Essential Tips for Handicap Bathroom Remodeling
There comes a time in many lives in which age, disease, or injury marks that person as “handicap”. This is unfortunate, yes, but it can be handled. When this happens, there are many areas in the home that may need to be revamped in order to meet the needs of an individual that has mobility issues. Here, I will provide some essential tips for handicap bathroom remodeling. If you are a friend, relative, or neighbor to an individual who has mobility issues, you may consider helping them to adjust the living space that they have in order to accommodate them, and improve their overall quality of life. The tips mentioned in this article can help you do just that!
1. The first thing that you must consider when performing bathroom remodeling for the handicap is that there has to be enough floor space available for the person to maneuver in. The bathroom is generally a very tight squeeze in the average home. Some minor adjustments in this area will have to be made. You will have to consider the fact that many handicap individuals may end up using a wheelchair or a walker in time. The door area must be large enough to accommodate these devices. Furthermore, the actual floor space within the room may need to be adjusted in order to accommodate these types of devices.
One of the first things that you may want to do is widen the door space by about six to twelve inches, then you may want to install a folding type door. This saves the complication of having to fight with large, bulky doors. Then, you will want to make certain that the room is open so that it is easy for the person to move around freely.
2. The next thing that you will want to consider when remodeling a bathroom for an individual that is handicap are the sinks, and counters in the bathroom. It is important to have a certain clearance level when it comes allowing electric scooters, wheelchairs, etc… It is ideal to measure the height of the person in conjunction with a height that is comfortable for the individual. Remember, when remodeling for the handicap, it is important to design for their comfort, not the average person’s comfort level.
3. The next thing that you should consider when remodeling for a person with restricted mobility is installing grab bars in various areas around the room. Next to the toilet, along the walls, in the shower opening, along the inside of the showers, and any other areas where balance and ease of movement is required. These are relatively inexpensive and quite easy to install. The most important thing is, these grab bars can mean the difference between a dangerous fall and safety.
4. When remodeling a bathroom, the next thing that you should consider is the surface of the floor. It is important to ensure that floors are composed of non-slippery products. You will want to use tile that has a rough texture, or other flooring that has a scruffy type of surface. This is extremely important considering the fact that bathrooms are an area prone to moisture. Moisture, combined with a slippery type of floor can prove to be an extreme danger to many.
5. The next thing that you should consider when it comes to bathroom remodeling for the handicap is implementing the use of shelving and organizational units that can be placed on the wall and in bathroom closets. This can prove to be extremely beneficial in that the items on these shelves can be reached easily and offer convenience for the individual.
There are a number of tips available for those who are performing bathroom remodeling for the handicap. Simply adhering to the steps above will make this task relatively easy.
Browse our bathroom remodeling articles:
Bathroom Cabinets
Bathroom Design
Bathroom Shower Remodel
Small Bathroom Remodeling