How to Build Handicap-Accessible Homes

Design single-story houses when building for people with physical challenges. Single-story homes or those with bedroom suites on the ground floor accommodate the person who must use a wheelchair or a walker. The thresholds from the entrance doors should be no higher than 1/2-inch.

Plan wider doorways and make sure closets are large enough for a wheelchair to maneuver. The minimum width for a doorframe needs to be 32 inches. Unless the closets are large walk-in closets, strip closets that run along a wall provide easier access.

Place electrical outlets at least 24 inches above the floor to make it easier for people with disabilities to plug and unplug electronics. Install rocker switches, which make it easier to turn lights on and off. Use lever hardware instead of doorknobs for the doors.

Provide at least one walk-in shower and install grab bars in the showers and next to the toilet. Some shower stalls come with a seat built in, an ideal type for an accessible home. Build bathrooms with at least 30-inches-by-48-inches of accessible floor space, making it easier to turn a wheelchair or walker. Sinks should be no more than 34 inches above the floor. The toilet seat should be between 17 and 19 inches from the floor.

Use side-by-side refrigerators to offer easy access to both the freezer and the refrigerator. Separate the stovetop from the wall oven, and provide plenty of counters on both sides of the oven and the range. Buy stoves with burner control knobs near the front so users do not have reach over a hot burner to turn it off. Like closets, long, shallow pantries offer easier access than deep cabinets do. Choose single-lever faucets for the kitchen sink.

Select flooring that is easy to maintain and roll a wheelchair over. Thick carpeting is harder to negotiate than thinner carpeting is. Hard surfaces such as wood, tile, vinyl or laminate hold up well to wheelchairs and walkers.