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Tips For An ADA Home Remodeling Denver CO Experts Suggest Will Help Families With Special Needs

By Scott Thompson


When you are in public places, there are laws that mandate that the doors be wide enough, ramps be available, and public restrooms have the necessary accessibility. In private homes it's a different matter. Creating a space where an individual with special needs can live and thrive may entail an ADA home remodeling Denver CO experts say must be considered carefully.

Your remodel will begin before you even get into the house. You might have a great interior designed with all the amenities you need to navigate easily through it, but if you can not get in, none of that will matter. If the entrance to the house is elevated, you will have to install either a ramp or a lift. Ramps are easier to maintain and cost less to build.

You also need to consider how the disabled individual will get to the entrance. The ground should be as level as possible. Wide walkways will make it easier for someone in a wheelchair or using a walker to navigate. Greenery planted along the walkways is fine as long as it is kept trimmed and out of the way of those trying to get by. You will also have to be careful to keep all other obstacles, like toys and debris, off the walks.

The doorways need to be wide enough to get wheelchairs through them. Thirty-six inches is the required minimum amount of space this requires. Some homes have swing clear or wide throw hinges on the doors to make access easier. Pocket doors are sometimes good solutions for the interior of the home. Automatic door openers are found in many public buildings but can be expensive and not something within the reach of all homeowners.

Your flooring can be precarious for the disabled. The materials used must be easy for those using walkers, canes, and wheelchairs to navigate. You don't want to lay down rugs that might buckle or slide. If there is going to be a service animal in the household, you have to consider flooring that is easy to clean. A good choice seems to be cork because it's attractive as well as level, firm, and easy to clean.

Lighting is also important. You have to consider where switches are located and how the light reflects and makes it easier or more difficult for someone in a wheelchair to see where things are located. You might think about using technology to allow disabled individuals to turn lights on and off with their smart phones or remote devices. This technology can extend to ceiling fans.

The bathrooms in the house must be remodeled as necessary to accommodate those with special needs. In this room, more than any other, everyone wants and needs privacy and independence. Adjustments like elevated toilet seats are one example of an appropriate accommodation.

Sinks may need space underneath them to allow for wheelchairs. Roll-in entry for tubs should be considered. Curbless showers, grab bars, and hand held shower heads are additional options that make bathing independently more feasible.




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