Every person should feel comfortable in their home. Every room should be enjoyed to the fullest extent. With the help of an Austin construction company, you can create an accessible house with features that will fit the requirements of both those who live there and those who visit. The CDC reports that 61 million adults in the United States have a disability. The greatest percentage comes from having difficulties with mobility, which makes it a challenge to walk or climb stairs.
Unlike commercial residences where the Americans with Disabilities Act must be complied with, residential homes may choose to go without incorporating accessible features. However, those features could make all the difference, so it is important to consider them. When an Austin construction company neglects to do so, they miss out on a considerable market of potential buyers. Come along as we walk through some key additions to consider in the building or remodeling of your house.
Ramps, Rails, and Lifts
A single step can be an impediment for disabled homeowners. Regardless of if you have low mobility or simply have poor balance, changing out your typical thresholds and staircases for ramps or lifts will help tremendously with maneuvering through the house. Instead of having short steps leading up into a slightly-elevated room, create a gradual incline with hardwood. On the walls, place handrails to increase the peace of mind of less-mobile residents. There should also be handrails on your staircase. You can actually make further use of these when you install a stairlift. These can come as a permanent home modification or a portable on-the-go solution. Your Austin construction company may even be able to integrate an elevator into your existing architecture to make moving between floors faster.
Lever Handles
It can be a challenge to grip onto spherical door handles and unlatch them. Installing lever handles makes it easier to enter a room, whether your hands are full, wet, or greasy, or you have limited arm mobility or arthritis. Requiring less movement in the knob to get the door open, they provide a better grip that prevents your hand from slipping. You can also depress the lever with your elbow, taking your hands entirely out of the equation. Homeowners that once needed assistance with moving between rooms can get back some of their independence. To secure lever handles to your doors, you will fasten them with bolt-through fixings or secured spindles.
Seamless Transitions
Wide hallways and doorways can provide the luxury of space. Considering wheelchair-bound residents require about five feet of turnaround space, having an open floor plan is critical to making the house livable for them. Think about building an open-concept kitchen, in particular. No matter what rooms you are expanding, the doorways should be a point of focus. Offset the hinges to help improve door clearance, and when it comes to exterior doorways, feature recessed thresholds that are a quarter-inch in height or less. Austin construction companies recommend that your entryways range from 36-inches to 42-inches in order to be accessible. You may also choose to keep the walkways clear by building your furniture into the walls, making the most efficient use of wall space.
Mobility in the Bathroom
You spend a lot of time in the bathroom. This is the space where you get ready for the day and get ready for the night, on top of all the little moments in between. That means you should make your bathroom provide as comfortable of an experience as possible, for everyone that comes through. First, focus on the shower. You can install a built-in shower chair or bench so that those who cannot lower themselves into a bathtub or stand for extended periods of time can bathe with ease. The shower should also not have a curb for the sake of wheelchair users, and smaller tiles to make the ground less slippery. Next, consider the sinks. They should provide enough knee space below, along with shrouded pipes tight against the back wall, so that anyone can use them.
Easy-to-Reach Additions
An Austin construction company can help you make more accessible spaces for storage. For instance, perhaps you want to have a mudroom. This is the perfect place, near the entrance of your home, to put away your rain gear. However, the cubbies need to be within reach. It is common homebuilder understanding that at least half of your storage should be easily accessible through the use of lower cabinets and shelves. Your clothing, office supplies, and dishes should be able to be retrieved whether you are sitting or standing. Higher shelving can be used for items that are seasonal or otherwise rarely used. Consider, also, putting light switches and thermostats in easy-to-reach locations. If you are a smartphone user, it may even be beneficial to get started with smart home devices so that you can change your environmental controls from anywhere.
Larger Driveway and Pathway
Coming and going from your home should be simple. There shouldn’t be any worries about getting to your car. With wheelchair-accessible vehicles, a lot of space is required, and you don’t want to have to park in the grass. Your driveway and pathway need to be flat, non-slippery, and wide enough for anyone to use. Concrete pavers are popular to use for both, installed over compacted soil and stone dust. They are more affordable than natural stone, and come in uniform shapes and thicknesses. Unlike poured concrete, they arrive ready to be put in place. While poured concrete appears more cost-effective per square foot, concrete pavers offer a greater return on investment because of their durability.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles require a lot of space, whether they have a lift or a simple sliding door. You don’t want to force them to park in the grass when they leave the house. Provide ample parking space along with wide, hard paths from the door to the driveway.
By using universal home design, you are able to benefit people with all levels of ability. It’s easy to create an accessible house without sacrificing style so that, down the line, you can still get a solid return on investment. Bat City Builders is an Austin construction company that offers services for custom home building, remodeling, and restoration. Reach out to us if you are searching for someone to transform your house into a genuinely safe living experience.
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