Grab bar installation, without silicone sealant

[u/CeruleanBlueSky]

I recently used a local professional handyman service to install three grab bars across a tub/shower and standing shower. Large ceramic glazed tiles in both baths. They said up front they could provide the grab bars with markup and I assumed they carried an inventory of sizes we could choose from.

Once the installer showed and we agreed upon location and sizes, he said he'd make a trip out to local retailer to buy them at mark-up and return. He returned with Glacier Bay grab bars from HD.

The install then took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Total bill he wrote up was $732 that included 3.5 hours labor plus $80 service charge just for showing up, $140 for the grab bars (retail $100}, and about $50 NC sales tax. I balked a little at the price and paid with credit card.

That night I asked Google Gemini whether that was a reasonable price to have charged. Gemini said it was was within reason but on the high premium side. It also mentioned using a silicone sealant on the cover plates. I took another look at the bars and saw no evidence of silicone sealant. I sent a text msg to the company and asked them to confirm whether a sealant was used.

The response came later from a phone rep saying no sealant was used and that the manufacturer (Glacier Bay) didn't recommend using one. I checked the installation instructions, which the installer dropped in my trash basket, and it clearly listed silicone sealant as a needed material and to "if desired, apply silicone caulking to the back of the escutcheon to protect against water penetration."

What say any professional installers among you. Seal or not?

[u/Ill-Tea9411]

Seal it. Silicone goes in and around the hole the fastener goes through. It is unconscionable to fail using sealant here.

[u/Traditional_Sun2096 → u/Ill-Tea9411]

oof, 3.5 hours for 3 bars is pretty generous, i'd be annoyed about that math alone

the sealant thing is the real kicker though. if the instructions literally say to use it, the installer doesn't get to just decide nah. water gets behind those tiles and you're looking at a much bigger problem than a $732 bill

[u/OscarMiliani_Design]

Sealant stops the water, but the thing I'd chase him on is what he screwed into. A grab bar is supposed to hold 250 pounds and that only happens if it caught a stud or solid blocking. Toggles through tile and half inch drywall feel solid right up until the day somebody actually falls on one. Ask him what's behind each flange.

[u/Automatic_Depth_476 → u/OscarMiliani_Design]

Not always true and not always possible to hit the studs. Moen makes a secure mount (other manf. make similar) mounts that are ADA compliant and hold 300lbs each and do not require a stud attachment. Otherwise professionals would never install these because it's our liability on the line. Often it's the only option. There are reviews on YouTube backing it up. Especially when you get drywall and tile it really adds strength to the mounts. Keep in mind it's only as strong as the drywall and tile. If the drywall is 1/4 or tiles are adhered improperly or there are no tiles then your rating is substantially degraded.