The Essentials of Remodeling a Bathroom for Handicapped Use
One of the main reasons why many homeowners today remodel their bathrooms would be to make them more accessible for wheelchairs, especially for those who have a family member who is handicapped. Remodeling a bathroom to become more wheelchair-accessible is actually quite easy, as long as you know what you need to do. Here is a simple guide on remodeling a bathroom for handicapped use.
The first thing that you need to do would be to replace the current door that you have with one which is specially designed for the handicapped. A good width for the door would be around 36 inches. You should install the door so that it would be swinging outward and not inward.
If you have the budget for it, you might want to enlarge the area of the bathroom so that there would be at least 60 inches of free floor space that is in the center of the bathroom, making it easy for a wheelchair to be maneuvered. This could involve having to do a major restructuring since you might need to move one wall. You may want to contact a reputable contractor to get a cost estimate and some suggestions for the project.
As for the shower, a good option would be to install one which would allow an individual in a wheelchair transfer to a special seat inside the shower area. You can purchase one that has been readily made or you can try to customize one yourself. However, make sure that the design would meet the standards of the design for the handicapped.
Be sure that the height if the sink, vanity, light switch and other features of the bathroom could easily and safely be accessed by a handicapped individual using a wheelchair. There are plenty of options for these that most bathroom supply stores offer.
Lastly, make sure to install grab bars and handle wherever they might be needed so that it would be easier to use the features of the bathroom.
Similar Posts:
- Kitchen Resources
- 5 Big Bathroom Blunders
- How to Keep a Bathroom Mirror Fog-free After a Shower or Bath
- 5 Ways We Bring Color to a Space
- Links to all of the articles from At Home West Michigan, published periodically by the Grand Rapids Press
