How To Modify A Home To Make It Accessible
/Author: Patrick Young
There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to finding the right house. You want it to be in the right neighborhood and in an area you love. You want it to be the right size and the right style. You want it to have the right amount of square footage and rooms. You also want to make sure it’s something you can afford; in Mashpee, homes sold for approximately $492,000 over the past 30 days. And if you are in search of an accessible home, you will have even more specific criteria to consider.
Unless you are building a custom home, there is no such thing as the perfect house that will meet all of your criteria. That’s where home modifications come in. With a little remodeling, you can make any home your perfect match, meeting all your needs and beyond.
Make Moving Around Easier
Certain flooring, particularly carpet, hinders movement for people who need accessibility. By removing carpeting and adding wood flooring, you’ll make it easier to navigate your flooring. It also has the added benefits of being easier to clean and increasing the value of your home.
The cost of installing wood flooring includes labor, whether furniture needs to be removed, and whether old flooring needs to be ripped up and disposed of. The final price also depends on the type of wood you choose. However, remember that exotic and engineered woods are generally more expensive, whereas bamboo and pine run on the less expensive side. If you’re only replacing a couple of rooms or if your home has minimal square footage, you could potentially keep costs reasonably low.
The Great Outdoors
A home does not end within its four walls; it often extends into the front and back yards. Most homes are not equipped with accessible yards. You can either sift through all the homes on the market to find one that has an accessible backyard or you can make the modifications yourself.
For a reasonable cost, you could install pathways that are at least 60 inches wide, which will accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Where stairs normally would be, a ramp could be inserted to make moving about easier. Along the way, rails and lighting would make an outdoor stroll more enjoyable and safe. In some areas, for around $1,500, you can enlist the help of a landscaper to design and implement your vision of a beautiful and accessible backyard.
The Heart of the House
We all need to eat, and for many people, cooking is a labor of love and joy. The kitchen not only needs to be accessible, but practical and inviting as well. Depending on your needs, kitchen modifications may include the following:
● Wider and lower countertops
● Easy-to-reach cabinets
● Pull-out shelves
● Lower sinks with piping placed toward the rear
● Side-hinged oven
● A cooktop range installed at a comfortable height with touchpad controls
Creating a Bathroom Oasis
Aside from your bedroom, where you spend many hours sleeping, you spend a good amount of time in the bathroom. It’s worth investing in a comfortable space that is not only convenient but also a relaxing indoor spa. Depending on the size of the bathroom, the most important modification to make is to the shower. For instance, you could consider a walk-in shower or walk-in shower/bath combo. And regardless of your selection, you should always install non-skid flooring, grab bars, and benches to prevent falls and injuries.
Needing an accessible home does not mean you need to compromise everything else you love about houses. When you find your dream home, then it’s time to begin thinking about how to modify it to meet your needs. You likely won’t have to remodel the entire house, but rather focus on key areas that you spend the most time in and that will make your life easier.
This article is a summary of the many modifications that you can make on your home to make it more accessible. For more ideas and information, visit http://ableusa.info/