Mounting Grab Bars on Ella Shower Walls: Reinforced Backing, Finding the Zones, and Which Screws to Use

Yes, grab bars can be mounted on the walls of an Ella shower stall. The walls are manufactured with reinforced backing, so a bar anchors into the wall itself without adding wood blocking behind it. The reinforced zones are shown on the Specification drawing published for your model, and that drawing, not trial holes, is how you find them. Screw and anchor questions for a bar from another supplier belong to that bar's manufacturer. If your shower shipped with Ella grab bars, the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm the hardware for those.

Where the Reinforcement Is

Ella shower stalls have reinforced backing built into the walls to carry grab bars. The reinforced areas are documented on the Specification drawing for each model, which is published with the product listing where you purchased under the manufacturer resources. Pull up that drawing before you buy a bar or pick up a drill, because it tells you which parts of the wall can take a fastener and which cannot. If you cannot find a copy, ask where you purchased, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model number and the team will send it. For a rundown of how the different stalls are built, see the shower stall comparison.

Do Not Drill Test Holes to Find the Backing

A tempting shortcut is to drill small pilot holes in the wall to feel for solid material. Please do not do this. Each unnecessary hole in a shower wall is a possible path for water behind the surround, and the drawing already answers the question. Locate the zones on paper, transfer them to the wall with a pencil and tape measure, and drill only where the bar's screws will actually go. Drilling inside the reinforced zones for a grab bar is an expected part of installation and does not affect your coverage, as explained in this article on drilling for faucets and grab bars.

Which Screws to Use

The right fastener depends on the bar's flange, its rated load and the anchor system its maker supplies, so use the hardware and instructions packed with the bar or ask that manufacturer directly. If your shower came with Ella grab bars, or you bought bars through your Ella dealer, contact the team at (800) 480-6850 with your model and serial number and they can confirm the mounting hardware for those bars. If a supplied bar does not fit the spot you planned, this guide on wrong-size grab bars explains what to do. Whether Ella can factory-install a bar sourced elsewhere is covered in this article on third-party grab bars.

Mounting a Grab Bar Step by Step

1. Find the reinforced zones on the Specification drawing for your model.
2. Decide where the bather needs support, and confirm that spot falls within a reinforced zone.
3. Mark the bar position on the wall and check that every screw location sits inside the zone.
4. Drill and fasten following the grab bar manufacturer's instructions, using the anchors they supply.
5. Seal each fastener the way the bar's instructions direct so no water reaches the back of the wall.
6. Load the bar firmly before first use to confirm it is solid.

Ella does not send technicians, so this work is done by you or a local licensed contractor. Other stall accessories such as seats, benches and the curtain rod have their own mounting guidance in the seat and accessory installation article.

If Your Shower Shipped with Ella Grab Bars: They Arrive Loose and Need No Anchors

Grab bars for Ella showers ship loose in the carton and are not pre-installed, even when a listing photo shows them in place. Your installer mounts them during the shower installation at the positions the installation manual shows for your model. Ask your plumber or contractor to mount the bars before the job is closed out, because Ella does not send technicians and grab bar mounting is not a separate Ella service.

The screws packed with Ella bars look long for a fiberglass wall, which is why installers often ask about anchors. None are needed. The walls have reinforced backing in the grab bar zones, and the supplied stainless steel screws are meant to bite directly into that backing. Use the screws provided rather than substituting drywall anchors, toggle bolts or different screws.

There are no holes drilled for the bars at the factory. Unpack the bars and hardware, confirm the count against your order, and follow the manual for marking, drilling and fastening within the reinforced zones. If a bar is missing or the wrong size, see what to do when a grab bar is the wrong size or was not in the box.

Position each bar so it is level and at a comfortable height for the person who will use it, then confirm it is solid and does not shift before the shower is used. If you want a bar somewhere the standard set does not cover, such as the back wall or the entry side, check the zone map first and contact the team at (800) 480-6850 before drilling outside a reinforced area.

Related Guides

• Installing Ella Shower Bases, the Flexible Shower Dam, and Shower Walls
• Installing the SMC 12-Piece Wall Kit, Acrylic Tub Surrounds, the 3-Panel Kit, Tongue-and-Groove Wall Tiles and Palisade Vinyl Tiles
• How to Get the Installation Guide, Spec Sheet and Manual for Your Ella Shower Wall Kit or Enclosure
• The 24 Inch Grab Bar Does Not Fit the Back Wall of My One-Piece Shower
• Shower Wall Reinforced Backing Is Not Where the Drawing Shows: Verifying It and Getting a Replacement Panel
• Which Screws to Use for a Grab Bar on the Tub, and Why You Must Pre-Drill

For the drill speed and acrylic bit to use when making these holes, and for whether third-party window kits and other add-ons will fit an Ella stall, see the guide to drilling acrylic shower walls for accessories and third-party kits.

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.