What would you do. You are installing a towel bar or grab bar. You find the
first stud okay. The 2x 4 wood is installed behind the wall is horizontal. But the second stud does not line up with the towel bar installation hole. I think the wood
is at intervals of 16" and the towel bar is 18"

What do you do in this type of situation?

I would use this style of anchor... they splay out in three or four directlons and give a pretty strong anchor point. Where you aren't on a stud.

http://0.tqn.com/d/homerepair/1/5/A/4/-/-/expandable_3.jpg


That's for a towel bar... I would not anchor a grab bar to anything but a stud.

Attach a nice looking piece of wood that is longer than the bar horizontally across the face of the wall and make sure the screws go into the studs at 16". Then attach the 18" bar to that.
OR
If it's really a grab bar, it is better for grabbing if it's installed at an angle with the higher end at the far end. That's why you can buy them in 18" sizes. Angle the bar to attach at 16".

I would use this style of anchor....they splay out in three or four directlons and give a pretty strong anchor point. where you aren't on a stud.

http://0.tqn.com/d/homerepair/1/5/A/4/-/-/expandable_3.jpg


Thats for a towel bar.....I would not anchor a grab bar to anything but a stud.

Thanks

Attach a nice looking piece of wood that is longer than the bar horizontally across the face of the wall and make sure the screws go into the studs at 16". Then attach the 18" bar to that.
OR
If it's really a grab bar, it is better for grabbing if it's installed at an angle with the higher end at the far end. That's why you can buy them in 18" sizes. Angle the bar to attach at 16".

Very Good Idea

Joy has nailed it. Install grab bar on angle to catch the studs.

Chuck

Attach a nice looking piece of wood that is longer than the bar horizontally across the face of the wall and make sure the screws go into the studs at 16". Then attach the 18" bar to that.
OR
If it's really a grab bar, it is better for grabbing if it's installed at an angle with the higher end at the far end. That's why you can buy them in 18" sizes. Angle the bar to attach at 16".

Thanks it is a small grab bar 9" long

One that short is usually installed vertically, and is usually for someone getting in and out of a shower/tub and place at standing height. It's not really suitable for next to a toilet or for getting up from a sitting position in a tub, although you can add it if others are there too.

Notice that it's smooth, not gnurled (with hatch marks for gripping). It should not be placed at an angle, and should be placed at the high end of what someone might be needing to grip it.

Very Good. It is important I guess you have to connect with the studs, that why they came with such large screws

Grab bar instructions require at least 1 screw into a stud. Usually on an angle you can get 2 and use a molly on the last one. If it is just a towel bar, set the ends on the studs and cut a longer bar down. We just did one with a painted piece of NMT.

Very Interesting

Agree with joy but this confuses me "2x 4 wood is installed behind the wall is horizontal" really?