(See the photos above and at right for two examples.)
Having a screen or storm door adds another layer of awkward maneuvering.
The threshold should have a beveled slope and be no higher than one-half inch.
Interior doorways in homes are sometimes as narrow as 24 inches in, for example, a bathroom.
“Doing so can be the difference in being able to get a wheelchair through or not.”
Unlike many sliding door setups, a barn door installation doesn’t require having a track on the floor.
Widening a doorway may involve moving electrical wiring or plumbing runs, which adds labor costs.
There are structural elements above that are pushing down on hallway walls.
It can cost $30,000 to $40,000 to simply get another foot in a hallway."
“Ideally two handrails.”
Staircase and step handrails can be simple and serviceable or decorative and beautiful.
For two rails think about $1,200.
What a Bright Idea!
(That measurement is for the switch itself, not for the bottom of the plate.)
For instance, floor lamps can be tapped on or off with a foot.
The Confident Kitchen
Making a kitchen accessible to as many users as possible requires intense planning.
The kitchen should adapt to the person."
“A kitchen remodel can generally be done for about $30,000 to $50,000,” Pierce says.
Making even just a few changes can make a kitchen look and feel new."
Here’s what can be expected:
Odds are the bathroom remodel will call for more space.
Or, a useful and elegant tiled, curbless-shower can be custom built (at various price ranges).
Comfort-height toilet options measure about 17 to 18 inches from the floor to the top of the seat.
However, with small tiles there’s more grout to clean.
As a compromise, many designers use large tiles on the walls and smaller tiles on the floor.
David recommends porcelain over ceramic tiles.
“We’ve been getting some porcelain tiles for $2.75 a square foot,” he says.
(Note: For safety it’s best to use pressure-balanced, anti-scald faucets.)
Going Up!
(Or Down!)
Not everyone wants to or can achieve single-story living.
To get from one level to another, various stair-based options and even home elevators can help.
A motor glides the chair up and down the rail.
For most people installing a chair lift is not a DIY project.
“It’s time consuming and risky for the person and the caregiver,” notes Glickman.
Other staircase options include an inclined wheelchair platform lift or a vertical wheelchair platform lift.
Most staircases are not quite wide enough for the inclined version to work.
An internal elevator needs a 6-by-6-foot space.
“But plumbing, heating and cooling ducts could be in the way.
It can be very complicated.”
Costs: A straight-run stair lift is about $2,200 for the lift and installation.
But in most cases there needs to be extensive work to widen the staircase, and that adds costs.
“When the elevator goes in, that’s another $30,000.”
An external elevator will run between $75,000 and $100,000 for labor and materials.
“It’s a cheaper and faster installation than building the addition.”
