Help design level entry for wheelchair access at front door
klilika
4 years ago
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klilika
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Wheelchair Accessable Showers
Comments (10)Thanks Steph....still mulling things over. I've learned that if I have nagging doubts it means my planning isn't finished yet. One thing that "helps" with the sizing decision is how sizing one thing ripples into the next room. After measuring we found that if we don't stop at a 4 and a half foot width shower, we won't have any room in the next bathroom for a toilet....hence no second bathroom...unless we want to place it into the window sill and trim in that room! (We're doing back to back bathrooms as this is most efficient in terms of construction and cost). The second bathroom is the general bathroom for the house, and I firmly believe in having two potties in the house. So I guess the 5 foot width is out, but we can still go long. We can do a 54 inch by 72 inch shower in the master bathroom and not eliminate being able to have a second bathroom in the house. That should be plenty large enough if something happens or one of us gets sick. After much anguish over the tub /no tub decision, I am finally at peace. I am not having a bath tub. I really wouldn't use one enough to justify the cost, or the space they hog. I was letting others make me feel I should have a tub. Well, it's OUR house and my husband and I would rather have a hot tub outside. I plan on a really nice utility sink in my laundry area. Kholer makes a 48 inch wide one that looks vintage. It's pricey, but perfect for bathing a visiting grand baby if need be. I'll get more use out of that big sink than I ever would a bath tub. Sandy...See MoreIs a 30" vanity wheelchair accessible?
Comments (14)Naween, I am trying to make my 5x8 bathroom with a shower/bath combo off to the side into an accessible bathroom "just in case", so I know a bit about what you are going through. I am still in the design phase. My issue is that the entry door is on the 5 ft wall, so if I make it a 36" door, as I must, I end up with an 18" wide vanity space. Given that issue, I see the utility of Kraftmaid 2, somewhat, I think it is a 12" deep vanity base for a overhanging one-piece ceramic sink top. The front is there for when no knee access is needed because no chair user is using the sink. It is removable for when knee access is needed. Since the vanity is 27" high, maybe it is a thick china Eurosink like one by Duravit, and it does not over hang the vanity, giving the need for knee space for a chair user to use it. Maybe I am wrong and I am thinking this way because this is the issue I am having designing my bathroom - how to get the most utility out of it while I can still walk, while making it easily convertible to a wheelchair-accessible space should the need ever arise....See MoreThe Wheelchair Access Argument
Comments (43)"although an admirable idea when space and f unds and desire permits, was never one of my specifications. This was an excuse to not provide me with what I had specified." oh plumeriavine - i understand that. that was my point. my sister made specific requests for hers to be wheelchair accessible (except the k itchen and laundry; her laundry room would NEVER meet ADA code!) and I will make a few specific changes to aid me also. ASKING for them is one thing, having the KD take it upon herself - well, that's just plain ridiculous! and deceptive. I would contact the person in charge of YOUR local bldg permit office and get it in writing (that it IS NOT a requirement). it might not hurt to contact the atty gnrl's office also. If this KD is lying about code, I'd be wondering what else she is lying about... and what other 'code' she is just making up as she goes along....See MoreHelp with Challenging Front Porch/Walk/Entry Design!
Comments (15)Iesp, to truly work out all the issues in front of you .... you must have a base plan. We've been dealing with aspects of the problem not knowing EXACTLY where the parking, driveway and obstructions along the way, are, if any. We don't know the exact elevation difference (to the inch) from the front porch deck to a fixed, relevant point near the parking destination. One could make estimated guesses about what could be done, but they could be wrong because, at this point, the base information is vague. I feel quite certain, though, that the solution to a pleasant walk from the parking area to house is going to involve regrading with some specific goals in mind. Presently, the steps are concentrated at two areas: the porch and at the bank. The steps at the porch seem reasonably acceptable. But the steps at the bank are too many to create a pleasant experience. Ideally, you'd want to have banks of few steps (usually 2-4) separated by runs of a few feet. The runs, instead of being perfectly level, would be "slopes" so that they're also instrumental in lowering the elevation as the walk travels on toward the lower destination. It is the combination of steps and sloped walk that allows one to have the overall best walk experience ... not too far ... not too steep ... no wasted energy. (I put "slopes" in quote marks because they cannot be perceived as slopes. They must be subtle enough that they pose no danger or difficulty. Yet they must be doing some grade change work.) We haven't seen the porch yet. For the sake of argument I'm going to guess there are 4 steps there. At the bank there are six legitimate steps. With a total of ten steps and a total drop of 11' (averaging the estimate) .... it's a hugely unpleasant walk!! I would consider seeing if the parking area can be raised a bit. Every amount that the overall 11' elevation difference can be shrunk helps a lot. It's a lot easier to step on a gas pedal and get the car to do the work, than it is to get out and hoof up a bigger hill. It wouldn't make sense to lower the elevation near the house/porch/steps. But it would make sense to begin reducing it earlier than it presently begins (at the bank). I don't think there is a reason you must keep all of the plateau that the house rests on. If you walked a few feet from the porch and then stepped down 18" and kept repeating this scenario, the overall walk would be much friendlier. You could pull this off with an elevation drop of, for example, 2.5' for 10' or so of run. Since the overall run looks to be easily greater than 40', it should be no problem to get from the porch to the parking in a very pleasant way. BTW, an 8" step riser is HUGE. You'd want it to be more like 6". Bouncing back to a covering-over-the-porch issue, without a MAJOR architectural remodel I don't see a permanent porch roof as a possibility. But it might be possible to have an independent awning, not attached to the roof in any way, that covered the porch as an independent "roof." Two forms I could see exploring are the pyramid and shed roof shape. It would be something one would have custom made by an awning manufacturer. Since they may have already dealt with your exact problem, I would contact a local outfit and inquire if they have solutions already in mind that would work for you. It won't be seen from the back side so the fact that it wouldn't be architecturally kosher from that view wouldn't matter....See MoreFlo Mangan
4 years agoMoxie
4 years ago
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