Filling Holes in Slate Shower to reinstall Grohe Freehander shower controls

[jamminjoe]

Hi Folks:

I got a Grohe in-wall Freehander (model 27 007) shower control system that I am exchanging with another Grohe Freehander (the second spray head on the bracket that moves up and down had a problem and the only real fix was to put in another - luckily it has a lifetime warranty). I just took off the first Freehander and found that the three screws seem a little loose. The plumber that installed it said that he was hitting something hard (metal screw head maybe?) for one of the four screw holes he was drilling so he didn’t use four screws to attach it to the wall, he just used three. Because the Freehander is a moveable bar with two shower heads that gets moved at least twice a day, I want to find a way to tighten the connection of this very heavy shower head system to the wall.

The wall is made of slate, cement backer board and some stud blocking. The holes in the slate are larger than the screws and I think the Freehander is being held up by what stud blocking the screws are biting into. I was thinking that if I could find something to fill the slate and backer board with I could then drill new holes and get a better more stable connection point.

Here is my question, what should I use to fill-in the holes in the slate/backer board and then be able to redrill the holes? Is slate strong enough for some down (shear) stress on the edge of a screw hole or will it crack? What else should I do to make the connection more stable?

Please let me know your ideas/thoughts.

- Jamminjoe

[Sponsored Links]

[Davestone]

If the slate is clefted it can be very unstable and weak.You could use an Akemi filler, or even some grout that matches color.You could try one of the numerous anchors they sell, plastic and such as they use in drywall, but the best solution would be to acces that wall from behind and add wood blocking to screw into if possible.

[jamminjoe]

Hi Dave:

Thanks for the advice. I just found that the Freehander does come with plastic
anchors for the screws. The guy that installed it the first time just didn’t use them. I know that the three “good” holes are going through slate, the cement board and into the stud blocking that I installed. If I use the plastic
anchors I think my problem will be solved. Thanks again for the help.