BackRemodeling Homes for Ease, Comfort, and Savings
Article submitted by Connell Builders. They can be reached at 239-298-0455 or visit their website at www.ConnellBuilders.com.
As the aging process inevitably occurs to each of us, there are a number of modifications we can make to remain in our own homes that will meet all of our needs and desires. Often, this is a wonderful alternative to moving to a retirement community or other specialized housing.
A major remodel is often not necessary, and there are a variety of affordable ways to upgrade and improve the comfort and safety of your home without giving it an industrial look. Consider adding a small table at the entrance to your home to set your packages down as you unlock your door. Once inside, the handles and locks on your doors should be a lever type handle for easy operation instead of round knobs. Lighting should be bright and flooring should be non-slip. Shelves and clothes rods in closets should be lowered so you don't have to stretch. In the bathroom the most common changes are installing single lever handle faucets, movable showerheads, antiskid strips on the tub floor, personal hygiene systems for your toilet, and adding strategically placed grab bars. In the kitchen, retrofitting the cabinets below the sink and cook top to create leg space allow you to sit on a stool while cooking or using the sink. Changing knobs on cabinets to D-shaped handles make for easier opening. When replacing appliances, think about ranges that have the temperature controls on the front of the stove so you do not have to reach over hot burners. In addition, side-opening oven doors allow you to avoid reaching into a hot oven without losing your balance.
To take things a step further and to make your home more accessible for you or someone visiting you that may be in a wheelchair or have mobility challenges, you may want to think about putting in ramps to get in the home, widen hallways and doorways. Enlarging bathrooms to create roll-in, no-step showers, or walk-in bathtubs can be helpful. Installing comfort height toilets with high-tech personal hygiene toilet seats, sinks that enable someone with a wheelchair to use comfortably also improve usefulness. Adding strategically placed grab bars are popular and a relatively easy home modification choice. In remodeling the kitchen, you may want to install cabinets that have a six-inch or nine-inch toe kick with pullout shelves to avoid over stretching, and wall cabinets with pull down shelves and hidden pullout worktables. You can even automate your home so that you can work your air-conditioning, lighting, security system, home entertainment system, and window treatments, all from a single, very easy to use remote control. All this can be done in a way that is aesthetically pleasing without an industrial/commercial look. The possibilities are endless.
Whether you are adapting your home for immediate needs or in anticipation of the future, it is likely that a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) professional will be able to accomplish your project more cost-effectively than a builder or remodeler who is not familiar with this sort of work. A CAPS specialist can inspect and evaluate your home to accommodate for any current and future physical challenges.
When choosing a contractor to make these updates, find a contractor with experience that has a CAPS designation and a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation. Both of these are important criteria and are earned by Remodelers who have at least five years of experience in the construction industry, take an exam, and are assigned coursework to earn thesedesignations through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) which has teamed with AARP to address the issue of Aging in Place. For more information, call Connell Builders at 239-298-0455.