How safe is your home? Does it have protections in place to keep you and your loved ones safe from hazards? Do you need to make any changes to your home to make sure it’s accessible to everyone.
Making modifications to keep your home safe and more accessible is essential for anyone who wants to remain independent and age in place. This blog post gives you a helpful overview of the purpose of accessible home modifications, what to consider before beginning any work, the types of modifications available, how to work with contractors, and tips for finishing touches.
The Purpose of Accessible Home Modifications
Accessible home modifications are changes made to existing structures to make them easier to use and navigate for people with physical limitations.
These modifications can include widening doorways, adding ramps, installing elevators, and creating accessible showers and bathrooms. Making these modifications is important for ensuring that everyone can access the home easily and safely.
Planning for Accessible Home Modifications
Before making any accessible home modifications, you’ll need to consider some basic factors before beginning, including:
Budget
How much can you spend on modifications? How much will the modifications cost? Will you need to find some financial assistance?
Timeline
How soon will you need to make the modifications, and how long will it take to complete them? Will you need to arrange for accommodations while the work is being done?
Resident Safety
You’re making these accessible home modifications to keep the people in your home safe. Still, sometimes the work involved in making the modifications can lead to temporary dangers in the home, such as tripping hazards or potential electrical risks.
Choosing a contractor
You’ll want to research potential contractors carefully to verify their credentials, license, and insurance, and get references from previous clients. This will ensure that the contractor can be trusted with the job and will help to avoid any issues that could arise during the modification process.
Types of Accessible Home Modifications
There are many types of accessible home modifications that can be made in order to make the home safer and easier to navigate. These may include changes such as:
• Widening doorways
• Installing ramps
• Adding lifts or elevators
• Replacing showers or bathtubs with walk-in varieties
• Affixing grab bars
To make these modifications accessible and safe, you’ll need to consider the size of the doorway or ramp, the length of the ramp or elevator, the type of materials used for construction, and any other safety measures that need to be taken.
It’s nearly always a good idea to ask a professional contractor to assess any potential changes and ensure that they are done optimally and reliably.
Working with Contractors
When working with contractors, we strongly recommend using construction professionals who are licensed, insured, and experienced. They will need to follow all relevant regulations such as building codes and safety standards.
If at any point it seems like they are not following the correct regulations or operating unsafely, contact your local city or county building authorities to have them inspect the work. This will help to protect everyone who is using the home from any potential issues that could arise due to improper construction or safety violations.
Word of mouth is almost always helpful in determining whether a contractor can live up to the job. Ask the contractor’s previous customers about their experience, if they were satisfied with the completed work, and whether the workers performed the job safely and correctly.
Finishing Touches for Accessible Home Modifications
Once all of your accessible home modifications are complete, they should look aesthetically pleasing in addition to being safe and effective. Your home modifications should complement your home and fit right in with your existing home’s structure, layout, and style.
Before the project begins, work directly with your contractor to choose materials that match the existing décor of the home. You might consider adding other decorative touches, such as paint, carpet, or artwork, to accentuate the changes and make them look like they were always part of the home rather than something added later on.
Let Havenside Help with Accessible Home Modifications
Making accessible home modifications is important for homeowners who want to make their homes comfortable and safe for everyone who uses them.
If you’re unsure about the process, need financial assistance, or have questions about any part of the process, contact Havenside. We guide homeowners through the home modification experience by providing tips and insights, making recommendations, and pointing them in the right direction for loans, grants, and other means of paying for accessible home modifications.
Contact the team at Havenside today to explore the possibilities and options for making your home safer and more secure.
