A perfect grab bar

Two big families: depending on the style, location and characteristics of the bathroom, grab bars can be divided into coated and surface treated. As the terms themselves suggest, while the first ones are usually covered by a particular coating, the latter are finished with a paint or treated with specific techniques.

In order to better understand, let’s dive into the structure of a grab bar. A screw joins the bar to the fixing flanges, which are then directly screwed to the wall. Each flange is concealed by a flange cover. Bars are made with different materials according to the family they belong to: coated grab bars are manufactured with a zinc-plated steel pipe which is covered with vinyl, that is generally realized through an extrusion process. If we are referring to surface treated grab bars instead, the pipe could be in zinc-plated steel, painted with specific materials (like Rilsan) or in stainless steel with a satin or polished finish.

Shapes are usually straight or curved, but what mostly characterizes a bar is its length, which depends on the surface/wall that is going to be "
protected"
. This means that they should have a solid and efficient fastening system, which must be appropriate to the specific wall type, especially if it is a light/dry wall, Learn more about fastening

Lastly, what are the main features of coated and surface treated grab bars?

Thanks to their vinyl cover, coated grab bars have some particular key elements that make them more comfortable, especially for older people, who need a bar that is pleasant to touch and assures good grip to avoid slips and falls. Coated grab bars are the best for these aspects. In addition, they are biocompatible and antimicrobial.

If style and safety are key requirements instead, probably surface treated bars are the right choice: painted, satin or with a polished finish, these products are more aestethic, with a minimalist style and a lot of possible color combinations. Besides, they are more resistant to vandalism, strain and the passing of time, maintaining their original aspect through the years.