EZ Able® Resource Guide
Reinforced Shower Walls: Why They Matter and Cost More
Quick answer
A shower with reinforced walls can take properly installed grab bars and fold-down seats later without opening the wall for blocking; Best Bath and EZ Able showers, and the Praxis and Aquatic showers sold on ezable.com, have them, and the extra material and weight are why they cost more to build and ship.
Not all shower walls are built the same
What you can't see behind the walls can make a big difference down the road.
Many inexpensive showers are designed to do one thing: keep the water in. They may look great when first installed, but what happens five or ten years later when someone needs a grab bar or a shower seat?
That's where the difference in construction really matters.
Best Bath and EZ Able showers, along with the Praxis and Aquatic showers we sell at ezable.com, have reinforced walls. They're built to support properly installed grab bars and wall-mounted shower seats, so those safety features can be added later without tearing open the walls to install additional structural blocking.
Why reinforced walls matter
- Your shower can adapt as your needs change. You might not need a grab bar or folding shower seat today. But if you do someday, you'll appreciate having a shower that was built with those possibilities in mind.
- You avoid expensive remodeling later. Adding structural support behind an ordinary shower wall can mean removing wall panels, installing blocking, and repairing finished surfaces. Reinforced walls can eliminate much of that work.
- You get more flexibility in where things go. With factory reinforcement, grab bars and fold-down seats can be placed where they're most useful to the person using the shower, rather than being limited to a few predetermined blocking locations.
- It's built for everyday strength. Reinforced construction adds durability in the places where people may need additional support.
One thing reinforced walls don't change: install every grab bar and seat with the fasteners and method the shower's and the accessory's installation instructions call for. Seats put more load on a wall than grab bars, so check both sets of instructions before you mount one, and call us if you're unsure.
Reinforced walls vs. an ordinary shower wall
| Reinforced walls (the showers we sell) | Ordinary shower wall | |
|---|---|---|
| Adding a grab bar later | Mounts to the wall, following the installation instructions | Needs a stud or blocking behind the wall, which may not be where you want the bar |
| Adding a fold-down seat later | Mounts directly to the wall | Often means opening the wall to add blocking, then repairing the finish |
| Where accessories can go | Where the person needs them | Where the studs or blocking happen to be |
| Weight to ship | Heavier | Lighter |
| Up-front price | Higher | Lower |
How to tell if a shower has reinforced walls
Ask before you buy, because you can't see it from the product photo.
- Check the spec sheet. Look for wording like "reinforced walls," "backed walls," or "plywood backing." Our product pages have spec sheets under the Specifications tab.
- Ask the seller directly. "Can I mount a grab bar or seat anywhere on these walls, or only at studs?" is a fair question. A clear answer is a good sign.
- Don't assume by brand. Even within one manufacturer, not every model or seller's version is built the same way. That's why we name exactly which showers we mean.
So why do our showers cost more?
Because you're paying for more than a fiberglass shell.
Reinforced walls require additional materials, manufacturing steps, and quality control. Those materials add strength, but they also add weight. And when you're shipping something as large as a shower across the country, additional weight, size, protective crating, and freight handling all affect the cost. (Our help center explains how freight delivery works.)
Our showers may cost more to manufacture and more to ship than lightweight, basic alternatives. But the goal isn't to offer the cheapest shower you can buy today. It's to help you choose a shower you won't have to replace tomorrow.
The Best Bath, EZ Able, Aquatic and Praxis showers we sell also carry 30-year warranties.
We believe it's worth investing in the structure behind the beautiful finish, especially when that structure can help your bathroom remain safe, comfortable, and functional for years to come.
The bottom line
A lower price today isn't always a lower cost over the life of your bathroom. Sometimes the smartest investment is the one that saves you from another remodel.
At EZ Able, we're not trying to sell you the cheapest shower. We're helping you buy the right shower the first time.
Ready to look? Start with our curbless showers, walk-in shower kits or ADA showers. Planning the rest of the bathroom? See how to make a shower safer: what to change first. Contractors: our guide to saving 6 to 10 labor hours on a shower install covers the built-in backing from the installer's side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question below to expand the answer.
Can I add a grab bar to my shower later?
Yes, on a shower with reinforced walls. Best Bath and EZ Able showers, and the Praxis and Aquatic showers we sell at ezable.com, have reinforced walls, so a properly installed grab bar or fold-down seat can be added later without opening the wall for blocking. On an ordinary shower wall, mount into a stud or add blocking behind the wall first.
Do all Praxis or Aquatic showers have reinforced walls?
No. Not every Praxis or Aquatic shower has reinforced walls. The Praxis and Aquatic showers we sell at ezable.com do. That's part of why they're more durable, more solid and a bit more expensive than lightweight alternatives. If you're comparing the same brand from another seller, ask whether that exact model has reinforced walls.
Why does a reinforced shower cost more?
Reinforced walls take more material, more manufacturing steps and more quality control, and they make the shower heavier. A heavier, larger crated shower costs more to ship by freight. You pay more up front, but you avoid opening the wall later to add blocking for a grab bar or seat.
Do reinforced walls mean I can skip the installation instructions?
No. Reinforced walls give grab bars and seats something solid to mount to, but you still need the fasteners and method the installation instructions call for. Seats put more load on a wall than grab bars, so check the seat's instructions and the shower's instructions together before mounting, and call us if you're unsure.
Next Steps: Need Help Choosing?
Tell us about your bathroom or call 877-392-2531 and we will tell you straight which showers, seats and grab bars fit.
Posted by Jody Fisk, President of EZ Able®. Licensed Michigan residential builder since 1991, helping builders and homeowners get accessible showers right.
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