ADA and Wheelchair Accessible Homes

Looking for accessible homes in the Raleigh, NC area?

If you or a family member has special needs, Stanton Homes can work with you to build a fully-accessible home, in the budget you're aiming at.

Check out this just-completed accessible home, featuring an elevator, fantastic master suite, and much more!

Looking for an accessible or Aging in Place home? 

Here are some of the options you may want to consider including:

Accessible Custom Home Features

Bathrooms

· Roll In Showers

· Built In Shower Benches

· Grab Bars

· Room for Maneuvering (5 Foot Minimum Diameter)

· Knee Space Under Countertops/Reduced Height Countertops

Kitchen

· Room for Maneuvering

· Reduced Height Countertops

· Built-in Range Countertops with Front Controls and Knee Space Below

· Pull-Out Shelving (Slide Out Shelves)

· Accessible Electric Outlets and Switches

· Roll-Under Kitchen Sinks

Accessible Homes

· Ramps and Walkways

· Enlarged Garage

· Egress (exit) Door From Bedroom

· Enlarged Hallways and Doorways

· Non-Slip Flooring

· Low Pile Carpet

· Turning Radius in Laundry Room

No matter which features you're looking for, we'll incorporate them into your new home.

Have a floor plan you love - but it needs to allow for special considerations? Stanton Homes can modify it to meet your specifications.

Stanton Homes has the kind of experience you're looking for, with the fabulous signature details you'll want to include in your new home.

Accessible Homes Raleigh NC

Wheelchair Accessible Baths - Design Options

Triangle Area Universal Design and Accessible Homes

One of the most important rooms in an accessible or universal design home is the bathroom.  What an essential room, and often the room that needs the most reassessment to meet any special needs!

We'll go over the different aspects of an accessible bathroom, including counters, showers or tubs, sinks, toilets, and much more.  Today's article focuses specifically on accessible showers.

Accessible Bathrooms - Shower Design and Use

There are several ways a standard shower can be redesigned into an accessible shower.

Full Turning Radius Accessible Showers

Some needs may require a full 5'x5' turning radius inside the shower. 

In these cases, the shower can often be specially designed and completed with custom tile work - and may require the bathroom space be expanded.   

All this can be done by a custom home builder experienced with accessible designs and floor plan modifications. 

Multi-piece fiberglass accessible showers are also available by special order.  These accessible showers are often planned to have no rim, ie a chair can roll directly into the shower.  

Transfer Accessible Showers

Other accessible showers may be set up with a planned transfer from wheelchair or other vehicle to a built-in or stand alone shower seat. 

These showers can have a rim at floor level similar to a standard shower.  A threshold ramp can still allow easy access for the chair if necessary.

Transfer accessible showers can come in multiple sizes - anything from a standard "bathtub" size of 60"x36" to an extended 72"x49" fiberglass multi-piece shower.

A fiberglass shower will be less expensive than a custom tile shower, but any special order costs should also be considered. 

Hand Held Shower Head

A hand held shower head can be much easier to use and direct than a standard shower head.  There are many different varieties of shower heads to match different styles and budgets. 

A yoga glide bar allows the shower held to be held in place at adjustable heights. 

The showerhead can also be removed from the glide bar and adjusted by hand.

Hand held shower heads and glide bars can be found in chrome, brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze, and other finishes.

Shower Seat or Bench

An accessible shower offers either an attached or detached shower seat or bench.  A universal design shower seat can be constructed of wood, plastic, or metal, with cushion, plastic, or wood seats.

A fold down shower seat attached to the wall of the shower can come in different widths and lengths for comfort. 

Most seats are either 18" or 23" in width.

A shower seat or bench can be a great accessory even in a standard shower, particularly with aging in place in mind.

Shower Grab Bars

Again, a shower grab bar can be a useful accessory for a wide variety of needs.

Shower grab bars can be installed vertically or horizontally, depending on the specific needs and requirements. 

Grab bars should always support at least 250 pounds of weight. 

The diameter of a grab bar should be 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches.

In order for grab bars to provide correct support, they should be installed into studs and not unsupported walls.  Your accessible homes builder can provide additional blocking and framing in the shower and bath area to support any necessary grab bars. 

Grab bars can be white, chrome, brightly colored, or finished in alternate finishes, depending on taste and budget. 

Other accessible bathroom features will be covered in future articles.

Finding an Accessible Home

Considering building an accessible or universal design home?  Go over our easy checklist of accessible features!

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Accessible Homes - Raleigh NC

How Can Your Favorite Floor Plan Become Accessible?

Wheelchair Accessible Homes in the Raleigh NC Area

If you or a family member requires a wheelchair or scooter and needs just a little more room to get around, you've probably been frustrated by conventional homes and plans.  Don't give up yet! 

There are home plans noted as "accessible", but they are few and hard to find.  Even when one is found, the definition of accessibility may not be clear.  Are the hallways and doors wide enough?  Is there a bathroom with full accessibility, ie roll-in shower, dismount space for commode, and 5 foot turning radius?

At Stanton Homes, we can take your favorite plan and work with you to incorporate accessibility, without sacrificing beauty or design. 

An Great Home Gets Even Better with Universal Design

This design was brought to us by a client.  They loved the plan and the exterior, but needed an accessible home, and particularly an accessible master bath.

They also wanted an egress exit from the master bedroom, but didn't want the expense of running a deck and/or wheelchair ramp all the way from the back of the home to the front of the home.

Accessible Homes with Style

We were able to redesign the bedroom wing of the home to incorporate everything they were looking for.  The hallways are accessible, and all doors are large enough.  The master bath is now fully accessible, with an adapted bathtub. 

The master suite has been relocated to the front of the home, so that the egress exit is conveniently located.   The appealing exterior design was not affected by the changes, and in this case only a small amount of square footage needed to be added. 

No reengineering was required, because all load bearing walls and supports were unaffected - which helps keep costs down. 

At a very minimum cost, this accessible home is just what this couple was looking for! 

Wondering if your Favorite Floor Plan can become Accessible?

Bring us any designs you're considering, and we'll let you know if they are easily adaptible, or if they can become adaptable with a little extra cost. 

Don't know where to get started?

Here's are some great places to browse floor plans:

Stanton Homes Library of Favorites - One Story Homes

Frank Betz - Atlanta Designers

Atlanta Plan Source - Architectural Designs

AVID - A Vision in Design - Raleigh NC

Houseplans.com 

How Much Does it Cost to Build an Accessible Home in the Raleigh, NC area?

Cost depends on the size of the home, the amenities desired, and other factors.  For a free building cost estimate, contact Stanton Homes, or call us at 919-278-8070. 

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ADA and Wheelchair Accessible Homes in Raleigh, NC

Looking for a Universal Design Home in the Raleigh Area?

If you or a family member has special needs, Stanton Homes can work with you to build a fully-accessible home in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham/Fort Bragg area, in the budget you're aiming at.

What does an accessible custom home feature?

The features included vary depending on the needs and desires of the homeowner.  Some homeowners are looking for a two-story home, with an accessible first floor bedroom and bathroom for a family member.  Some are looking for a one story home with a fully accessible kitchen, bath, enlarged garage, and other features. 

Here are some of the features you may be looking for: 

Accessible Bathrooms

· Roll In Showers

· Built In Shower Benches

· Grab Bars

· Room for Maneuvering (5 Foot Minimum Diameter)

· Knee Space Under Countertops/Reduced Height Countertops

Accessible Kitchens

· Room for Maneuvering

· Reduced Height Countertops

· Built-in Range Countertops with Front Controls and Knee Space Below

· Pull-Out Shelving (Slide Out Shelves)

· Accessible Electric Outlets and Switches

· Roll-Under Kitchen Sinks

Accessible Interiors and Exteriors

· Ramps and Walkways

· Enlarged Garage

· Egress (exit) Door From Bedroom

· Enlarged Hallways and Doorways

· Non-Slip Flooring

· Low Pile Carpet

· Turning Radius in Laundry Room

No matter which features you're looking for, we'll incorporate them into your new home. Have a floor plan you love - but it needs to allow for special considerations? Stanton Homes can modify it to meet your specifications.  Or contact us, and ask for a full package with sample accessible homes and features.

The Ellsworth - Modified Accessible Home

The Ellsworth is a one story home with a second story bonus room. This home offers a fully accessible master suite with sitting room and large walk-in closet. The island kitchen and huge vaulted family room have great flow-through with the formal living room and formal dining room with signature archway entrances. All hallways and doorways have been expanded. The garage is bigger, too!
Click here for flyer and more information

Thousands of Possibilities
Bring us your floor plan or ask us where to find thousands of others, and we'll show you how we can adapt the look you like, with limited or full accessibility. At Stanton Homes, we'll work with you to build the custom home you want, with all the features you need - and we'll help you find the perfect location, too.

From the $200s to whatever you envision, we'll build an exceptional living experience.

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What is a Green Home?

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Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

There are many features that make living much easier for someone with reduced mobility, or someone who anticipates reduced mobility or wheelchair dependence in the future. 

It helps to know exactly what features you'll need, and which you won't, particularly as you start searching for your new home.  Depending on your current level of mobility, you'll want to consider two different options:  Adaptable Homes and Accessible Homes.

What's the Difference Between Adaptable and Accessible Homes?

An Adaptable home has key structural features that either allow easy circulation, or can be easily changed in the future to adapt to a different level of needs.  Some of the top features you'll see in an adaptable home are these:

Features of an Adaptable Home:

- An adaptable home will be built on a relatively flat or level lot with paved walkways from parking and sidewalk.

-An adaptable home will offer a ground-level entrance, or at maximum, an entrance with at most one or two steps that can easily be later converted into a ramp with the required slope of 1" of height for every 12" of length.

-An adaptable home should offer a first floor with no steps and no abrupt floor height changes, ie, a sunken family room would be inappropriate.

-Wider than standard doorways should be included in an adaptable home, with 32" or more clear width and a maximum of 1/2" height on the thresholds.

-Hallways should be wider than normal in an adaptable home.  Width should be at least 3'8", but ideally should be 4' to 5' wide. 

-At least one bathroom in an adaptable home should be large enough for later conversion to full accessibility if necessary, with a 32" clear door opening and a 5'x5' clear floor space for turning radius.

-An adaptable home should have a kitchen that is planned for wheelchair mobility.  Most likely an island kitchen will not give the mobility needed.  A U or L shaped kitchen with plenty of turning radius is ideal. 

Features of an Accessible Home

An accessible home should contain all the features of an adaptable home, with further modifications.  However, the number and type of features can vary greatly. 

Wheelchairs themselves come in a wide variety of widths, so the widths of hallways and doorways can vary as well. 

The needs of the individual with the disability can vary greatly as well. 

Is the individual the sole occupant of the home, capable of meeting all their needs with the correct equipment?  Or is the individual living with a caretaker or extended family?  If the individual has no need to cook, a modified kitchen may not be required beyond perhaps an accessible space and a lowered countertop area. 

All of these features are not required, but should give the reader a general idea of what to look for in an accessible home (beyond what is found in an adaptable home)

- The first floor should contain at least an accessible entrance, bedroom, and bathroom.

- An accessible home should have a level entry way or a ramp that meets the slope requirements.

- Low pile carpeting with thin padding

- A doorbell and mailbox at chair height (48"-54")

- Electrical controls, telephone jacks, and outlets that are at chair height (generally light switches/controls are 6" lower than standard and electrical outlets are 6" higher than standard)

- Windows that are accessible and easily operated (usually located 24"-28" from the floor)

- A direct emergency (egress) exit from the accessible bedroom

- A range and oven that is front control operated.  The range may also be roll-under, with a separate, lowered wall oven.

- Countertop heights can vary, and should allow roll under space where desired, particularly under the sink, in the bathroom, and under the countertop range.

- Outswing doors

- Grab bars installed into reinforced walls

- Lever hand faucets

- Roll-in shower with no curb, possibly with a hinged, fold-down or built-in seat

- Showerhead that is adjustable or hand held

- High ceiling and door garage to accomodate raised top van (9'6" height needed) if necessary

- Larger than normal garage to accomodate loading and unloading (24'x24' for two car garage) if necessary

Ask your builder if they have experience with adaptable or accessible homes, and if so, sit down and put together a list of the types of features you require and that you'd like to have.   The list above is not all-inclusive.  There are many, many different types of "accessible homes" available - we hope this helps narrow down the type of home you'd like to have.

Find Out More About Accessible Homes in the Raleigh, NC Area

 Stanton Homes offers "Meet the Builder" events, where any potential homebuyer can bring floor plans and ask an experienced, knowledgable general contractor a variety of questions on ADA and wheelchair accessible homes in the Raleigh NC area.  

Stanton Homes - Building Exceptional Living Experiences

Have other questions on ADA requirements, universal design, or wheelchair accessibility in new homes?

Ramp and Walkway Requirements - Wheelchair Accessible Homes (SAH and ADA Requirements)

Garage and Carport Requirements - Wheelchair Accessible Homes

ADA and Wheelchair Accessible Hallways and Doorways - What to Look For in Your New Home

Housing Assistance Available for Armed Forces Members with Service-Connected Disabilities - Fort Bragg and Pope AFB Areas

And if you're a veteran, active duty, or retired military, ask about "Stanton Homes for Heroes" - Military Discounts on New Homes. 

Copyright 2008 by Stanton Homes. 

ADA Accessible Garages and Carports - Wheelchair Accessible Homes

Specially Adapted Housing - VA Requirements for Garages and Carports

The Department of Veteran Affairs has very specific requirements for garage and carport accessibility.  The requirements are used by any Veteran who requires specially adapted housing, but the standards can be helpful for anyone looking to build a home that is fully wheelchair accessible.

Here's an overview:

Height of Garage or Carport

Any garage or carport qualified for Specially Adapted Housing must have a minimum overhead door height of 8 feet for new construction, or 7 feet for existing construction.

Width/Dimensions of Garage or Carport

Single Car Garage or Carport

A single car garage or carport must be at least 14 feet 6 inches wide and 24 feet long.

Double Car Garage or Carport

A double car garage or carport must be at least 24 feet wide and 24 feet long.

These minimum dimensions should allow the residents to have:

• 5 feet of unrestricted wheelchair maneuverability on at least one side of the vehicle.
• ample space to park a specially equipped vehicle
• access to the vehicle as necessary

In addition, if a veteran uses a platform to enter and exit his or her vehicle, Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) standards require sufficient space for the platform to ascend and descend, and for the veteran to move on or off the platform.

Walkway or Ramp Requirements

If the garage or carport is detached, a walkway or ramp is required to connect the parking area to the home.  This walkway must be covered.  The walkway should have a nonslip surface, and a handrail if necessary.

Ask your builder if they can make your new home wheelchair accessible, and if so, what type of garage or carport they recommend as the most cost effective combination. 

Find Out More About Accessible Homes in the Raleigh, NC Area

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Finding or Modifying an Accessible Home

"What kind of ramps or walkways should we include in our new home, in order for it to be fully wheelchair accessible?"

Some homebuyers ask this question because a family member currently needs wheelchair accessibility.  Some are buying a home for their retirement and want to include some "aging in place" features, like an entry or walkway that will be able to accomodate a scooter or wheelchair in the years ahead if needed. 

 What Types of Requirements are there for Ramps and Walkways?

There are two specific sets of ramp and walkway requirements.  One is maintained by the ADA, and the other is specified by the VA for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) for disabled veterans.

Both have very similar requirements, but the SAH does have a slightly more stringent set.

Should There Be an Additional Exit?

Here's what you should look for:

Number and Location:  Two means of entrance and exit. 

There should be at least two means of ingress and egress - two ramps or walkways at different locations within the home. 

To meet Specially Adapted Housing requirements, one of these entrances must provide a direct exit from the adaptive bedroom area, and of course be clear of any potential fire hazards. 

Installation: Accessible Ramp or Walkway in New Homes

The ramp or walkway must:

• Be permanently installed.
• Be a minimum 48" wide (or 42" if the hard surface walkway already exists)
• Have a low curb or guardrail on both sides of the ramp with a maximum height of 5 inches, which is designed to provide drainage at the bottom of the curb.

Height and Width: Accessible Ramp or Walkway in New Homes

• The platform at the doorway of the ramp or walkway must be of equal height to the interior house floor.
• The minimum width of the ramp or walkway is 42" from the inside of one handrail to the inside of the other handrail.

Slope: Accessible Ramp or Walkway in New Homes

The slope requirement can be one of the hardest to fulfill.  Homes with high crawlspaces can be especially challenging.  The ramp or walkway must have a slope of 8 percent or less.  This means that each one inch of height should equal 12.5 inches of length.  Thus a doorway which is one foot off the ground (and normally has one to two steps to access it) will require a ramp no less than 12.5 feet in length. 

For specially adapted housing, the driveway should comply with the same slope requirements whenever possible.

Surface Treatment: Accessible Ramp or Walkway in New Homes

The ramp or walkway must be treated to prevent slipping when wet, which can include:

• Broom finish for concrete surfaces
• 1/4 spacing between decking boards

Handrail: Accessible Ramp or Walkway in New Homes

Any qualifying ramp must have a handrail, which must fulfill these requirements:

• Have a maximum height of 30"-34" (SAH - maximum height is 30")
• Have a minimum of 1-1/4" and maximum of 1-1/2" diameter (SAH - miniumum of 1-1/2")
• Have a minimum of 1-1/2" to a maximum of 2" clearance from any mounting surface
• Be smooth and continuous
• If necessary, extend a minimum of 1 foot beyond both ends of any stair or ramp

Platforms and Landings: Accessible Ramp or Walkway in New Homes

Platforms and landings must:

• have a minimum clear area of 5' by 5'
• be provided at any wheelchair entrance
• be constructed of non-slip materials
• include a clear area of 1'6" in width beside the door on the side opposite the hinges
• be provided at minimum every 30' along the ramp
• be provided at any 90 degree turn in the ramp
• be reasonably level with provision for drainage and
• be unobstructed

ADA ramp and walkway requirements are quite specific for commercial buildings and establishments, but not as clear for single family homes.  But this overview of common ADA requirements for ramps, and Specially Adapted Housing ramp and walkway requirements, should help determine construction guidelines. 

What is the most cost effective way to build a home with ramps and walkways?

Each home is different, and the height of the foundation, the slope of the lot, and the location of the entrances and exits will all determine the total length of ramp needed, and the cost of that ramp or walkway.  In some cases, choosing a slab on grade foundation rather than a crawlspace foundation can eliminate some need for ramps - but again, the condition and slope of the lot will influence the type of foundation.  In the Raleigh area, many lots are rolling to some extent. 

Ask your builder if they can make your new home wheelchair accessible, and if so, what type of foundation and walkways or ramps they recommend as the most cost effective combination. 

Find Out More About Accessible Homes in the Raleigh, NC Area

 Stanton Homes offers "Meet the Builder" events, where any potential homebuyer can bring floor plans and ask an experienced, knowledgable general contractor a variety of questions on ADA and wheelchair accessible homes in the Raleigh NC area.  

Stanton Homes for Heroes Military Program 

Stanton Homes - Building Exceptional Living Experiences

Have other questions on ADA requirements, universal design, or wheelchair accessibility in new homes?

Garage and Carport Requirements - Wheelchair Accessible Homes

ADA and Wheelchair Accessible Hallways and Doorways - What to Look For in Your New Home

Housing Assistance Available for Armed Forces Members with Service-Connected Disabilities - Fort Bragg and Pope AFB Areas

And if you're a veteran, active duty, or retired military, ask about "Stanton Homes for Heroes" - Military Discounts on New Homes. 

Stanton Homes - Building Exceptional Living Experiences

Contact us today, or call 919-278-8070.