Do it Yourself Handicap Access

Plan your renovation by measuring and drawing your home as it exists today. Use 1/4-inch graph paper, a pencil, straightedge, construction ruler and template. Draw all walls, doors, windows, cabinets, fixtures and fittings. Locate stairs, steps and significant thresholds between one flooring surface and another. Accurately label the measurements of your home. Include the exterior of your home if its access involves stairs.

Generate a list of the features you want to include in your renovation. The need for barrier-free access usually means that one or more people in the home may have difficulty walking, standing, turning knobs, getting up or down, and using appliance knobs, countertops, commodes and showers. Minimum access requirements should include a barrier-free entry, handle-style doorknobs, extra-wide doors, a turn radius in at least one bathroom and grab bars.

List do-it-yourself upgrades, such as widening doorways to bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen and laundry areas. Remove carpeting if you wish to accomodate easy movement with wheelchairs. Improve flooring transitions to make moving from one floor surface to another easier. Lower light switches on walls. Lower cabinets and allow for leg space under countertops. Replace door knobs with handles.

Plan exterior access by determining if and where an access ramp can be located that meets wheelchair requirements. Such ramps often must include durable hardscape, such as sidewalks or driveways, between parking areas and the beginning of the ramp. Discuss access ramps with your local planning department so you will meet requirements of local codes.

Replace appliances with accessible appliances. These appliances often have features designed to assist the elderly or weak people in using them. Retrofit your cabinets to lower shelves within reach. Most cabinets can be upgraded with retrofit kits available where barrier-free and accessible fixtures are sold. Closet kits are available to lower closet rods for easy access to clothing.

Install easy-roll carpets in areas you wish to remain carpeted. Major renovations such as building concrete exterior ramps or installing an elevator or barrier-free accessible shower should be planned with the help of an expert. By detailing what type of renovations are within your range of expertise on your home drawing, you can identify an order of renovation to best suit your current and future needs.