If you like where you live and you have room to expand, then expand.
You should be able to find a local contractor to fit your needs. There should be organizations out there that can give you recommendations. Maybe someone familiar with this type of organization will chime in. Posting a general location might help.
Ron

Please describe the situation in more detail. I don't understand why you would have to move out while a first floor addition is built, or why an elevator or stairglide wouldn't work.

John

I think if you start calling around, you'll find contractors are familiar with universal design. At least the larger companies, if not the smaller ones. As the boomers are getting older this is more and more needed. You might try AARP in your area and see if they know of contractors. Physical therapists and well as any local Area Agency on Aging. Even social workers and discharge planners are good sources of information. Any association which deals with the handicapped might be able to point you in the right direction.

That said, I would remodel if you love your current area. I can see why you might need to move out for this type of remodel, which will actually make it go faster than trying to remain in the house. You could have a design firm or arch. come and see what would work well in your current home. Sometimes it can be difficult to make every doorway wide enough for a wheelchair, depending upon your current floorplan.

We just got done with my husband having a hip replacement. We are both 51 (well, he is and I'm almost), but I'm seriously looking at ripping out our current bathroom to make it handicapped accessible in the future. We have so many stairs, I'll never be able to do much with the rest of the house, but we really could have used the bathroom set-up.

Good luck with your decision.

Gloria

Have you looked at home elevators recently? They've gotten much, much better. Many require very little mechanical space, and the units that only serve one floo are pretty reasonable, price wise.

I think a lot depends on what you envision for the rest of your lives. But if you like your current home [with some upgrages] and neighborhood, I wouldn't rule out an elevator too quickly. If you don't need all the bedrooms you have, perhaps you could remodel the upper level and make it hall way free, or widen the hall for better access.

I'm kind of with you on the stairglides, though: Never liked 'em, can't say why. I suppose its because it narrows up the stairs so much.

These decisions are so tough, stress us out so bad that its hard to be objective. Take your time and trust your instincts.

I can't answer the questions about remodeling but having lived in an Active Adult Community I know that you don't 'have' to be 55 to live in some of them. The 'minimum age' requirement is based on a certain percentage of residents having to be 55. Not sure what that percentage is, probably 85% or higher but we had a few 'young folks' living there as home owners. There were very strict limitations on minor children being able to live there though. Only 30 days per year as I recall.

We were in the central Fla area.

halb

In our area (high labor, BTW), a home elevator is $30K not including install - I was just looking into it last year for a possible new build. For wheelchair accessibility you'll want at least a size that will take a 5x6' outside dimension.

It's not cheap, but under certain conditions can be cheaper than an addition or remodel. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I haven't priced these, but wouldn't think they'd run $30k. They aren't as cool as the pneumatics or elegant as a regular otis elevator, but make a lot of sense for those needing to remodel their home into a more handicap freindly environment.

Since they have only 2 positions, they don't need a shaft and don't consume floorspace, in the sense that you can send them to the other position when you like [the top of the car makes the floor of the upper room when in the down position. The bottom of the car is the ceiling of the lower room when its up].

There are a lot of companies making systems of this type.

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: 'shaftless' elevator