A sliding bar shower is a well-designed moveable compartment that allows the hand-held shower head to be adjusted to fit different heights.
It gives simple/quick solutions for large families by allowing you to adjust the handheld showerhead to different heights and angles, allowing anyone to take a shower at their own personal preferences.
How to install a slide bar shower
A sliding bar is a pretty simple piece of equipment to install. It does not require any drilling into the bathroom wall; the advantage is that it places the handheld showerhead in an easy-to-access location for all family members.
Listed Below Are Some of the Steps to Follow When Installing One on Tile or Fiber Glass Surfaces
Step 1
The first step involves gathering the right tools for the job.
You will need:-
- Adjustable pliers
- Cloth towel
- Level
- Masking tape
To attach the sliding bar to the tile on the wall or the marble surroundings, we recommend using a strong adhesive pad rather than drilling.
It will take 12 to 24 hours for the slide rail to fully cling to the shower wall.
Step 2
Second, take out the old shower head. Using pliers, detach the present shower head from the pipe in a counterclockwise manner.
To avoid scratching on the existing showerhead, cover the pliers with a towel.
Set the showerhead aside once it has been removed.
Step 3
Remove any old Teflon tape or plumber’s putty, as well as any remaining washers, and inspect the inside of the pipe with a pencil.
Step 4
Next, install your new shower head.
Step 5
Ascertain that the area surrounding the shower pipe is clean and dry. To locate the required position of the rail, use the given template. It should be positioned slightly to the left or right of your shower pipe.
If you like, you can choose to use the level.
Step 6
Tape the template in the desired position to the shower wall. To confirm the height, raise the shower head. You can move the template based on the size of those who will use the shower.
Because the adhesive pads cannot be adjusted once they have been applied to the wall, it is critical to determine the right spot with the template. The rails’ sticky pads enable for one-time use.
Step 7
Once you’ve determined the best position, apply a pre-adhesive wipe to the clean area inside the template and allow it to dry for 1 minute. Check to see if the bracket is still attached to the slide rail.
Step 8
Peel the tape backing off adhesive pads. Then place slide rail inside the template. Apply pressure for about 20 seconds and remove the template.
Step 9
Allow at least 12 hours before using the shower to completely dry. Allow a full 24 hours for the best results.
Step 10
Install the shower head onto the slide rail once it has been correctly fastened to the shower wall. Both the bracket’s lip and the lever’s bottom should be on the bottom to ensure proper installation.
Screw the hose onto the shower pipe, then screw the other end of the hose onto the shower head, and finally place the shower handle into the bracket. The new shower head attachment connects the hose to the main water supply.
Step 11
Slide the shower head to the preferred height. To adjust the head’s position, hold the lever at the base of the bracket, adjust to the desired position, and then release. Now you are ready to enjoy your new slide rail shower system.
Where to Put Shower Slide Bars
The standard measurement is often 81 inches (6′ 9″ feet) from the bathroom floor to the showerhead. This can range from 72 inches to 96 inches, depending on the heights of those who use the bathroom.
Nonetheless, it is commonly fixed at 78″ or 72″ inches by a large number of builders and plumbers.
The shower’s height depends on different requirements and other users’ needs, including body movement, with the needed comfort when taking a shower.
Recommended: Best Handheld Shower head with Slide Bar
Standard Shower Head Heights
The known shower height is 80 inches for individuals with average height. The shower’s height depends significantly on personal requirements, preferences, and the available space in your bathroom.
The height of the shower should be between 72 inches to 96 inches. Although, have in mind that for home, use the height shower head ought to be taller than the family’s tallest individual.
In public spaces like hotels, guest houses, offices, and commercial buildings, it is preferred to install it at a taller height than the standard 80 inches.
Even very tall people like 6 feet 10 inches or seven-footers (84 inches) might use it.
The uncertainty of guests’ height is why most hotels prefer the handheld shower head fixed with a long slide bar to hold it and modify the height.
It would be best if you decided on the shower height you want, depending on the tallest person who is likely to use your shower head. Standard Shower Enclosure Height – 78″
Ordinarily, it is required to put up the shower enclosure to at least 3 inches overhead the shower rough-in. The shower rough-in is the height at which the shower arm protrudes out of the wall.
At no point should the shower enclosure in the bathroom extend to the ceiling. If you are sure of proper ventilation, you can have it up as high as the ceiling.
This is due to mold and mildew that begin to grow on the shower walls when the steam from the shower does not escape.
How do you remove a shower slide bar?
The wall bar handheld shower head may need replacement from time to time due to the hardening of the plastic material becoming brittle and prone to splitting and cracking.
The first step
You should be able to access the fixing screws. These screws are covered by plastic covers where the cover can be easily twisted or pulled to expose the screws.
The second step
You will be required to remove either the top or bottom of the bracket attached to the wall, it does not have any effect, and you can go for the one with weak screws.
The third step
You will need to unscrew the holding bracket. Be careful not to misplace the screws as you will need them for the replacement.
Then go on to slider the off the shower head holding bracket after removing the shower head and the shower hose first.
How high/low should a shower Handheld be?
There are no requirements to be followed concerning the height of the shower head. Some factors, such as how tall the individual is and the shower head’s particular style, play a role.
The regular height of a shower head is 80 inches; this is about 6 feet 8 inches. This height is considered to be more than the average height of individuals and enough for people on the taller side.
Public places such as hotels or guest houses mostly put up shower heads a bit higher. Most hotels go for the handheld showerheads for this reason.
When figuring out the showerhead’s suitable height, the tallest individual in the family should be measured.
After considering that, add an extra 3 inches to the measurement. The additional 3 inches will allow for enough space for the tallest individual not to injure themselves while taking a shower and to be able to enjoy the shower.
The rain shower heads are extensively accommodating to all heights since they offer good coverage despite the height. In the presence of a low ceiling, the rain shower head will still provide a great shower experience.
The handheld shower head is made of a 3 to a 6-foot hose, which allows one to control the shower.
This shower head is the best choice for families with toddlers or pets since it is easy to bathe toddlers with minimal risk of water getting into their eyes and scaring them off.
Some of the handheld showerheads have been fixed on the wall mount.
While others can move through the dock up or down along the sliding bar, a household with varying heights benefits significantly from the handheld showerhead.
The universal shower slide bar can be put up at a height that the individual finds comfortable. Although having the head at a reachable height is quite important.
One should not place it at the same height as the rain shower; but go a little lower than the standard measurement between 72 and 78 inches, which should be enough.
How do you fix a shower slide bar riser rail?
You will need the following to fix a shower riser rail
Shower riser, Multipurpose detector, Power drill, Tile bit, Rawl plugs, Flathead screwdriver, Masking tape, Safety glasses, Pencil, Spirit level
- Decide where to shower riser placed on the wall and make a marking on where you will drill into the tile.
- Please use the multipurpose detector to ensure no wires or pipes are running in the background of where one is going to drill. Be exceptionally thorough when doing the background check for pipes and cables since numerous pipes and cords are behind a bathroom’s walls.
- Get rid of the escutcheon plates, then place the riser at the marked point against the wall. Mark with a pencil on the tiles of the screw holes. Have the masking tape placed over these to prevent the drill bits from slipping, and then go ahead and remark the screw holes on the masking tape. To make sure the markings made are in line, use the spirit level to measure.
- Ensure that the drill is not in the hammer action to avoid cracking your tile. Drill the holes carefully using the tile bit on your drill. Remember to always wear safety goggles when drilling. Top Tip: Let the drill do the work. Have the drill held perpendicularly to the tile then apply a bit of pressure. Do it slowly till the break of the tile surface. Once you are through with the tile surface, you can increase the speed of the drill.
- Remove the masking tape from the wall. Have the right wall plugs inserted into your hole, preferably past the tile depth, then proceed to screw your first bracket into the wall plugs. Have the shower riser attached and fix the first escutcheon in place.
- Before screwing in the second bracket, ensure that the shower riser is in the perfect place.
- Fix the second escutcheons on the bracket.
- Place the shower head into position.
How far should shower head be from the wall?
Rain Showerheads
The rain or waterfall shower heads give the sensational feeling of standing in the rain. This model allows the water to pour directly on one’s head.
If one prefers these particular types of fittings, install the fixture at a minimum of 84 inches from the shower floor to meet the shower head height requirements.
Rainshower heads are suitable for households with members of different heights. It also provides a desirable fit for low ceiling showers since the water spreads before leaving the showerhead.
Handheld Shower heads
The handheld shower will require to be installed at a height ranging between 72 inches and 78 inches from the bathroom floor.
However, the regular length of this particular shower head is within the range mentioned above; one can make use of its attached handled bar to adjust the shower head height to your preferred needs.
If one needs to buy a handheld shower, select a more flexible hose with at least a length of 60 inches. This item will allow one to make use of the shower as a handheld or a fixed showerhead.
For homes with toddlers, the handheld holder showerhead would be more appealing. This particular model will be suitable for kids as it can be adjusted to fit their ever-changing heights.
Read:- How to Replace a Shower Slide Bar
How do I stop the shower head from moving?
From time to time, pipes and shower heads that run through walls or tiles are put up the wrong way or, due to movements, get themselves loose.
The hole made for them to go through may be too big, and the continued vibration due to the water going through them.
The easy way to ensure or secure the shower pipe or shower head and keep it from loosening or moving is the expansion foam, which is also flexible as it allows for some movement of the pipe due to heat expansion.
Using a screwdriver to loosen the trim ring and have it pulled away from the wall.
The shower head or the pipe should be protruding through a hole in the wall.
Frequently this hole is cut too big or gets big through the movement of the shower head. To catch any extra expansion foam, apply the masking tape to the wall around the hole.
Place in the expansion foam pipe in the hole around the pipe, then squirt for the ring of expansion foam forms around the pipe.
The ring should surround the pipe and should protrude a bit from the wall to provide additional support.
Wait for the expansion foam to cure/settled before trimming the excess away. Only cut off what is required to fit the trim ring back on; the more foam you leave behind, the better the support will be.
Push the trim ring back into rightfull place, and the pipe or shower head should be perfectly secure and movement free.
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