Accessible -Handicap Home Remodeling
Many of us are not prepared for our own or loved one’s disability. Whether it is our parents, good friend, or child when the situation presents itself it can be very difficult to know what should be done. Nursing homes can be very expensive and hard on your parent(s) or loved one, below I will cover some of the many benefits to making their home or yours, a great place to stay and live. Accessible remodeling or planning will save you money and make life enjoyable.
The term handicap can be offensive and is not appropriate language when referring to someone with disabilities. We use the term only to reference certain aspects of accessible construction and mean no offense by it.
Moving vs. Improving Accessible -Handicap Home Remodeling
I know my Grandparents wanted to stay in their house as long as possible. So with some simple changes they stayed living there for a few additional years and were able to save the $5000-12000 a month in Nursing home costs per person. Depending on the circumstances involved some simple things can be done to keep them living in their home. Sometimes it requires a bit of an investment but as you can imagine at an average of $8500 per month even a $15k -30,000k bathroom remodel wouldn’t take long to make up the savings for just one person.
Traditional homebuilders didn’t plan for people as they age or for the car accident that now requires a wheelchair. Many of these home have to be modified for limitations that are now reality. We specialize in this. We work hard to find solutions for most budgets and can recommend some grant programs that may be possible in your area.
Plus the remodel always add value to the home and may help it sell faster when some other family needs the same modifications
A full house remodel? Accessible -Handicap Home Remodeling
Yes, sometimes this is what is needed or wanted by our clients but most of the time we are taking care of the areas in use the most. This allows for the house to remain untouched but still give the person with the disability everything they need to have a good quality of life. Please contact us for any questions on the options for this. 763-439-2513
Wheelchair accessible house plans: Accessible -Handicap Home Remodeling
This type of planning makes for freedom of movement throughout the home or areas in use. Widening doorways, walk ways and building ramps. Lowering countertops, cabinets, and bathroom remodeling are some of the simple ways to make the house – Handicap accessible
With our population living longer, the need for accessible living will be always increasing, this will improve our aging parents lives and allow them a longer time with a feeling on independence
accessible handicap home remodeling
Bathroom Remodeling: Accessible -Handicap Home Remodeling
This is one of the projects we do the most for people. These modifications help people avoid injury and who doesn’t feel better when they are clean and feeling fresh? Let’s go thru some of the items in the Accessible bathroom.
Toilets – Your normal height is too low for most people as they age or are wheelchair bound. We will replace the toilet with a ADA Comfort height toilet usually about 19’’ off the floor. Standard toilets range from 14’’ to 16’’. They do make toilet seats that can also raise up the height on your existing toilet
Sinks and vanities – These need to be made to allow wheelchairs to slide in underneath them. This can be done in a few different ways. Wall hung sinks are a great way to achieve this and also helps save space if that is at issue. Also cultured marble or granite tops work well, picture hotel rooms you have stayed in or restaurant bathrooms, they are ADA compliant.
Faucets – We recommend lever handles as they don’t require a string grip and Hand held shower faucets for the shower or walk in tub areas.
Standard Bathtubs – Our standard tubs in our homes today are dangerous for our loved ones to climb in and out of. We recommend roll in showers or walk in tubs. Transferring from wheelchair to tub is a difficult task.
Walk-In Tubs – “Walk-In tubs” Are a great way to take baths without the huge step in and out like our standard bathtubs. Walk in tubs can come with shower surrounds to serve both purposes. We recommend the power drains and a heat lamp if you are going to go the walk in tub option.
Prefabricated & Molded Shower units – There’s also prefabricated molded acrylic/fiberglass shower units on the market. Some include built in shower seats.
Roll-in showers – Most Ceramic showers have curbs to keep the water in. In Handicap accessible showers we don’t recommend this. Roll in showers are a bit more work with lowering the floor and making sure the floor is waterproof, but if the room is available it is our most popular option.
Prefabricated, fiberglass/acrylic roll-in shower floors can be considered. They can replace and are available in the same size as your standard 5′ tub
Handicap Wheelchair Ramps – With a recommended pitched at 1/12 wheel chair ramps can come in many styles and materials. Wood ramps are the most cost effective but they do require maintenance. Aluminum ramps are also available. We recommend at least a 36’’ wide ramp but have found 42’’ works better for most people.
Accessible remodeling
Accessible Doors, walkways and hallways- To accommodate a wheelchair, (a standard wheelchair is 24-27″ wide), a doorway should be a minimum of 32″ wide. We recommend going 36’’ wide if at all possible. With doors you have to consider the swing of the door so that it doesn’t interfere with the path of the wheelchair route. We do have the ability of doing automatic door openers, these tend to be a bit expensive.
Additional door clearance can be obtained by using offset door hinges, increasing the width by about 2″, and is often enough to provide the necessary minimum width for a wheelchair or walker to pass through the doorway.
Walkways and hallways should be 36’’wide with 42’’ being ideal
Handicap Grab Bars – We can install these anywhere it would help. There some many options and locations they could be helpful. Bathrooms in the shower/tub area and by the toilet are the most used areas for these but many other locations we have installed them.
Accessible Kitchens- An assessable kitchen should provide a minimum 5 foot diameter floor space clearance to allow room for a wheelchair to turn around. It can be difficult for people in wheelchairs to reach over a standard 36″ high counter top, and they should be lowered to 30″ providing a minimum knee clearance of 27″ from the floor. Under counter base cabinets can be removed for access to the sink or work area. The sink should be shallow and pipes or sharp objects covered to prevent injury or scalding from the hot water pipe. A single lever faucet should be used. Pull out, roll out or drop leaf shelves can be added for a working space. Sliding shelves or baskets can be installed in lower cabinets. A “Lazy Susan” or pull out shelving racks can be added to the pantry. Electric receptacles, garbage disposal and exhaust fan switches can be moved to the front of the counter or cabinet to allow easy access for the homeowner.
Chairlifts and lift beds – Are available for your loved ones also
Elevators – Many different styles and price options, these do take some serious planning
Attics to Basements Building and Renovations inc, has been performing Handicap accessible remodeling for 10 years. We are a NARI certified remodeler, EPA certified and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. Please visit our website or call us 763-439-2513
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Accessible -Handicap Home Remodeling