You may have gone for years without ever thinking about the needs a person with a disability might have living in your home. Then, with little or absolutely no warning at all, you or someone you love comes to a point in their life when they become disabled. They come to a point where modifications to your present home have to be made if you want them to experience the best quality of life possible. In today’s modern world, that is not a difficult thing to do.
One of the most important rooms in the home that needs modifications for a person with a disability is the bathroom. This makes a great deal of sense when you think about it. The bathroom is the room in which many vital functions take place. Having the bathroom as comfortable a place as possible is very important.
Bathroom contractors can help you design your new bathroom and handle the remodeling so that it comes out exactly as you planned. Bathroom remodel designs can begin anywhere, but it always makes sense to begin with the door. If you are remodeling a bathroom to accommodate a person in a wheelchair, you must make sure that the door is wide enough so that they can maneuver their chair through the doorway.
Typically, when you are having a bathroom remodeled to accommodate a wheelchair, bathroom contractors will tell you that the minimum width the door needs to be is 36 inches wide. It takes at least this width to allow for a wheelchair to turn from the hallway into the bathroom itself.
Another aspect of handicapped bathrooms that you would need to keep in mind during your bathroom remodeling design and remodel is the sink. The sink must be open underneath so that a wheelchair can roll up to the sink, allowing the person in the wheelchair to reach the faucet properly. The faucet itself should be able to be turned on without grasping the handles. There are many different ways to do this. Asking bathroom contractors for their advice on options will be extremely helpful when it comes to meeting the needs of your particular needs.
If you are remodeling your bathroom for someone in a walker, the sink might need to be a bit higher than a normal sink would be. The idea is that when you have raised the sink about three inches or so, the person using the sink can lean against it without having to bend down too far or at all. This will aid anyone with a walker when trying to navigate the sink and other things around the sink itself.
The vast majority of homes in the United States are not designed for someone with a disability. However, people sometimes suddenly find themselves in a situation where modifications to their homes need to be made to accommodate a loved one who has become injured or has come to a point in life where they cannot get around like they once did. Bathroom contractors everywhere are there to help you with whatever changes you might need to make.