Do you have a disabled family member and wish to make them more comfortable and feel at home? If so, then this is the right place to look.
We get several questions from homeowners on how to make their homes more accessible to disabled family members and friends. With all the options available, it is easy to get overwhelmed. We have found it helpful to consider the following questions:
- Do you have a construction budget?
- What type of disability does the person you are helping have?
- Do you want to focus on safety and mobility or aesthetics?
- Where in the home do they spend most of their time?
- What impact do you want to make?
- Do you have any restrictions on your home-building project?
Taking the time to decide how you want to transform your home will make finding the right products and services more effortless.
This article covers everything on affordable handicap accessible remodeling Lincoln, MO; from safety improvements to remodeling bathrooms, basements, and other handicap-accessible living areas.
We also cover home modifications, remodeling contractors, and other helpful resources.
General Home Accessibility Measures
The first thing to do is make your home safe and accessible for emergencies.
The best way to keep everyone safe is to ensure your home complies with all codes and has a non-slip, weather-resistant surface in all entryway areas (i.e., porch, porch steps, entryway flooring).
A safe environment also includes high-traffic areas like the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, with headroom and an accessible counter height, and there should be no trip hazards around sinks.
In addition to these main areas for safety, any furniture you have needs to be low for a wheelchair user.
We have compiled a list of features you would want to incorporate into your home remodeling projects as an average homeowner.
We’ll focus mainly on bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling, and handicap remodeling, as they are the most affected areas.
Bathroom Disability Remodeling
Suppose you have a non-accessible or non-user-friendly bathroom. In that case, it is vital to ensure the remodeling contractor provides all the necessary transition surfaces to make your bathroom ADA compliant. Here are some essential disability features to consider:
Curbless shower/ Walk in tubs
The curbless shower is a modern bathroom design that is becoming increasingly popular as it eliminates the slick wall/floor juncture commonly found in traditional shower designs.
They are more wheelchair accessible, as there are no protrusions to hinder wheeling in. Walk in tubs are also a good option
Moveable shower seat
The moveable shower seat includes a bench or platform attached to the shower wall. It can be moved back and forth from inside the shower area to the bathroom.
The moveable seat also makes it easier for users who have difficulty standing for long periods, enabling them to sit down easily to shower, shave, wash or perform any other personal hygiene task.
Bathroom grab bar
Grab bars in the bathroom are placed strategically around the floor and walls to help the user safely enter and exit the toilet, tub, or shower area. The grab bars should be positioned at various heights to make it easier for individuals with different abilities to use them.
Lift Assist Bath Station
The lift-assist bath station is designed for people with mobility impairments who may have trouble entering or exiting a bathtub or shower throne. It helps enhance mobility by supporting the user’s weight and provides surfaces for safety grips to transfer from place to place.
Lower Bath Vanities and Cabinet
Lowering vanities and cabinets are more accessible access to people with limited mobility. As a result, they’ll need minimal help maneuvering around.
Toilet Seats
The toilet seats, specifically designed for individuals with disabilities, come with an attached suction device to make transferring easier.
They are also designed with a broader front and back to provide more balance and stability for the disabled. For people who have lost control of their bowels, the toilet seat is designed to prevent uncomfortable scooting.
Accessible doors
According to ADA regulations, a good bathroom door should be at least 32 inches wide and have a width between the bottom of the entrance to the top of the threshold.
Bathroom doors should have an easy-open feature and should be placed where they won’t get in the way of wheelchair users.
Basement Disability Remodeling
The basement is one of the most overlooked areas of a home. Whereas not all homeowners have the same priorities, there are still a few accessibility products to consider when redesigning your basement.
There are a few things that can make your space as handicap friendly as possible. They include:
Ramps
Ramps are the easiest and most cost-effective way to make a basement handicap accessible. Adding a few ramps can turn an unfinished basement into an accessible space for anyone with any level of mobility.
Automatic Doors
The easy way to make any area handicap-friendly is to install an automatic door. A wide variety of different options are available, including the standard swinging doors and push-button doors.
Two of the best doorways include swinging doors and built-in automatic sliding doors.
Accessible Lighting
There are a variety of available light fixtures that can be installed in an accessible hallway. These include under-stair lighting, recessed lighting, and a wide range of other options.
Lifts
Lifts are another simple way to make a basement handicap accessible. However, it is essential to keep in mind that not all lifts are created equal. There is a wide range of lifts, so talk to an expert.
Handrails
Hand railing enables a safe transition from one side of a basement to another, especially in a long hallway. If you have stairs or steps in your basement, handrails will help make navigating through them easier for anyone with mobility issues.
Accessible doorway threshold
The entranceway to your basement should have an accessible doorway that sets up a transition surface from the door open to the door closed. There are three types of thresholds: non-skid, insulated, and riser style.
General Handicap Remodeling
There are many more features that you would want to incorporate into your home remodeling project, depending on the disability.
While we have seen the specific features for bathrooms and basements, there are other general handicap features to consider.
They include the following:
- Anti-slip mats in wet areas: Your safety is the first priority if you have limited mobility due to a physical impairment. This is why it is essential to have anti-slip mats in your bathroom and shower.
- Toe-touch activation faucets: Toe-touch functionality on shower controls has been proven to be better at maintaining hygiene than pull-type faucets. They can also be easier to use for people with limited mobility.
- Handheld shower units: Handheld shower units can be utilized by people with limited mobility and are also easier to maintain and clean than the standard faucet-mounted models.
- Folding shower seat: A folding shower seat is easy to carry and store, but it is also comfortable for people with limited mobility and trouble sitting in a standard bathtub.
- Vertical shower: A vertical shower is beneficial if you are a tall person. It can be used with a footrest to help you wash your body, but it also helps you conserve space compared to the standard shower.
- Low-mounted switches: Low-mounted switches are placed below the seat and are generally easier to activate by those with limited mobility. They are also easier to maintain than the standard switches that remain exposed.
Get Professional Handicap Accessible Remodeling Services in Lincoln
As a handicap services provider, we provide custom home modifications and disability access.
In the case of “custom home modifications,” our services include:
- Walk-in tub additions
- Barrier-free showers
- Stairlifts
- Vertical platform lifts
- Curbless showers
- Spa commode seats
- Barrier-free patios and gardens
- Wheelchair ramps
- And even more
Accessibility Home Improvements is a licensed general contractor with a wide array of contractors under our roof.
We provide professional handicap remodeling services, including bath, shower, and kitchen remodeling projects to customers in St Charles County MO, Lincoln County, MO, Warren County, MO, St. Louis County, MO.
We also have a complete accessible design and build services for any remodeling project you have in mind.
For more information, call 636-400-1634 or fill in our contact form.