Exterior doorways of most houses often require an individual to step up. Installing grab bars at these locations can greatly assist individuals who have balance and navigational issues. But, there are a few things your need to know before you start such a project. I highly recommend ADA-approved grab bars that are available at major hardware stores. Because grab bars are designed to sustain a heavy weight load, they need to be screwed directly into the door frame with 2-inch screws (minimum). There should be three screw holes at the bottom of the bar, and three screw holes at the bottom of the bar. Have the person(s) who will be using the grab bars present during installation the can help with positioning. The grab bar needs to be at a height that will allow the individual to comfortably utilize the grab bar (elbow near a 90 degree angle). And as we learned from trial and error, the grab bar also needs to be positioned in a manner that doesn’t interfere with the door handle or locking mechanism when the door is closed.
These offset grab bars are located at a back door to allow the user a soldid handle for entering and exiting the house.
We decided to also add two grab bars for the step located between the laundry room and the garage.