Ways to Remodel Your Home to Accommodate Special Needs

A wheelchair-accessible home with built-in modifications is a great convenience for people who need the assistance of a wheelchair or walker. Luckily, you don’t necessarily have to move to a new house to get this convenience. Simply hire a home builder experienced in special needs remodeling to improve your current home and make it safer for you to get around in. This service is also known as handicap-accessible remodeling or accessibility modifications, and can be done with little more than a few minor home modifications. Or, you can go all-in and create an all-new floor plan.

Whether an accident has put you in a temporary disabled situation or the condition is permanent, it’s worth it to look into the ins and outs of special needs remodeling in Tyler, TX. Below are some home changes that can make your or a family member’s life easier.

Wheelchair ramps

Wheelchair ramps are extremely beneficial for both residential homes and most businesses. They allow people using wheelchairs or walkers a convenient way to enter the home or building comfortably and safely.

Before installing a ramp, take note of who needs to use it—users with standard wheelchairs, wheel beds, motorized chairs, walkers, canes, crutches, etc. Then, research the types of ramp materials. Once upon a time, the traditional material was wood. Today, the professionals recommend aluminum or concrete wheelchair ramps. Concrete will last many years, requires little to no maintenance and is usually finished with a rough texture to prevent slippage. Aluminum, meanwhile, is durable, simple to install and easy to maintain.

Bathroom remodeling

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms to remodel when making your home handicap accessible. Starting with the bathroom entry, the door needs to be widened for easy turning from the hallway. Find out about doors and more below:

• Doors: A bathroom door that is too narrow for wheelchair or walker access can be widened. The existing door and frame are removed so the walls can be cut to the new size.
• Tubs: It can be difficult to move from a wheelchair to the bathtub, unless the tub is designed with the user in mind. Install shower grab bars and a tub transfer seat for safety and support, or replace the tub with a roll-in shower.
• Sinks: Sink faucets and countertops can be lowered for easier access. Have a professional do this to ensure that plumbing and cabinets get repositioned right, since a wheelchair will need space beneath the sink to park.

Kitchens, closets and doors

There needs to be at least a five-foot diameter floor space clearance to allow room for a wheelchair to turn around. Countertops, sinks and cabinets should be lowered while still allowing for adequate chair and knee clearance. Doors also need to be easy to open for wheelchair users. As for closet accessibility, doors should be widened, shelves and rods lowered and light switches repositioned.

Call Canfield Construction Management today for more information about how we can assist with special needs remodeling in Tyler, TX!

Categorised in: Remodeling Contractor

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