Universal Design Bathroom Remodeling
Our homeowner spends most of her time in a wheelchair as a result of multiple sclerosis. Earlier this year, She realized that the master bathroom in her home was not accommodating her needs and posed a simple question to us as her remodeler, “Is there anything you can do to make the bathroom a little more accessible?”
“I thought they might be able to make a few suggestions, but nothing could have prepared me for what they came back with a couple of weeks later,” said our Homeowner. “I was expecting some advice on how to strategically position a couple of grab bars. What I got was a plan for a completely remodeled, completely accessible bathroom.”
As a Universal Design Remodeler, we created a design for the complete remodel with several things in mind, including accessibility, safety, functionality, aesthetics and matching the home’s décor.
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Before the remodel of this master bathroom, our wheelchair-bound homeowner was challenged by: limited space for maneuvering the wheelchair, as well as having to get in and out of it to use bathroom fixtures; using the toilet, which was enclosed by walls and had a small door frame; using the bathtub/shower, which required getting in and out of the tub; and accessing the sink from a wheelchair, limited by the cabinets. |
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Originally, the toilet was surrounded by walls and was only accessible through a narrow door frame. The homeowner had to maneuver herself and her equipment into the small, confined space to use the toilet. |
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To make the toilet completely accessible to the homeowner, the remodeler removed the surrounding walls. Three grab bars (two that extended) were added; one of the extendable bars holds the toilet paper within reach and in front of the toilet. A new toilet was installed with a right-hand lever for easy access. |
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Before the remodel, the handicapped homeowner used a shower chair by straddling it over the edge of the Roman tub and extending herself to the shower fixtures. We replaced the Roman bathtub with a complete roll-in shower, which includes a telescopic shower rod that swings out eight feet; grab bars, stainless steel shower seat; new shower valve and shower head on sliding bar; a new concrete shower floor; and cultured marble walls. |
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We made numerous modifications to the homeowner’s bathroom to accommodate her needs, such as replacing the bathtub with a roll-in shower, which includes a telescopic shower rod that swings out eight feet; and replacing the cabinets and double sinks to accommodate a wall-mounted sink. The flooring was also replaced with unique commercial grade flooring, incorporating a dimpled surface for extra slip-resistance & an anti-bacterial quality. |
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The original cabinet and drawers with double sinks was prohibitive to our homeowner while using her wheelchair. |
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The original cabinet and drawers was replaced with a new cabinet with cultured marble countertop and single sink. A stand-alone, wall mounted sink was installed. The plumbing was modified to accommodate the new arrangement. New towel bars were installed, a porcelain tile backsplash was installed, as were new faucet fixtures. |
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The remodeled bathroom is 95 square feet. The new version has a raised commode, a roll-in shower, a wall-mounted sink, and an assortment of grab bars. Modifications included the removal of all plumbing fixtures, floor coverings, cabinets, counter tops, and some walls; the installation of new plumbing lines and fixtures, new commercial grade flooring, new counter top and sink, new shower seat, and eight grab bars.
Unique features of the remodeled bathroom include a telescopic shower curtain rod that expands and collapses for unobstructed privacy; a unique commercial-grade flooring, specially developed for bare feet in wet areas, which incorporates a dimpled surface for extra slip-resistance, plus a bacteriostat incorporated into the flooring to give the exposed surface excellent anti-bacterial activity; and grab handles and rails chosen for exceptional strength and available in a variety of nylon coated colors to coordinate with the bathroom décor.
The biggest challenge the project manager faced was making sure there was appropriate blocking in anticipation of where the grab bars were to be installed, trying to accommodate ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines, while also accommodating the size of the homeowner, who was smaller than the average person for which the guidelines were created. We also had to modify the guest bath with extended hinges for the door so there could be temporary wheelchair access.
Over the past 18 years, our homeowner has gone from walking on her own, to walking with a cane, to spending most of her time in a wheelchair. Now she can now use the bathroom facilities with no assistance once again.
Tri-Lite Builders serves happy homeowners in Phoenix Arizona and the surrounding communities of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, and Mesa AZ with all aspects of home improvements kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Call Linda at 480-895-3442 to find out how we can help you transform your home.
Unique features of the remodeled bathroom include a telescopic shower curtain rod that expands and collapses for unobstructed privacy; a unique commercial-grade flooring, specially developed for bare feet in wet areas, which incorporates a dimpled surface for extra slip-resistance, plus a bacteriostat incorporated into the flooring to give the exposed surface excellent anti-bacterial activity; and grab handles and rails chosen for exceptional strength and available in a variety of nylon coated colors to coordinate with the bathroom décor.
The biggest challenge the project manager faced was making sure there was appropriate blocking in anticipation of where the grab bars were to be installed, trying to accommodate ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines, while also accommodating the size of the homeowner, who was smaller than the average person for which the guidelines were created. We also had to modify the guest bath with extended hinges for the door so there could be temporary wheelchair access.
Over the past 18 years, our homeowner has gone from walking on her own, to walking with a cane, to spending most of her time in a wheelchair. Now she can now use the bathroom facilities with no assistance once again.
Tri-Lite Builders serves happy homeowners in Phoenix Arizona and the surrounding communities of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, and Mesa AZ with all aspects of home improvements kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Call Linda at 480-895-3442 to find out how we can help you transform your home.
