{"id":4867,"date":"2017-02-10T10:10:58","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T18:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=4867"},"modified":"2017-02-07T17:17:46","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T01:17:46","slug":"renovating-now-for-future-accessibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2017\/02\/renovating-now-for-future-accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Renovating Now for Future Accessibility"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week, I wrote about a client of mine who was living with her parents and wanted to renovate her home to accommodate their needs as they aged. I recommended she focus on taking care of the basic needs first \u2014 eating, sleeping, and bathing comfortably.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">To make her home truly accessible for people of all mobility levels, there was still work to be done. Building for life may seem like a big job \u2014 and it is \u2014 but if you break it down into smaller projects, you can take it one step at a time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I received a lot of questions about the manoeuvrability aspect, so here\u2019s some more information.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Renovating for life<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When many homeowners look to upgrade their homes they think about how they want it to look without considering how it may need it to function in the future. Buying stainless steel appliances, replacing old cabinetry with new, and adding a fresh coat of paint are enough for many people to call a renovation compete \u2014 but rebuilding your home for life takes more consideration than that.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\u2019s important to take your time before you start any renovation project. Look at the space you\u2019re working with and think about your current wish list, but also what you may need in the future. Being able to navigate your home could be a challenge as you age \u2014 the idea is to mitigate that as much as possible starting now.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And remember, before starting any renovation, always make sure you\u2019ve got the proper permits in place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Doors and entrances<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Doors need to be wider to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Doorways should be at least 32-inches (81.3 centimetres) wide \u2014 but 36 inches (91.4 cm) is better for manoeuvrability.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I\u2019ve said it before, but if you plan ahead, you can subtly upgrade your home to an accessible build and still have it looking great. Creating a no-step entrance using landscaping to create a slope up to the front entryway can create a functional ramp. The lack of stairs makes sense for accessibility needs, and the landscaping will have it looking good, too.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Windows<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Any window in the home shouldn\u2019t require the use of both hands. Casement or awning windows that open and close with a crank are simple to use for homeowners of any dexterity level. They will also need to be low enough for people who are seated to operate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Newer windows are double-paned and usually have an inert gas (argon or krypton) between the panes that provides some insulation and reduces the chance of condensation. Windows should be properly installed and sealed to keep your accessible home running efficiently.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What materials should you build with?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Your accessibility needs should dictate what kind of materials you use in your home, especially when it comes to your flooring. You will want to use a non-slip flooring, especially in bathrooms, but you will also need to consider the durability of the material you use. Wheelchairs and walkers are heavy \u2014 and can cause softer materials to deteriorate more quickly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Flooring options<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hardwood looks great \u2014 but you will want to avoid certain woods as they\u2019ll be more susceptible to damage. Choose something more durable like maple or bamboo to resist the wear and tear that can be caused by the force of a wheelchair.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Laminates can mimic the look of wood, but offer better durability and resistance than some softer woods. Laminates are a less-expensive alternative to using hardwood.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tile is very durable and easily cleaned if scuff marks are a concern. Because they\u2019re water-resistant, they make a good contender for kitchens and bathrooms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You might think that carpet can be a hindrance to someone using a wheelchair \u2014 but if you plan for it, it can work. A thinner carpet, with a pile or height of half an inch (1.27 cm) or less, without an underpad will offer far less resistance and accommodate accessibility devices easily.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Remember, if the room isn\u2019t wide enough to turn a wheelchair, it doesn\u2019t matter what your flooring is made of \u2014 the space just will not work and you\u2019ll need a new plan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taking on accessibility projects while you\u2019re young may seem backwards, but making a series of smart changes over the years spent in your home can help you remain there as long as possible. And that is a priority for a lot of us.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/news.nationalpost.com\/homes\/mike-holmes-renovating-now-for-future-accessibility\" target=\"_blank\">Mike Holmes : Renovating Now for Future Accessibility<\/a> | National Post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week, I wrote about a client of mine who was living with her parents and wanted to renovate her home to accommodate their needs as they aged. I recommended &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2017\/02\/renovating-now-for-future-accessibility\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-lifestyle"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Renovating Now for Future Accessibility &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2017\/02\/renovating-now-for-future-accessibility\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Renovating Now for Future Accessibility &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Last week, I wrote about a client of mine who was living with her parents and wanted to renovate her home to accommodate their needs as they aged. 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