Have you ever wondered what you can do to your home to make it wheelchair accessible? This article will share some useful tips that you can use around and in your house to ensure that a wheelchair can move around freely. For instance, you can make your house/home inviting to everyone by installing a wheelchair accessible door.
This is a low-cost renovation project that will make your house easier to maneuver, especially for those people in wheelchairs. This will not only make it more accessible but will also make it easy for people to access object or items in various parts of your house. This means that people can do their daily activities worry-free. Let us have a look at the proven tips of making a home maneuverable by wheelchair;
Removing Gravel From the Walkways
Gravel driveways and walkways are challenging to manage for those in wheelchairs. Where possible, you should replace the gravel with leveled paving stones or concrete. Alternatively, you can consider using small stones and keeping the surface weed free and level. Adding edging along the drive and pathway to reduce unwanted plant growth is also recommended
Installing Grab Bars in Your bathroom
Installing grab bars near handrails in your tub area and toilet makes it easier for one in a wheelchair to access the toilet and bathtub. Grab bars can hold a weight of up to 250 pounds when installed correctly. To make them more efficient, you should install them direly into studs. People can easily hold onto studs with no-slip surfaces.
Raising the Furniture
Raising furniture makes it easy for those in wheelchairs to reach items on coffee tables or sit comfortably at the kitchen tables. Securing some blocks of wood to the furniture’s legs is the easiest way of raising the furniture.
Adjusting the Doorway Widths
Most of the conventional doorways have average widths of about 24 inches. This is quite narrow to a wheelchair to maneuver. Homeowners can hire professional door installers to widen the doorways. The recommended width of a wheelchair accessible doorway is 30 inches. If this is not a viable option, then you should consider removing doors from the hinges to install pocket doors. This is an effective way of providing additional room for wheelchairs. Replacing doors with drapes or curtains also works.
Changing Faucet Levers and Doorknobs
This involves replacing the standard round-doorknobs with lever-type handles. Tying a string to the lever handle makes it easier for one to pull the door closed or open. You can consider exchanging the round handles on kitchen and bathroom sinks with lever handles.
