Preparing for one of those highly likely events involving someone in your home needing room modifications for even a short time while recovering from surgery is surely a smart move. The new evolving concept known as Universal Design for home remodeling is catching on nationwide and has been for several years as a sign of the times. Universal design techniques used in a building make a home more accessible to all regardless of their mobility or adaptive abilities and at any age. An evolution of new products used in room modifications making homes more accessible has come about in the remodeling industry. These new advances in home remodeling not only keep the living environments safer but will not compromise the home's aesthetics or resale value. Interior modifications can include adding grab bars or handrails throughout the home, lowering upper cabinets and countertops, adding non-slip flooring, widening hallways, installing stairlifts, designing and building accessible bathrooms, and widening doors. You might also consider lowering light switches and thermostats and installing easier-to-use door levers. You should try to provide a clear barrier-free path or accessible route to the most visited areas of your home. The published guidelines for ADA accessibility for buildings and facilities are a great resource for ideas on how to make a home safer and easier to live in. Homes can become more accessible to people as they age. Many of these published ADA guidelines, particularly requirements for corridor and door widths, safety bars, and proper access to different types of facilities can go a long way in extending the amount of time an elderly or physically impaired individual can live independently.
If you have been considering a bathroom renovation with better accessibility or an accessible kitchen remodeling project in Austin there are a few things you should take into consideration. Accessible bathroom upgrades can take on many looks and facets. The scope of work you choose to accomplish this task should effectively solve your physical challenges and most importantly, your needs as the homeowner-- for now and for the future. The identification of these specific needs belongs to you the homeowner. The way your home is structurally altered to help with special needs is the job of the professional remodeling contractor holding a CAPS certification. A thorough assessment by a Certified Aging in Place professional will identify your home's architectural barriers and what is required to remove them. Accessibility should be a concern no matter what your age. If your concerns are not for you, barring any life-changing accident, they could concern the accessibility of another generation's independence in using the restroom. CAPS professionals in the remodeling industry can help with solutions in solving these issues while performing design/build home modifications.
Disability is a complex phenomenon representing an interaction between one's physical impairments, the activities they need to perform, and the architectural barriers within the space in which this situation occurs. The terminology and jargon used for disabilities evolve regularly whereas, "handicapped" is no longer acceptable. It is no longer merely a description of intellectual or physical impairments. Each individual with similar impairments describes his or her limitations differently. The blind don't experience their world the same as a person with deafness. Some of our societal statistics that weigh into aging in place situations include reports stating that 19% of the population between the ages of 16 and 64 and 42% of those of us 65 and over have a physical disability affecting the activities of our daily lives. For a progressive condition, aging in place home remodeling in Austin definitely comes into play. This is the only way to ensure both the safety and mobility for the homeowner or family member requiring the home modifications. The two main groups driving elder construction and the aging in place market are those people who are 65 and over and the baby boomers. The first group is projected to reach 55 million in 2020. The baby boomer generation born between 1946 and 1965 today make up 28% of the U.S. population and are made up of some 77 million people. Modifications of existing homes are important because people age 50 and older want to remain in their current homes for as long as possible. Aging in place home modifications in Austin should only be done by a CAPS-certified remodeling company. This is the only way that you can be assured that the home modifications are the right choices to satisfy your needs. There is no need to waste money only to find out that the wrong alterations were done by an inexperienced and unqualified remodeling company. Always check their credentials to verify that the remodeler holds a CAPS certification. All registered CAPS program graduates and their remodeling companies will be listed in a national registry in Washington. The information can be found by simply visiting nahb.org/CAPS.
The National Association of Home Builders, in partnership with the AARP and Home Innovation Research Labs, created the CAPS program, which includes training and education on the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to compete in the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry--home modifications for aging in place. David L. Traut, CAPS the owner of T-Square Company in Austin, Texas is one of the select group of professionals nationwide to earn the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation, identifying him as a home remodeler and builder with the skills and knowledge necessary to remodel or modify a home to meet the unique needs of the older population, disabled owners, or their visitors. T-Square Company offers complete disabled home modifications in Austin using our design/build philosophy. We have over 35 years of accessibility experience in the commercial and private market sectors. We specialize in disability remodeling projects for our special needs clients.
What are some of the costs involved? Whether you desire a roll-in shower, accessible sink, or merely clear and unobstructed access to your existing bath, a CAPS professional can help you increase your accessibility. The professional national CAPS certification holder can not only help you with the design of what you desire but is competent and professionally qualified to carry out any construction needed. Certainly, there are many upgrades available when planning a bathroom transformation. The replacement of the tub with a new walk-in shower can create a bold look but will run around $14,000. There are no spending limits for bathroom remodels. You can plan on spending around $12,000 to $15,000 for a hall bath remodel. The price tag can approach or exceed $35,000 for a complete master bath remodel. The type of fixtures and building components chosen along with the labor will compose the overall cost of the remodeling project. These prices are based on long-lasting home modifications requiring time to install using proper construction techniques. T-Square Company's design/builds are not to be confused with pop-in kits offered by others claiming they will be accomplished in a couple of days.
It is true that a trained CAPS professional and remodeling contractor with years of experience will cost you more than a handyman illegally playing among the trades at your peril but then again there are those professional guarantees to consider. The professional versus the handyman is more likely to seek your overall satisfaction that will follow him into his next job. A true building professional can also orchestrate the job's smooth flow limiting the downtime of a most useful room. Subcontractors will not be covered up and each skilled trade is brought onto the site as needed in an orderly fashion. Professionals normally have insurance to cover on-the-job accidents to protect the homeowners from having legal action brought against them personally. Be sure you ask for a certificate of insurance from your chosen professional contractor so that you aren't held personally liable for medical expenses covering a worker's accident while on your property. Don't forget that only certified aging in place (CAPS) professionals can help you solve your accessibility needs and concerns. The aging-in-place considerations specifically used in homes today where the owner is planning to retire are all a part of training and experience. Call T-Square Company today at 512-444-0097 and discover how precise home modifications will offer you extended comfort, safety, and independence within your existing home.
