GALAXSAW Handyman Services

Hi, I'm Alex, the owner of GALAXSAW Handyman Services. After working as a commercial carpenter on large-scale construction projects—including a new Nike facility in Beaverton—I discovered that I enjoy the personal side of construction: helping homeowners, landlords, and local businesses with smaller projects that need attention and quality workmanship.

Today, I provide reliable handyman services throughout the Portland metro area. I specialize in small residential and commercial projects that many larger contractors don't take on, including repairs and installations that can typically be completed in four hours or less. My experience includes electrical and plumbing fixture replacements, PEX-A and PEX-B plumbing work, door lock and hardware installation, door jamb repairs, and many other home maintenance and repair services.

I am proud to be part of the Home Depot Pro Services contractor network and have completed projects for local organizations, including Reynolds School District. I am licensed, bonded, and insured through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB #233510).

Whether you are a homeowner, landlord, or property manager, my goal is simple: provide dependable service, clear communication, and quality repairs you can trust.

Thank you for visiting GALAXSAW Handyman Services. I look forward to helping with your next project.

Grab Bar Installation

A grab bar can provide additional support and stability in areas where slipping or losing balance is a concern. But a grab bar is only useful if it is installed securely and in a location that works for the person using it.

GALAXSAW provides grab bar installation in Portland, Oregon and the surrounding Portland metro area, with a focus on residential bathroom and shower installations.

Whether you are adding a grab bar to a shower, bathtub area, near a toilet, or another appropriate location, I can evaluate the installation area and determine the best practical approach for mounting it securely.

Shower & Bathtub Grab Bar Installation

The bathroom is one of the most common places where people install grab bars.

Water, smooth surfaces, and limited space can make getting into or out of a shower or bathtub more difficult. A properly positioned grab bar can provide a convenient place to hold onto when entering, exiting, standing, or changing position.

The exact location depends on the bathroom layout, the user's needs, and the construction behind the wall.

Before installation, I evaluate the available mounting area and the wall structure to determine how the grab bar can be installed appropriately.

Toilet Grab Bar Installation

Grab bars can also be installed near toilets to provide additional support when sitting down or standing up.

The best location isn't necessarily the same in every bathroom. Room dimensions, toilet position, wall location, and the person's preferred method of using the grab bar all need to be considered.

If you are installing a grab bar for a particular person, it is helpful to think about where that person naturally reaches for support before choosing the final mounting position.

Finding the Right Mounting Location

A grab bar should not simply be installed wherever it looks convenient.

The wall construction behind the finished surface is an important part of the installation. Depending on the bathroom, the wall may contain wood framing, other structural elements, drywall, tile, fiberglass, or other materials.

GALAXSAW can evaluate the installation area and determine what mounting approach is appropriate for the existing construction.

When possible, mounting into appropriate structural framing can provide a strong and reliable installation. When the desired location does not line up with framing, the installation may require a different approved mounting method or may need to be reconsidered.

Grab Bars on Tile Walls

Installing a grab bar on a tiled bathroom wall requires additional care.

Tile can crack if it is drilled incorrectly or handled with inappropriate tools. The mounting location also needs to be considered in relation to the wall structure behind the tile.

GALAXSAW can evaluate suitable grab bar installations on tiled surfaces and take the existing tile and wall construction into consideration when planning the installation.

Because every tile installation is different, photos of the wall and the proposed grab bar are helpful before scheduling.

Choosing a Grab Bar

Grab bars are available in many lengths, shapes, finishes, and configurations.

Some are straight bars, while others are angled, vertical, horizontal, or designed for particular bathroom locations.

When choosing a grab bar, consider:

Where it will be installed
How the person will use it
Available wall space
The wall construction
The required mounting configuration
The manufacturer's installation instructions
The physical dimensions of the user and bathroom

If you have already purchased a grab bar, send us the model information and photos of the proposed installation location.

If you haven't purchased one yet, I can help you determine what information should be considered before selecting a model.

Grab Bar Installation Is More Than Drilling Holes

A common mistake is to think that installing a grab bar simply means drilling a few holes and attaching it to the wall.

The important part is creating a secure connection between the grab bar and the building structure or an appropriate mounting system.

The finished wall surface is not necessarily capable of supporting the forces placed on a grab bar. This is especially important because people may instinctively put substantial weight on a grab bar when losing balance.

For this reason, I evaluate the wall construction and mounting method rather than treating every wall as if it were the same.

Replacing an Existing Grab Bar

If an existing grab bar is loose, damaged, outdated, or being replaced with a different model, the existing mounting holes and hardware should be evaluated before installing the replacement.

Simply reusing old holes is not always appropriate.

A replacement grab bar may have different mounting-hole spacing or mounting requirements, and the existing wall structure may need to be evaluated again.

Customer-Purchased Grab Bars

You are welcome to purchase your own grab bar.

Before installation, it is helpful to provide:

Manufacturer and model number
Grab bar dimensions
Photos of the bathroom
Photos of the proposed installation location
Information about the wall surface
Any specific placement requirements

This allows the installation to be evaluated before the appointment and can help identify potential mounting problems.

Grab Bar Installation in Portland

GALAXSAW provides grab bar installation in Portland, Oregon and the surrounding Portland metro area.

I install grab bars in appropriate residential locations, including showers, bathtubs, and areas near toilets, while taking the existing wall construction and desired placement into consideration.

If you are not sure where a grab bar should go, send photos of the bathroom and explain who will be using it and what type of support they are looking for. The goal is to create an installation that is not only secure, but also positioned where it is actually useful.

A Note About Safety

A grab bar is a safety-support product, but installation alone cannot guarantee that a person will not fall or that a particular grab bar will support every possible load.

The grab bar itself should be appropriate for its intended use and installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and applicable requirements. If a project involves specialized accessibility requirements, structural modifications, or circumstances outside a standard residential installation, additional professional evaluation may be appropriate.