer home, your handyman still needs to locate it on site.
BC RAHA accessibility rebate
BC Housing's BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations can refund part of the cost of grab bar adaptations for eligible low- and moderate-income households, but work done before BC Housing gives written approval is generally not covered. The rebate is paid to the property owner only after the work is completed and paid for. Regular towel bars, toilet paper holders and replacing existing grab bars are not covered. Eligibility, available funding and deadlines are subject to BC Housing's latest information.
Home renovation tax credit for seniors
BC's Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities lists grab bars and related reinforcement around the toilet, tub and shower as eligible expenses. If you are 65 or older, or an eligible person with a disability, you can find out whether it applies to you; please keep your receipts.
Public occupational therapy and fall prevention advice
BC health agencies recommend installing fixed grab bars in the bathroom. For professional advice, you can ask about occupational therapy through your health authority's home and community care services: in the Fraser Health region, call 1-855-412-2121; in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, contact the Home Health service for your area.
Rentals and strata units
Tenants must get the landlord's written consent before installing fixtures such as grab bars. In a strata unit, drilling into the original tile or surround may require the strata's written approval first.
This service covers only installing, replacing, re-securing and removing accessories and grab bars on existing walls in residential bathrooms. This includes towel bars, towel rings, hooks, toilet paper holders, soap dishes, shower curtain rods, glass corner shelves, plug-in heated towel racks, no-drill accessories, and wall-mounted grab bars beside the toilet, at the tub and in the shower. It does not include opening up walls to add wood blocking, removing ceramic accessories set into tile, patching old holes or repairing tile, recaulking entire joints, repairing surrounds or waterproofing membranes, heated towel racks that need wiring connected or any outlet work, floor-to-ceiling support poles, wall-mounted fold-down seats, stair or hallway handrails, medical or occupational therapy assessments, asbestos sampling, testing and handling, or full bathroom renovations; if you need any of this work, it must be arranged separately. Grab bars are fastened only by methods the product instructions allow. If the chosen spot has no suitable structure, or the product doesn't allow the anchors needed, the bar may need to go in a different spot or the wall may need to be opened up as separate work. Your handyman will not promise that a grab bar can support a specified weight, and cannot guarantee that tile or stone won't chip or crack when drilled. Holes through a surround are permanent, and waterproofing can only reduce the risk of leaks. Any permit, strata or landlord approval is confirmed based on the actual address and scope of work.
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