Tim,
I am having a new home built with an ADA shower seat to be installed on the tiled shower wall. It can fold up against the wall when not in use. I ordered the seat online from Specialty Seats and they said to use 1/4 inch stainless steel bolts and to secure them from the back side. I want to inspect the installation by the builder, but I do not know how the builder should be properly reinforcing the wall to secure this seat? What should I look for? Mrs. Gladden
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Mrs. Gladden,
I would make sure the builder has installed solid 2 x blocking in the location where the seat shall be. This blocking can be scrap pieces of 2 x 8 or 2 x 10 Southern Yellow Pine or equivalent wood. I would want it placed so the bolt locations are not closer than two inches to the edge of the blocking on any side of the blocks. The blocking must be securely screwed or nailed into the wall studs. If it is toenailed or screwed, be sure holes are drilled in the blocking to prevent splits in the blocking wood.
The back of this wall must remain open until the seat is installed. My guess is the stainless steel bolts must be through bolts that have nuts and washers. I would not use lags bolts for this seat.
Tim Carter
www.askthebuilder.com
W3ATB