Remodeling a bath can be exciting – replacing ugly pink tile, putting in a beautiful new zero-clearance shower, installing gorgeous new cabinets and fixtures. I know. I did that myself. But there’s one very simple, inexpensive step you should take now while you’ve got walls open and studs exposed – a step that will help ensure a safer future if you plan on staying in your home for years to come: add wall blocking.

Why install wall blocking now?

No one likes to think of themselves as getting old and needing grab bars by the toilet or in the shower. But life isn’t forgiving. Mobility and stability will decline with age for virtually everyone. And when it comes time to install those now-imperative grab bars, you’ll be glad that hiding behind that drywall and shower tile are secure, solid blocks of wood that provide superior weight-bearing attachment points. While there are products that claim to work in hollow walls, you don’t want a grab bar giving way under a sudden, forceful load. Blocking is the way professionals do it. It’s so simple when your walls are open and studs exposed.

Trust me, it’s worth it.

I became a Certified Aging in Place Specialists AFTER I’d remodeled my master bath – and kick myself for not thinking of this in advance. It would have been so simple, and so cheap to have added blocking and documented its location for future use.

While your walls are open, there are other modifications you can do to “future-proof” your bath for aging in place.

DOORWAYS – If you end up using a walker or a wheelchair, you’ll want a wider doorway for ease of access. Pre framing “jack studs” for a wider doorway will allow for a simple tear-out to framing, which will be in place.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS – adding blocking for free-hanging vanities or sinks in advance will provide solid anchoring for future use.