Accessibility Remodeling

Measuring for the person who will use it

With accessibility work, somebody in the house needs the change now, often after an injury, a diagnosis or a change that came on faster than anyone wanted. The schedule matters, and so does getting it right the first time, because a ramp that is too steep or a doorway an inch too narrow does not help anyone.

We start by meeting the person who will use the space, if they are willing, along with whoever helps them day to day. We measure the wheelchair or walker, the turning room it needs, how high the person can comfortably reach from a seated position and which side they transfer from. If an occupational or physical therapist has made recommendations, we want to see them. Those numbers drive the design.

The walkthrough covers the whole route through a typical day: car to entry, entry to the main living area, kitchen, bedroom, bath and back. The written scope that follows ranks the work by what makes the biggest difference first, so the most important changes can happen quickly even if the rest follows later. Accessible bathrooms have their own pages; here we cover the rest of the house.

Ramps, entries and thresholds

Getting in and out of the house is usually the first problem. A ramp needs a gentle slope, landings at the top and bottom and at turns, handrails on both sides and an edge that keeps a wheel from rolling off. For commercial and public accessibility the standard slope is no steeper than one inch of rise per foot of run, and that same ratio is a sensible target at home. Even a modest rise means a long ramp, so the layout takes planning on a small lot.

Ramps in Massachusetts have to handle ice and snow. We pay attention to the surface, drainage, the direction the ramp faces and whether it can be cleared easily. Where the grade allows, regrading a walk to meet the door with a gentle slope can avoid a ramp altogether and looks like ordinary landscaping. Ramp footings and posts go below frost depth, commonly about four feet here, so the structure does not heave.

At the door, the threshold matters as much as the ramp. A raised sill that is nothing to a walking person can stop a wheelchair. We lower or bevel thresholds, add a level landing outside the door and make sure the door hardware can be operated with a closed fist.

Even a modest rise means a long ramp, so the layout takes planning on a small lot.

Turning space and door widths through the house

Inside, the questions are clear width and turning room. Most interior doors in older houses are too narrow for a wheelchair. Widening a door on the main route to a clear opening of at least 32 inches is a common change, and offset hinges can sometimes gain a little without touching the framing. Where the wall carries a load, we say so before anything is opened, and the new header is sized properly.

A wheelchair needs space to turn, typically a circle about five feet across or a T-shaped area, at the ends of halls, in the kitchen and beside the bed. Sometimes that means removing a closet or a short wall, or changing a swinging door to a pocket or barn-style door so it is not in the way.

Floors get attention too. Thick rugs, transitions between rooms and soft carpet all make a chair harder to push. A continuous hard floor with flush transitions makes every trip easier.

Hallways deserve a look as well. A hall wide enough to walk down may still be too tight to turn a chair into a bedroom door at its side. Sometimes the fix is widening the door, sometimes moving it a foot so the approach is straight. We check each turn on the route with the person's actual chair, because a plan that works on paper can fail at a single corner.

Reach ranges in kitchens, closets and controls

From a wheelchair, the useful reach range is much smaller than standing. Upper cabinets are out of reach, and so are high shelves, the back of a deep counter and switches set at the usual height. We lower a section of counter with knee space below, add pull-out shelves and drawers in place of base cabinets, and put the microwave or a wall oven where it can be used safely from a seated position.

In closets, a lower rod and adjustable shelving put clothes within reach. Switches, thermostats and outlets get moved to heights the person can use, and a licensed electrician adds circuits for any lift, door opener or medical equipment.

Every one of these changes is measured to the person living there. Standards give a starting point. The person's actual reach decides the finished height.

Some needs are about strength and balance rather than a chair. For someone using a walker or a cane, the priorities shift toward solid rails, seating where tasks happen and fewer reasons to bend or climb. A bench by the entry, a seat at the kitchen counter and a raised dishwasher or laundry machines can matter more than any doorway. We plan for the person as they are now, and we talk honestly about what may change.

Rental and commercial property: 521 CMR and the ADA

Accessibility on rental, multifamily and commercial property is governed by regulations as well as the owner's preferences. In Massachusetts that means 521 CMR, the regulations of the Architectural Access Board, along with the federal ADA. Which requirements apply depends on the type of building, how it is used and the scope and value of the work being done, and some renovations trigger upgrades beyond the area you meant to touch.

For landlords and business owners, we review the scope against those requirements before the plan is final, so accessibility is designed in rather than discovered at the inspection. Where a design professional's review is needed, we bring that in early.

For homeowners and property owners alike, the process is the same: a walkthrough, a written scope, Steve as your contact, changes agreed in writing before they happen, and inspections scheduled as the work is ready. When the need is urgent, we say plainly how quickly we can start and what can be done first.

See the rest of our remodeling work, or browse the gallery for rooms we have finished.