Remodel for Accessibility
Tips from Real-Estate-Agents.com
reprinted courtesy of ServiceMagic.com
More articles on Accessibility and Accessible
Home Design
Here are some common remodeling
projects to make areas accessible to people with difficulty walking
or in wheelchairs:
- Ramps and hand rails to help people get in and out of the
home.
- Widening halls and doorways to make room for wheelchairs
and walkers.
- Changing swinging doors to sliding pocket doors, or to swing
out instead of in to a room to increase maneuverability in kitchens,
bathrooms and closets.
- Providing reachable light switches and outlets to help those
with mobility problems.
- Counters, cooktops and sinks can lowered to 30 inches rather
than the standard 36-inch height to be reachable.
- Areas under counters can be left open at least 27 inches
high x 30 inches wide x 19 inches deep to allow knee space.
- Finishing countertops with smooth, matte-finishes such as
marble, wood, granite, Corian and plastic laminate to allow heavy
posts and pans to slide easily from sink to cooktop.
- Sliding cabinet doors, lower upper cabinets and base cabinets
equipped with full extension drawers and roll-out shelves are
more accessible for those in wheelchairs and those with trouble
lifting, bending, reaching.
- (Ironically, higher counters and roll-out shelves on upper
cabinets are better suited for those using walkers.)
- Lever handles on doors and faucets and loops on drawers make
them easier to open. Grab bars help people to use showers, tubs,
toilets and to get in and out of bed and chairs.
Here's more reading if you want to Design
for Accessibility
-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic