As part of my master bathroom remodel I'm adding blocking for grab bars. In most areas where I need blocking, I can just use 2-by-something blocking without any problem. There's a corner though where I cannot just do this, due to pipes in the wall. Here is what it looks like:
All that you see in this image is work that was done prior to this renovation (probably going back to when the house was built). I've merely taken the drywall down.
There's no way to redo the design to avoid the need for grab bars in that area.
I'd like to avoid having to move pipes around.
A 2-by-something piece of wood won't clear the water pipe closest to the face of the stud, or the plumbing vent.
3/4" plywood can be used in place of a 2-by-something but it won't clear the water pipe or the plumbing vent either. I had thought of adding a stud to the right of the water pipes. A piece of plywood could then run from that new stud to the stud on the right of the plumbing vent but the plywood won't clear the vent. (And I don't know about the wisdom of sandwiching water pipes between two studs.)
The only solution I'm aware of that would clear the pipes is to use a 16 gauge galvanized metal sheet to attach to the front of the studs. I'd have to notch the surface of the studs to the depth of the metal sheet so that the metal sheet is flush with the rest of the studs.
I'm not very keen on the metal alternative because in my world when my drill bit hits metal in a wall it usually means STOP AND REASSESS. But if I go with the metal sheet, I'd be putting in the wall metal that is meant to be drilled into (except for where the pipes are).
Is there some other non-metal-based solution that I've missed?
Note: Notches should not be square - this provides a weak point in the stud. Half circle your notches if you can.
Best Answer
Consider simply double lining the wall. A sheet of plywood over the studs, then drywall on top.
This will narrow the room by 1/2-3/4" depending on the ply, but this may not be a problem for you. You could also use thinner drywall as it doesn't have to span any gaps.