all great ideas.

i should have taken a pic.

the mixing valves are on the left wall. the back wall, has the window into the backyard, and will be the wall she wants the main grab-bar. she wants the assist in getting up from a laying down bath position. i have to put a vertical bar on the right wall, to give her a hand position as she step over the tub railing. there is no outlet on the right wall. my only landmark is the window directly on the long wall, in the back.

Shouldn't be hard for the window stud locations. Measure about 2 1/4" to each side of the window and you should hit one. Take a teeeeeeny tiny bit and drill a confirmation hole in grout that way if you're off you can just use some silicone to patch the hole.

Take a picture of the window and post it here. Most framed windows will have two main studs that run floor to ceiling then jack studs ganged to the side of them, lower sill board and upper header, then jacks that fill in below he lower sill and upper header depending on wall height.

Wall studs are usually 12 or 16 on center. Divide the span. Mark with blue tape.

Or follow the ceiling joists.
Those should be resting directly on wall studs if it was framed properly.

The bathroom 'drywall' should actually be sheeted with the harder/no funk green board.
Many are not.

There are direct mount drywall anchors https://www.bing.com/search?form=MOZTSB&pc=MOZI&q=grab+bar+mounting+kit
They might not work, or need additional modification, when right next to wall studs.
Some are rated to something like 3500-6,000 lbs I believe.
(but a chain is only as strong as the weakest link)

i will!!

I would advise her to tear the tile out, reinforce the grab bar mounting locations with blocking, then re-tile.

yeah, but good luck finding exact replacement tile.

I would try a tile store.

suggestion: Buy a few extra boxes from the same batch and store them for later.

Or get the same size and use those for a surround.

If the tiles are cut out sorta responsibly, they can be replaced with tile that doesn't have to match. In fact, unless they are EXACTLY the same, it would look better for them to be complimentary and not too close to the original color and texture.

If they are too close but not quite right, they will scream REFURBISHED BATHROOM HERE! However, it is just an old lady's bathroom after all. Not many people will see it, probably. Her call, of course.

What's in the back of the shower wall? How old is this tile job, you think? If you must, crawl up into the attic and look for nails through the top plate. They are nailed to the studs. If tile is floated, like a bed of 1" thick stucco, then use a set of redhead plastic plugs, stainless screws and be done with it. It will hold up for some time.

Go into the old lady's home and get us a pic

.... preferably while she's not in the shower.

BTW... it's (the window where the grab rail is going) on an outside wall. Depending on the material outside, this should be REALLY easy to figure out.

And btw, why can't it be a hot young girl wanting a grab bar near the window of her shower? I'd be looking for a good tree to put up a stand in my yard. :D

Why do you think he's always there helping:D

That's age discrimination. :eek:

If that were the case, Vash would just have to stand there all proud wearing only his jaunty tool belt.

Noooo, now I need eyes bleached

My vote goes to Fred's idea.

Just have her keep her phone by the tub...and call you when she is ready to get out. You can come over and give her something firm to hang onto. She will be very grateful.