Naptime DIY: How to install a Moen Corner Shelf with Grab Bar

We were provided with product for review purposes.  All thoughts are our own.   The Moen Corner Shelf with Grab Bar is simple to install and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes from start to finish.  Of course, the best laid plans sometimes fall short and here’s how to salvage a simple Naptime DIY that, for one reason or another gets away from you.

The corner grab bar from Moen is big enough to hold a couple bottles of shampoo/soap. We wanted to install it because it got rid of the white dangling wire thing that hung around the showerhead.  Like a moth to a flame is soap scum build up to that wire shower caddy.

Installing the Moen Corner Shelf with Grab Bar is not difficult and the instructions provide you with all the step by steps you need.  This is our story about how we did it and what went south.

Tools need:

• A level
• A 1.25 hole saw
• Power drill
• Pencil
• Phillips screwdriver
• Studfinder

1. Determine where you want to put the corner shelf.
2. Use the studfinder to ensure that you won’t be drilling into anything. This is like Pandora’s Box because pipes may not be picked up by the studfinder, be careful.
3. Place and be certain the shelf is level-mark the top holes where the screw will eventually go into the wall.
4. Use your hole saw to drill the hole.

Tip:  Your hole saw will try to get away from you and move the drill clockwise.  To minimize this use a good drill with lots of torque and start the drill before the hole saw comes into contact with the wall.

Tip:  If you’re drilling through stone surfaces it may take more than 10 minutes to create the hole-be patient.

5. Once you’ve cut through the tile and dry wall remove the core and insert the guide.
6. Put the removal stick into the wall anchor and slide it into the sides of the guide.

We made the mistake of not ensuring that our anchor was in the guide correctly.  As a result our anchor fell through the wall L.  We panicked for a moment and then found out that Lowes sells the same anchors for $9.  These are big anchors and not the typical ones you’ll find in the screw isle.

Tip:  If you can easily push the anchor through your hole try gently tapping it with a hammer/screwdriver.  With our newly purchased anchor we did that and it fit like a charm.

7. Push the stick (and the anchor) into the wall. Once the anchor is through the dry wall it was go vertical and you then pull the stick (which pulls the anchor) tight against the back of the drywall.
8. Place the corner shelf over the hole and insert the screws into the wall anchor.
9. Screw down tightly, place the covers over the screw area and lay the shelf down where it belongs.
10. Imagine a head full of thick hair as you look at the shampoo mockingly placed in your new corner shelf and grab bar.*

It’s important to note that the hole required, 1.25 is much larger than normal shelves.  This is because the Moen grab bar meets the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) guidelines for weight loads up to 250 pounds.

If you don’t have a hole saw and are drilling into tile be prepared to pay about $40 for the drill and guide.    Once you have the guide you can reuse that for any hole saw and your friends can ask if you have a 1.25 hole saw, which most people don’t.  Thus, you’ll be the cool DIY kid on the block.  Just be sure to get that hole saw back from said neighbor.

*This last step is only for the bald folks.