Where Can I Buy Grab Bars for a Shower or Bathtub?

Grab bars for an Ella shower or walk-in tub come from the same place as the tub or shower itself: your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Every Ella shower kit ships with the grab bar set listed for that kit, most walk-in tub models include one or more bars per the current spec sheet, and add-on security grab bars and replacement interior bars are available beyond what is in the box. What Comes in the Box With an Ella Shower Kit, and What You Still Need to Buy lists the carton contents in detail.

Grab Bars That Arrive with an Ella Shower Kit

An Ella shower kit ships with the shower stall itself, the grab bar set listed for that kit, and the drain. The bars are packed loose rather than pre-installed, so mounting them is part of the installation and belongs in your installer's scope from the start. When you unpack, confirm the grab bar count against your order before the stall is set.

The kit does not include a shower head, a hand shower, a mixing valve or valve trim, and the wall arrives solid with no valve cutout. Your plumber selects the valve and cuts the openings on site, and that is the moment to settle the grab bar positions too, because the valve, the shower head, a hand shower on a slide bar and the bars all share the same walls. The kit guidance covers the reinforced backing zones and the grab bar screws, and the installation manual for your kit is published with the product listing and is also available from the team.

The video on this page shows the barrier-free walk-in shower kit as Ella presents it: a kit that can be outfitted with your choice of wall tiles, shower bases, grab bars, several styles of folding seats, an extended hand shower and a caregiver shower curtain. Kits are purchased through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 and ship nationwide, as explained in Where Can I Buy a Complete Ella Walk-In Shower Kit?.

Grab Bars That Arrive with an Ella Walk-In Tub

Which bars come with a walk-in tub is set by the model, and every included bar is chrome. Per the current spec sheets, the included bars break down as follows.

The practical difference is where your hands land. A deck-mount bar sits at the point where you step in, sit down and stand up, while a wall-mount bar helps once you are standing, showering or turning. Models that list only one type, or none, are the ones where extra wall bars are worth planning with your contractor before the walls are finished. The full range, including the deck-mount kit contents, is in What grab bars does Ella offer for its walk-in tubs?.

Buying Bars Beyond What Is in the Box

Replacement interior bars and add-on security grab bars are available from Ella beyond the bars that ship with a tub or kit, and the place to ask is your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Have your model and your order details ready so the team can match the bar to your tub. Included bars are supplied in chrome only, so a different finish means custom plating rather than an off-the-shelf part.

The deck-mount bar is a good example of why a matching Ella part matters. It ships loose in its own kit and contains one chrome bar, two escutcheons, four rubber washers, two large metal washers, two bolts and an Allen wrench. The large metal washer spreads the load across the acrylic, and installing the bar without it can crack the shell and voids the warranty. A generic bar bolted through the deck without that hardware carries the same risk.

• For a shower kit, the listed grab bar set comes in the carton. Order any extra bars at the same time so your installer can plan all of them together with the valve.
• For a walk-in tub, check the table above. If your model lists a wall bar only, or none, decide on wall bars before the bathroom walls are finished.
• For a replacement, give the team your model and a photo of the existing bar so the style matches, especially on the Standard and Zen with their U-shape bar.

Where the Bars Must Go, and How They Are Fastened

Buying the bar is the easy part. Every grab bar must be fastened into studs or solid in-wall backing, and that is true of the bars that come with a shower kit as well as any you add around a tub. Around a bathtub, Ella's guidance follows ADA practice: horizontal wall bars 33 to 36 inches above the tub floor, plus a vertical bar near the door at the spot where you step in and out. The height is measured from the tub floor, the surface you actually stand on, not from the bathroom floor, and that detail is worth pointing out to your contractor before any holes are marked. Keep bars clear of the door swing and of any shower screen or valve you plan to add. The placement rules are laid out in Where Should Grab Bars Be Installed in a Shower or Around a Bathtub?.

Does Medicare Pay for Grab Bars?

Generally not. Bathroom safety items such as grab bars, raised toilet seats and shower chairs do not appear on Medicare's published list of covered durable medical equipment, and bathroom remodeling is a home modification rather than equipment, so these are generally not covered by Original Medicare. Ella's Bubbles does not bill Medicare. The commode chair is the notable bathroom item that does appear on the covered list. If a specific item matters to your budget, confirm it with Medicare before you buy, and Original Medicare and Walk-In Tubs: What Part B Durable Medical Equipment Coverage Means explains the five tests Part B applies.

Watch: Why Choose Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• How Many Grab Bars Does a Walk-In Tub Have, and Where Are They?
• Grab Bar Length, Diameter, Weight Rating and Wall Spacing
• Does the grab bar include screws and anchors for tile walls?

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