Grab rail fitting in Cirencester

A grab rail is only useful if it is screwed into something solid. A rail that pulls out of plasterboard under load is dangerous. I fit grab rails across Cirencester homes, picking the right fixing for each wall and load-testing every rail before I leave.

What is included

Bathroom grab rails (vertical beside the bath, angled from the wall by the toilet, horizontal by the basin). Shower grab rails. Stair handrails wall-mounted on one or both sides of a staircase. External door rails beside the front and back doors. Kitchen step rails. Garage or utility room rails if that is where the trip hazard is. White, brushed stainless steel, chrome or anti-bacterial plastic finishes.

Before anything gets drilled, I'll talk through where the rail should go. There is a right height, a right angle, and a right grip distance for each position. Getting it wrong means a rail that is technically there but doesn't actually help when you need it. If you're fitting rails for a specific person's mobility, have them there if you can, or I'll take guidance over the phone.

What is NOT included

If an occupational therapist has prescribed a rail, it's fitted through social services. I do private fitting: you buy the rail or I pick one up at cost, and I fit it.

How long it takes

A single bathroom grab rail: 45 minutes to an hour depending on the wall. A full bathroom set (two rails plus a toilet rail) is typically one and a half to two hours. A stair handrail along a full staircase is two to three hours. External rails are usually under an hour each.

Pricing

The first hour is £55 and includes getting to you if you're within five miles of Cirencester. It's the minimum charge, so it's worth saving up a few small jobs for one visit. Most single rail fittings are within the first hour. Rails can be supplied by you or picked up at cost. I carry the right fixings for plasterboard, Cotswold stone and tile.

Common questions

Will the rail pull out of plasterboard? Not if the right fixings are used. Heavy-duty spring toggles or metal cavity anchors rated for the load work well. A standard plastic rawl plug in plasterboard isn't good enough, and I won't fit a rail that way.

Can you fit rails in a tiled bathroom? Yes. I use a drill bit made for tile so it doesn't crack, then fix into the solid wall behind.

Do you load-test the rail? Every time. A firm pull test before I leave, with my full weight where appropriate.