As an Architect, it appears the solution is to add 2x6 blocking in the wall adjacent to shower. Just curious at what height to add the blocking. Centered at 44" unless noted otherwise.
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15@crip659 I disagree. I would always treat a towel bar, if in reach of a toilet, tub or shower, as "might get used by a grab bar sometime" and therefore want it anchored into solid wood at both ends.– manassehkatz-Moving 2 CodidactCommented Nov 28, 2021 at 21:10
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2Instead of 2x6 how about 3/4 inch ply, a band 2 feet tall from 4 to 6 feet high wherever need? So you have a 2 ft margin of error instead of 6".– jay613Commented Nov 29, 2021 at 2:15
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2@J... Those anchors can hold 100lbs of vertical static charge. That's fine for a shelf that you just look at. Towel racks are often manipulated, and when you are in the shower trying to grab your towel, the anchor may experience pullout stress and/or cantilever action, rather than just vertical charge. In that case, the 100lbs means nothing.– dimCommented Nov 29, 2021 at 16:02
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3@J..., only under perfect conditions do such anchors hold such loads, and that doesn't consider daily impact damage, which is cumulative. Eventually drywall fails in such cases. You should really throw such wisdom out the window. At least reduce your values by 75%.– isherwoodCommented Nov 29, 2021 at 17:05
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3Drywall anchors work perfectly on paper and there's no reason they shouldn't do exactly what you expect them to. Except that they don't. Drywall anchors are a last ditch, hail mary solution and you are condemning future owners/users to annoying band-aid fixes while they desperately attempt to avoid expensive drywall repairs. I have used them all and they are all crap.– user227963Commented Nov 29, 2021 at 17:26
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3 Answers
I'll post this as an answer, but it's really a frame challenge.
As manassehkatz-Moving to Codidact correctly notes, many people just reach for towel bars and use them as grab bars. I like doing that too. So when I installed my last set, I used grab bars in place of towel bars, making sure each end was fastened with actual screws into studs:
(image from Google Images)
That last installation (four different bars in a master bath) was in 2008. Each is still secure and firmly attached. It's a pleasure to hold such a large and confidence-inspiring bar.
answered Nov 28, 2021 at 23:21
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1Despite the poor title, the only question posed is about blocking height. This doesn't address that. Commented Nov 29, 2021 at 17:06
For a better in depth discussion of framing for grab bars you should read chapter 6 of the fair housing design guide. Typically you specify blocking at the heights that would be required to support grab bars around toilets, showers, etc. Installing the blocking at the framing stage allows these aids to be installed in the future with little effort and the cost to install the blocking when framing is fairly minimal.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/PDF/FAIRHOUSING/fairfull.pdf
answered Nov 29, 2021 at 0:42
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What's your answer to the height question? Links to other sites don't qualify as answers on SE. You should copy the relevant information here. Commented Nov 29, 2021 at 17:07
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The question was about towel racks, not grab bars. The linked document does not mention "towel" anywhere. Commented Nov 29, 2021 at 18:22
Blocking is very inexpensive.
When I have put in blocking for eventual towel rods, etc., I have put in multiple 2x6, stacked, so that the end user has very broad leeway as to where to install it.
Then I put a tape up against the wall and stand back and take photos so that, in the future, you can see exactly what height from the floor the blocking begins and ends.
Don't create future pain for people with just a single 2x6 block - give them 12 inches to work with.
answered Nov 29, 2021 at 17:23
