ADA Compliant Foldup Teak Shower Benches

Q. "What is the weight capacity of these seats?"
A. When properly installed, these shower seats have been designed and manufactured to support loads exceeding the downward pull requirements for Federal specifications FHA, VA, HUD, hospital codes, and private construction. The actual "in use" load bearing capacity of any shower seat, however, will be limited by the strength of its mounting surface and installation hardware. Due to the differences in installation surfaces (tile, wood, sheet rock, etc), mounting hardware (bolts/screws/anchors) is not included.

Q. "Will the bathtub bench slide around or move on a wet bathtub floor?"
A. According to the manufacturer, the bottom of each leg features a germ-free rubber strip permanently bonded to it to keep the bench stable and slip-resistant. But, as with anything, be careful.

Q. "What is appropriate wood or steel backing material?"
A. The manufacturer recommends that shower seats be installed using 2" minimum thickness "in wall" solid wood blocking material with #10 x 2" stainless steel, phillips-head, sheet metal screws, or using a wall embedded, minimum 12 ga. (2.8mm) steel anchor plate with #10 x 24 stainless steel machine screws. Due to differences in installation surfaces like tile, wood, sheet rock, etc, mounting hardware (bolts/screws/anchors/backing material) is not included.

Q. "Do I have to worry about mold or mildew with my teak shower bench?"
A. Teak is renowned worldwide for its resistance to mold, mildew and rot. It is also germ-resistant, and all our benches are sanded smooth for maximum comfort. Please note: as with all shower benches, these ADA Compliant folding benches need to be cleaned to help prevent the build-up of dirt, soap scum and hard water deposits -which will sometimes allow the growth of molds.

Q. "How do I clean my new teak product?"
A. Cleaning Burmese teak is a fairly simple task. For lightly soiled teak use a mild solution of soap and water (for heavily soiled teak you will need to use a mild solution of bleach and water) and apply to the surface of the product and wipe or scrub off and rinse. This simple process will remove the surface dirt and residue restoring the teak to its natural beauty.

Q. "How do I maintain my teak product?"
A. Teak products require almost no maintenance. Due to teak's natural resistant properties they will not mold or mildew and will maintain the wood's beauty whether finished or unfinished. Maintaining finished teak is similar to polishing your wood furniture. Every few months, simply apply teak oil (available in any hardware store) to the surface of your product with a cloth. This process takes only a few minutes and will renew the finish on your teak product. If you prefer you can choose to let the teak age naturally. In time the teak oil will dissipate and the teak's natural oil content will continue to ward off mold and mildew. If not maintained with use of teak oil the color of the teak will change as it ages to a grayish color.

Q. "How does the water drain off of these benches?"
A. Actually, the water drains right through the bench. These benches are built with 1/8-inch spaces between each slat so that water drains right through to the tub or shower floor.

Q. "Who uses these types of shower seats?"
A. These seats are great for anyone who would like a wonderful folding bath/shower seat. Being ADA Compliant, these benches are very helpful for those who like to sit while showering as well as anyone who is handicapped, disabled, mobility challenged, elderly, patients in physical therapy, etc.

Q. "What does 'ADA Compliant' mean?"
A. Complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a comprehensive civil rights act for people with disabilities. On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law as wide-ranging legislation intended to make American society more accessible to people with disabilities and to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. The ADA was built primarily due to the desire of individuals with disabilities to work toward their goal of full participation in American society, and effects the ADA may have on businesses include restructuring or altering the layout of a building, modifying equipment, and removing barriers.

Q. "I'm not disabled, simply getting older. Do I need ADA compliant items? "
A. Not specifically, but the qualities of an ADA compliant item are beneficial to everyone. ADA compliant products ensure that the item, if installed per manufacturer specifications, will hold a certain amount of weight, be within certain dimensions, and perform in a certain manner to allow universal accessibility. Looking for stylish ways to update your home for more accessibility? Click here.

Q. "What is the difference between the Burmese Teak and Plantation Teak?"
A. The manufacturer states that the Burmese teak they use is "made of pure heartwood from mature Teak trees grown in the Indonesia/South East Asia region. Heartwood Teak provides an elegant piece with unique grain patterns and a beautiful rich color giving any area an immediate WOW factor. The high silica content in teak makes it an ideal wood to use when a slip resistant surface is needed and the natural oil makes the wood resistant to mold and mildew." The plantation teak is FSC certified and "comes from trees harvested from an actual plantation of younger Teak trees. Since we only use the heartwood of the tree, it has all the same qualities of old growth Burmese Teak but it is a little lighter in color." In both cases, the manufacturer states that the teak is harvested from reclaimed, sustainable forests, working with reputable, certified growers dedicated to maintaining the world's rainforests.