Which Screws to Use for a Grab Bar on the Tub, and Why You Must Pre-Drill

To mount a grab bar on the deck or rim of an Ella walk-in tub, use coarse-thread stainless steel screws approximately one inch long, and always pre-drill the holes before driving them. Pre-drilling is the one firm recommendation from the Ella support team, because driving a screw straight into the acrylic can crack the finish. Beyond the screw type, the length and the pilot holes, the team places no other restrictions on hardware for a bar mounted on the tub itself.

The Screw Specification

The team specifies three things for grab bar screws on the tub. The thread should be coarse. The screws should be stainless steel, so they do not corrode in a constantly wet environment. The length should be approximately one inch. Screws that meet those three points are widely available at hardware stores, so there is no need to wait for special hardware if your bar did not include its own.

Why Pre-Drilling Matters

Acrylic is a hard, glossy surface, and forcing a screw into it without a pilot hole concentrates stress at the point of entry. That is how cracks start around a fastener, and a crack in the finish is far harder to fix than a few minutes spent pre-drilling. Pilot holes let the screw thread in cleanly and let the bar seat flat against the deck. Drilling holes for a grab bar or faucet does not affect your coverage, as explained in Does Drilling Holes for a Faucet or Grab Bars Void the Ella Warranty?.

Mounting Steps

1. Set the bar in place and mark each mounting hole on the deck or rim.
2. Pre-drill a pilot hole at each mark using a bit slightly smaller than the screw shank.
3. Fit the washers that came with the bar in the arrangement shown in your owner's manual.
4. Drive the coarse-thread stainless screws until the bar sits firmly, without forcing them past snug.
5. Test the bar with a firm pull before relying on it.

Factory Bars Versus Bars You Add

The factory U-shape interior grab bar ships uninstalled with its holes already pre-drilled in the deck, so no new drilling is needed for it. If you are replacing an interior bar, match the existing hole pattern first; see Replacement Interior Grab Bars: Matching the Hole Spacing on Your Tub. Grab bars on Ella shower walls are a different case, covered in Mounting Grab Bars on Ella Shower Walls. If the bar in your box is not the size you expected, start with What If My Grab Bar Is the Wrong Size or Was Not in the Box?.

If the Washers Do Not Match the Manual

Some customers find that the washers packed with the bar do not match the count or arrangement pictured in the owner's manual. Rather than guessing with hardware-store substitutes, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a photo of the washers you received, a photo of the manual page, and your model and serial number. The team can confirm what your bar needs and ship anything missing under the parts warranty.

Related Guides

• Grab Bars: What Is Included, Installing the Deck-Mount Bar, and Add-On Wall Bars
• Installing the Seat Belt Harness: Bracket Location, Pilot Holes and Screws
• Replacing a Drain Handle or Overflow Plate: The 2.5mm Set Screw, the Chain Ring and the Updated Handle

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.