
While Universal Design is a human centered concept making up an overlapping design philosophy, this concept of design came about by the recent disability movement of our aging population and the quality of life created by an increased user concept. An evolution in building ideas which deals with a larger all-inclusive society rather than a select group will make our homes more livable and sustainable in the future. Small changes can make a great difference with practice and understanding of the antiquated architecture which has evolved as the norm. It has been demonstrated that a need for functionality and usability has been lacking within our existing home inventory and the standards and codes from our municipalities must catch up with the needs of our society as a whole. When everyone can benefit it just makes common sense. Observing other aging groups in our society and the personal perils they face has finally brought about a new way of thinking about the living environment. Universal Design is beneficial to all abilities and ages offering practical solutions for specific differences in people. We have long needed a new vision representing a home that works for everyone and this attitude is becoming the new reality stemming from a revolution. This new building revolution, using Universal Design, is helping to create new accessible homes along with ways to make the older homes more accessible.
There are seven criteria which must be met to be considered a Universal Design no matter which area of the home you are referring to. Any design must be equally useful to everyone, have flexibility in usefulness, be simple and intuitive, be perceived by everyone, have a tolerance for error, require little physical effort, and it must maintain an adequate area for approach and use. Any complexity or discriminating attribute to a design will doom it in terms of being considered universal in nature.
The new (but old) evolving concept known as Universal Design for home building and remodeling is catching on nationwide and has been for several years as a sign of the times. Universal Design techniques used in building or remodeling makes a home more accessible to all regardless of their mobility or adaptive abilities and at any age. An evolution of new products used for disability home modifications is making those homes more accessible and has finally come about in the remodeling industry. These new advances in accessible home remodeling not only keep the living environments safer but will not compromise the home's aesthetics or resale value. Furthermore, this new way of thinking offers flexibility to add accessories now and later to those planning ahead or to the end user. It also provides for a wide range of human performance characteristics for the way people use spaces within their homes including well integrated usability features.

Universal Design does not equate to accessibility design even though they both are concerned with ergonomics and human function issues. The ADA guidelines for accessibility were created as a means to help those people with extreme disabilities within our society who are a narrow and specific cross section of the masses. A Universal Design approach broadly takes into account moderate impairments or disabilities, temporary health conditions, and the varying abilities of anyone within a home regardless of their age or size. In other words, an ADA accessible home would be designed for the one person with the disability whereas a Universal Design home is designed for everyone. Features like one story design, bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground floor, natural day lighting through larger windows and skylights, and wider doors and hallways appeal to users of all ages. With baby boomers eyeing a future where they'll Age in Place and younger people renovating older homes, the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies is anticipating healthy growth for the U.S. home improvement market through 2025.
T-Square Company in Austin, Texas has been offering design/build accessibility projects to their clients incorporating the principles of Universal Design for over twenty-five years. David L. Traut, CAPS, the owner-president of T-Square Company is certified in Universal Design. He has published a book entitled "Age in Place at Home :Adapting the Home Environment for All Generations" which is available through Amazon. It covers identifying and overcoming common accessibility shortcomings within a home. Within it's pages, he takes you through a home interior showing you how to apply Universal Design aspects in every room. Since Universal Design seamlessly segues into Aging in Place needs, it is a book worth reading. Incorporating Universal Design principles into your home facilitate future Aging in Place goals, while comfortably addressing the diverse needs of all ages and mobility levels living within your home at any time. It is a great reference book for parents of special needs children, homeowners moving in their elderly parents, and multi-generational living situations. Always remember, home accessibility is not exclusively age-related, but it must be appropriate for those needing it the most.

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Everyone ages differently and has different needs and wants. The factors that constitute the aging in place market, senior home modifications, and disabled home modifications for all individuals are their genetic makeup, lifestyle, choices they have made while living, and environment. These factors have brought about the need for Universal Design. This is the forward-thinking design of products, services, and environments usable by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability, or situation without needing adaptation or specialized alterations. It provides the most significant safety and access for home guests or occupants and is undetectable when done well. When a home contains the principles of Universal Design, there is little need for future home modifications for Aging in Place. Since so few homes share the accessibility offered by Universal Design, to satisfy the needs of a particular household member brought about by an accident, an illness, or simply the aging process, there will always be a need for customized accessibility features offered by CAPS-certified remodelers. A CAPS-accredited remodeling professional will accomplish this need by producing a truly functional design. This same competent home remodeling company that understands and practices Aging in Place home modifications in Dripping Springs should work to fit the design and ensure your safety and accessibility.


Physical limitations affect many more people than the daily users of walkers and wheelchairs. Many members of our life experienced or elder society has significant problems dealing with their inaccessible home environment. Today's conventional building standards conflict with most people's accessibility when considering our created architectural barriers concerning cabinetry and door opening widths, individual strength, range of motion, movement, manual dexterity, balance, and coordination. Once the demands of our built environment exceed our capacities, we become excluded from a room or even the entire home. The building world must work in unison to be sure the entire living environment meets basic needs in addition to affordability and structural integrity for the consumer and homeowner. This includes the home and the components within the home being accessible to all inhabitants. Privacy, a sense of belonging, a sense of control, and the sense of safety and security make up the quality of life for any home and should be considered for any design.


Disability is a complex phenomenon representing an interaction between one's physical impairments, the activities one needs to perform, and the architectural barriers within the space in which this situation occurs. Modifications of existing homes are necessary because people aged 50 and older want to remain in their current homes for as long as possible. This endeavor is known as Aging in Place. Aging in Place home modifications in Dripping Springs should only be done by a CAPS-certified remodeling company. T-Square Company, located at 14141 Highway 290 West, is one of the accredited companies. They have over 27 years of experience working with accessibility. By choosing them, you can be assured that the design and home modifications are the right choices to satisfy your needs. There is no need to waste money only to discover that an inexperienced and unqualified remodeling company did the wrong alterations.
Suppose you have been considering an Aging in Place design for a bathroom makeover or kitchen remodeling project in Dripping Springs. In that case, there are a few things you should take into consideration. Accessible home remodels and bathroom upgrades can take on many looks and facets. The scope of work you choose to accomplish your desires should effectively solve your problems and, most importantly, your needs as the homeowner. The identification of these specific needs belongs to you, the homeowner. The job of the knowledgeable, professional remodeling contractor is how your home is structurally altered to accomplish these needs. 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 bathroom. Aging in Place services performed by T-Square Company, a registered CAPS professional in the remodeling industry, can help with solutions to solving any home accessibility issues.
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. T- Square Company can not only help you with the design of what you desire but is competent and professionally qualified to carry out all construction needed. Certainly, there are many upgrades available when planning an accessible bathroom transformation. On average, the tub replacement with a new walk-in shower can create a bold look but will run you around $18,000, while a roll-in shower will run around $14,000. There are no spending limits for bathroom remodels. For a hall bath remodel, you can spend around $15,000 to $22,000. 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 sustainable modifications requiring time to install using proper construction techniques. They are not to be confused with pop-in kits offered by others, claiming their jobs will be accomplished in one day.

Who do you choose to help you with your dream? A professional remodeling contractor with years of experience will cost you more than a handyman illegally playing among the trades at your peril. Still, 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; each skilled trade is brought onto the site as needed. Professionals normally have insurance to cover on-the-job accidents to protect homeowners from legal action against them. 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 like T-Square Company can help you solve your accessibility issues where the owner is planning to retire.
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, owner of T-Square Company in SW 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 Aging in Place services through their design/build process.
For additional information about the CAPS program, visit nahb.org/CAPS. For more information about T-Square Company, visit www.tsquareco.com or call 512-444-0097 to schedule a home assessment.


A Custom Roll-In Shower Conversion in Dripping Springs, Texas

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What does CAPS stand for?
First of all, CAPS stands for Certified Aging in Place Specialist. The aging societal changes and inventory of inaccessible existing houses created the need for a CAPS certification program. This designation program, offered through the National Association of Home Builders, NAHB, in collaboration with The American Association of Retired Persons AARP, incorporates components of assessment, technical knowledge, and management skills related to disability home modifications used to help people stay at home safely and independently for a longer time. The program was developed in 2001.
How do I receive a senior home assessment?
Simply contact T-Square Company at www.tsquareco.com or call 512-444-0097 to schedule an appointment and find out what is involved. David L. Traut, CAPS (#1636580), 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 turn-key design/build projects to help with senior living solutions in Dripping Springs.

What can I gain from a certified home assessment?
During a home assessment for increasing accessibility, the structural needs of the client will be noted and documented through sketches, photos, and conversation. All the surroundings will be considered, from the flooring to the layout of a specific room or location as it pertains to the inhabitant's ease of usability. The physical and emotional needs of the occupant will also come into play because of mobility, sensory, or cognitive concerns. The goal is to modify the home in a custom manner to provide for the occupant's maximum health, independence, and safety. Often the input from any caretakers, like a physical or occupational therapist, during the assessment phase can prove invaluable. The three main rooms involved in Aging in Place home modifications are the bathroom, the kitchen, and the family room. These three areas comprise the most occupied spaces of any home and will be connected by a designated accessible route.
What are the five best home modifications for seniors Aging in Place?
Seniors' five basic needs involve installing ramps, access through wider doorways, bathroom renovations, kitchen alterations, and non-slip floor surfaces. Freedom to move about the home without encountering architectural barriers and increased usability is the goal of the process.
What Are The Benefits of Aging in Place?
Reasons for choosing to Age in Place include staying in your existing home surrounded by your neighbors and family and avoiding the prohibitive cost of senior living communities or assisted living. While it may be overwhelming to consider aging in your own home and the costs of the modifications required, many temporary and permanent options can help you stay in your home well past retirement. We all must observe safety for everyone as the baby boomers choose to Age in Place within their homes.

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What does CAPS stand for?
First of all, CAPS stands for Certified Aging in Place Specialist. The aging societal changes and inventory of inaccessible existing houses created the need for a CAPS certification program. This designation program, offered through the National Association of Home Builders, NAHB, in collaboration with The American Association of Retired Persons AARP, incorporates components of assessment, technical knowledge, and management skills related to disability home modifications used to help people stay at home safely and independently for a longer time. The program was developed in 2001.
How do I receive a senior home assessment?
Simply contact T-Square Company at www.tsquareco.com or call 512-444-0097 to schedule an appointment and find out what is involved. David L. Traut, CAPS (#1636580), 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 turn-key design/build projects to help with senior living solutions in Austin.

What can I gain from a certified home assessment?
During a home assessment for increasing accessibility, the structural needs of the client will be noted and documented through sketches, photos, and conversation. All the surroundings will be considered, from the flooring to the layout of a specific room or location as it pertains to the inhabitant's ease of usability. The physical and emotional needs of the occupant will also come into play because of mobility, sensory, or cognitive concerns. The goal is to modify the home in a custom manner to provide for the occupant's maximum health, independence, and safety. Often the input from any caretakers like a physical or occupational therapist during the assessment phase can prove invaluable. The three main rooms involved in Aging in Place home modifications are the bathroom, the kitchen, and the family room. These three areas comprise the most occupied spaces of any home and will be connected by a designated accessible route.
What are the five best home modifications for seniors Aging in Place?
Seniors' five basic needs involve installing ramps, access through wider doorways, bathroom renovations, kitchen alterations, and non-slip floor surfaces. Freedom to move about the home without encountering architectural barriers and increased usability is the goal of the process.
What Are The Benefits of Aging in Place?
Reasons for choosing to Age in Place include staying in your existing home surrounded by your neighbors and family and avoiding the prohibitive cost of senior living communities or assisted living. While it may be overwhelming to consider aging in your own home and the costs of the modifications required, many temporary and permanent options can help you stay in your home well past retirement. We all must observe safety for everyone as the baby boomers choose to Age in Place within their homes.

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The number one safety hazard for elderly or disabled people of any age is negotiating level changes both outside and within the home--steps at the entry, stairs between floors, curbs to step over when entering the bath or shower, and being able to access patios, decks, and terraces. When Universal Design is correctly incorporated into a home’s layout, these flexible houses accommodate the needs of their owners and their visitors even as those needs evolve over time. Barrier free homes are functional and comfortable as well as accessible to everyone.
Visitability or the lack thereof begins at the curb for every home. This term refers to how easy it is for all people coming by to pay a visit or stay with the homeowner regardless of their physical abilities. Occupants and visitors are capable of entering an accessible bathroom located on the same floor representing the visitability of the home. Ideally, the entry into the house is through a 36 inch wide door having an ADA threshold to create a no step entry. Entrance is obtained using an easily graspable lever style lock.

The accessible entrance is a great place to begin an accessible route for most homes. Once inside the structure a new set of problems concerning accessibility are discovered along the extended accessible route if the entire first floor is not on one single level. The designated accessible route continues into all of the most used rooms increasing accessibility. All swinging doors are minimally 36 inches wide using Universal Design along the accessible route producing a clear 32 inch wide opening when the door is opened to ninety degrees. Sliding, pocket, and bi-fold doors require less operating approach space because the door is better contained along the wall in which it is mounted.
With increasing age or following a temporary health setback, simply maneuvering around inside the home is increasingly more difficult. This designated route includes a 5 x 5 foot clear turning space required for wheelchairs in the main living area, kitchen, the bedroom, and one bathroom. The selection, placement, and design of doors and doorways influence a wide range of people. The location of the doorways affects furniture placement and usable space within the associated room. This in turn affects the clear floor space and usability of the living environment for someone confined to a wheelchair utilizing the accessible route.

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If you believe you are located at the perfect address, and you have a new member in your family or are simply a multi-generational family of today taking care of a parent and you find yourself short on living space then give us a call. Inevitably at one time or another all homeowners envision potential improvements to an existing home that can significantly enhance their living experience. Regardless of the reason you require home remodeling or an addition we can help you to transform the functionality of your existing living situation or add additional living space to suit your present family's needs. Fall in love with your home again while the professional remodeling contractor's experience helps guide you through changes to your existing home which better fit your daily lifestyle.

Austin Home Remodeling Contractors/Home Additions

The Finished Product From Above Picture


It's time to find yourself either a qualified architectural firm and proceed with the endless task of interviewing residential remodeling contractor or a local design/build construction company with in house design capabilities that can build what is designed. The latter situation is usually your best shot at getting what you basically need to solve your living situation problems allowing you to cut out the beyond budget frills. You will also save on the soft costs of your construction project that have nothing to do with the structural building process itself. Many local residential contractors are quite capable of pushing out a wall in your home or putting a top on a new structure. This capability is based on both their experience and knowledge of all the building trades, especially the framing aspect that will certainly be involved. Actual experience in this particular facet of the project could prove to be very helpful for visualizing the construction and it's possibilities. Has this contractor ever done this kind of project before? Does he himself have skilled experience or does he appear to be a drive by limited contractor at the mercy of his subcontractor's capabilities? Any depth of design is totally based on experience. You will need to completely check out the contractor's references. Don't be taken in by paid contractor listings and referral sights that promise you successful and competent businesses with free background checks. They were listed there for one and only one reason, somebody paid for the listing fee. Membership to national associations like NARI reflect only a self paid fee but says nothing about the contractor's experience and creativity. That only comes from past customer's testimonials that you can fact check through the local BBB, Yelp, or Houzz.
T-Square Company originally came into being as a remodeling company driven with the purpose to maximize the potential of existing homes. When updating elements of functionality, style, efficiency, accessibility, and comfort, a home can be brought into your present day needs and desires of it's occupants. We approach complete home remodeling, renovations, and additions with the same targeted mindset using universal design techniques to build for the future. With our CAPS training, we are able to offer accessible home designs and modifications for our clients with special needs or disabilities.
If you have contemplated and dreamed of an addition to your home for years and now find it's time to make a decision to move forward let us help you. Certain changes in your lifestyle may have dictated an expansion. Your living space has grown more crowded over time with additional family members being added as children, extended family members, or an elderly family member. Any and all of these life changing situations can add stress to your daily lifestyle creating the need for additional living space or home improvements in Austin. As our children grow older they generally require more space and sometimes privacy. This sparks a need for an additional bedroom space once an aging relative or spouse requiring special care is introduced into the original home's square footage. Privacy can truly become an issue if only to keep everyone happy while underneath the same roof. Perhaps even private entrances will be required for some of the home's new residents. These private entries could be required to begin a new accessible route if there are ADA compatibility issues involved.
T-Square Company is a local design/build General Contracting firm registered with the City of Austin, Texas. We have a competent team of in house craftsmen for your structural job aspects. They are complemented by a force of long time affiliated subcontractors holding a masters license with the State of Texas. We are certified accessibility experts holding nationally accredited CAPS and Universal Design (UD) certificates to assist in removing any architectural barriers limiting mobility within your home. We offer complete home modifications for independent living for our aging in place customers in Austin. Let us show you how to adapt your home to fit your ever changing accessibility needs. Perhaps an expansion to a defined living space would solve a changing living situation. How can this be accomplished without altering your home's basic footprint? How can you go about this without a costly addition? Maybe it's time to look under the hood, so to speak, for a solution that is right under your existing homes roof line.

How about pushing a certain room's perimeter out into your existing unused attic space to create attic remodeling? You can expand a small child's bedroom space to create a play or activity room. Storage needs can be met by taking in part of the attic to create a closet or other additional storage area. Entertainment areas can be created without taking square footage out of the living space once the equipment is installed beyond the existing inner wall line into the attic space.
How you accomplish adding this additional square footage can be quite easy if you obtain the advice of a qualified building professional. Any reputable residential building contractor can give you direction for such a task so that your roof's structural integrity is not put in jeopardy. You must not under any circumstance interrupt the structural balance of your roof. Not only could you cause a structural failure of the roof itself but other areas of your home could be affected by this interruption in stability.
Whatever your situation please rely on the experiences of a local building professional. Check out their credentials and references over merely price checks against other bidders. Don't make the mistake of letting a cabinet making subcontractor play the part of a general contractor because his knowledge will be limited to that of the cabinets and not much else. You get what you pay for with proper planning. Call T-Square Company today at 512-444-0097 for a complete design/build experience for the home remodel or addition you've longed for.
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Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to older people, people without disabilities and people with disabilities. Universal Design adaptations have a broad market appeal to everyone for achieving ease of use, safety, and convenience accommodating a certain reality. The reality is that all people exist along a continuum of human performance as per their personal traits and characteristics regardless of their age. A universal approach to design takes into account that everyone has varying degrees of ability and disability rather than someone is either fully-functional or disabled. A universal design approach is appealing to all users no matter their age, size, or physical well being. Universal Design is important because our current design standards for housing do not address the design needs of more than one third of our population. Too often the designers of homes allow the built environment to define the capabilities of the resident. Universal Design allows for our antiquated architecture to be defined by both our changing human needs and abilities.

There are seven criteria or principles which must be met to be considered a universal design no matter which area of the home you are referring to. Any design must be equally useful to everyone, have flexibility in it's usefulness, be simple and intuitive, be perceived by everyone, have a tolerance for error, require little physical effort, and it must maintain an adequate area for approach and use. Any complexity or discriminating attribute to a design will doom it in terms of being considered universal in nature. However what better way can you improve on a home's total visitability by everyone? Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
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Whether you refer to this revolution in housing today as accessible design, inclusive design, or universal design it is all about making a home safe, attractive, and easy to use for all of the inhabitants. It has nothing to do with the age, agility, or status of life for anyone living within the home. The main intent of this way of thinking is to be sure the inhabitants are able to enjoy their home throughout their entire lifetime utilizing the universal design principles which have been designed into their home when it was built. This way aging in place can be accomplished without the expense and hassle of having to make periodic changes to the home to meet a person's ever changing physical needs. You can plan for all stages of your life cycle with some fore thought which, once discovered, you find is just common sense. Even if you are in perfect health you can be disrupted by a minor mishap. A more serious injury can change things forever when you no longer have all your abilities.
Universal Design principles do not equate to accessibility design even though they both are concerned with ergonomics and human function issues. The ADA guidelines for accessibility were created as a means to help those people with extreme disabilities within our society who are a narrow and specific cross section of the masses. A UD approach broadly takes into account moderate impairments or disabilities, temporary health conditions, and the varying abilities of anyone within a home regardless of their age or size. In other words, an ADA accessible home would be designed for the one person with the disability whereas a UD home is designed for everyone and should be used with any custom tub shower conversion.
Home 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 and safety of another generation's independence. As we age, our society is beginning to realize that our homes need to accommodate future life changes. The aging in place phenomena deals with home modifications to existing homes while a universal design home would hardly ever need to address these abrupt issues even though we cannot solve all the future issues for everyone. Everyone ages differently and has their own list of specific needs.
Universal Design Techniques
A sensible checklist for a home concerning Universal Design would include but is not limited to:
1. Limiting stairs while avoiding sunken rooms or multi-story floor plans with raised entrances
2. Automating lighting while controlling groups of lighting throughout the home
3. Including natural lighting through doors, windows, and skylights
4. Using multiple shower heads in the shower with rain, conventional and hand held units
5. Incorporate curbless showers into the design of your bathroom for ease of entering no matter if a wheelchair is ever involved
6. When deciding on your faucets, door handles, or cabinet pulls always pass the closed fist test for operation
7. Use nonslip flooring especially in wet areas using cork or smaller floor tiles which in turn increase the grout lines
8. Create a correct kitchen work area with the shortest distance between the stove, sink, and refrigerator as possible
9. Provide accessible lower storage in base cabinets storing the most used items on pull out shelving or in drawers
10. Lower your upper cabinets to 15" above your 34" universal cabinet top
11. Leave at least 42" between your cabinets when 48" is much better
12. Have multiple height cabinet tops to double as work surfaces for those who are seated or other little helpers in the kitchen
Universal design ideas do not strictly deal with accessibility or aging in place design and does not implement precise ADA standards but it does offer flexibility to add accessories now and later to those planning ahead or to the end user. It also provides for a wide range of human performance characteristics for the way people use spaces within their homes including well integrated usability features. These adaptations have a broad market appeal to everyone for achieving ease of use, safety, and convenience accommodating a certain reality. That reality is that all people exist along a continuum of human performance as per their personal traits and characteristics regardless of their age. A universal approach to design takes into account that everyone has varying degrees of ability and disability rather than someone is either fully-functional or disabled. A universal design build project is appealing to all users.
Aging in place home modifications are available through T-Square Company in Austin. Each universal design/build situation will be customized to fit your personal needs. Call 512-444-0097 today to begin to prepare for the accessible second chapter of your life while remaining safe and secure in your existing home.
CAPS 1636580

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Finding the right design/build contractor with ADA knowledge and experience can be a challenge. Obtaining help for maintaining your independence throughout an accessible wheelchair design in Austin is possible. You should be looking for a CAPS certified contractor who understands life changes. A local contractor who offers specialty products and services standing out from the rest of the pack. A contractor who has the ability, through experience, to help clear the murky water impeding your accessible route and how it can be accomplished. One who takes ADA remodeling to another level promoting safety. A well versed construction professional can take on and solve any residential ADA challenge creating handicap accessible house plans. These can include widening doorways, ADA compliant kitchen cabinets, or ADA compatible baths.

Concerning home accessibility, door widening is a common problem especially where wheelchair access is a must. All doors should be 36" wide with the correct locking hardware installed. The rule is 32" clear within the accessible route but 32" doors don't give enough clearance because of their stops. You also need to pay attention to which side the lockset is installed on to not limit any wheelchair access or operation of the door's locking hardware.
ADA compliant kitchen cabinets give you the ability to freely roll under the correct depth sink with covered or insulated water and drain lines. The sink should be equipped with a proper automatic or wrist handle faucet. A finished cabinet top height of 34" will also be observed. Wall cabinets should be mounted around 4" lower than usual for reachability from a sitting position. An unobstructed five feet turning radius on the floor should also be maintained.

Bathroom transformations complying with ADA revisions also require the same turning radius noted in the kitchen along with a correct bathing facility. If a tub is useful, correctly placed grab bars must be installed for safety reasons. Showers can be either the roll in or transfer type dictated by the individual user's physical abilities. The comfort height toilet should have grab bars installed at 34" on the side wall as well as at the rear at a minimum. The flush handle should be oriented toward the middle of the room away from the side wall. The bathroom sink should be accessible as in the kitchen mentioned above.
A Correct Kitchen Sink With Adequate Knee Clearance in The Accessible Route

Traditional home builders and remodelers don't really consider the needs of the disabled or elderly like ADA vanities or roll in showers which are universal in nature. It takes a special breed of contractor to realize special needs for special people.
A revolution in building design standards is long overdue. Our current building design standards do not address the needs of more than one third of our existing population. Many more people can greatly benefit from accessible design versus conventional design. Our rapidly aging population is experiencing the limitations of our personal living environments. Any evolution in building practically always begins in the common areas of the commercial building sector. The American Disabilities Act of 1990 increased the attention needed for those people having the right to equally access their work place and any recreational or leisure facilities. These rules at least offer minimal solutions for those needing the most help with any building access. In Austin, we now must provide access to one bathroom on the first floor in new homes as deemed by our newly adopted building regulations. This basic right to a handicap accessible bathroom is finally being enforced by the city's building inspectors. What a tremendous needed and basic design improvement!

Aging in place construction and Austin ADA remodeling has become synonymous with handicap accessible home design and modification during our lifetime. Home modifications can be used to accommodate anyone from people with mobility impairments to those with vision loss, hearing loss, or even cognitive or developmental disabilities. Accessibility home modifications or wheelchair accessible kitchen and bathroom remodeling in Austin will allow anyone with limited mobility within your home to feel more empowered and independent. The extent of a customized accessibility design is dependent upon the activity level of the person requiring the modifications.
Aging in place home modifications are available through T-Square Company in the Austin area. We have an A plus rating with the local BBB and have over 30 years of remodeling experience. We are additionally a certified aging in place specialist offering complete aging in place services. Each design/build situation will be customized to fit your personal needs increasing your accessibility. Call 512-444-0097 today to begin the accessible second chapter of your life while remaining safe and secure in your existing home. CAPS #1636580
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Many people find themselves needing wheelchair accessible housing for themselves or family members. There are approximately 30 million Americans using wheelchairs and the number of people who need accessible homes in Austin will continue to increase as disabled and aging people are finding more ways to remain living in their homes. One important way to increase independent living is making a home accessible to an individuals personal needs. Home modifications making homes wheelchair accessible can increase safety, accessibility, and independence for people who want to live independently.

More and more people are finding themselves needing disability bathroom remodels in Austin to modify the existing architecture of their homes due to the use of a wheelchair or walker while preparing to remain in their homes as they age in place. There are currently over 30 million Americans using wheelchairs and those numbers continue to increase as a large population of people with age related challenges look for ways to live independently in their homes. Physical limitations affect many more people than the daily users of walkers and wheelchairs. Many members of our life experienced or elder society have significant problems in dealing with their home environment. Today's conventional building standards conflict with most people's accessibility when you consider our created architectural barriers concerning cabinetry and door opening widths, individual strength, range of motion, movement, manual dexterity, balance, and coordination. Once the demands of our built environment exceed their capacities we become excluded from a room or even the entire home. The building world must work in unison to be sure the entire living environment meets basic needs in addition to affordability and structural integrity for the consumer and home owner. This includes both the home and the components within the home being accessible to all inhabitants. Privacy, sense of belonging, sense of control, and the sense of safety and security make up the quality of life for any home and should be considered for any design increasing home accessibility.

T-Square Company offers Wheelchair Accessible Housing
The Top Five Items To Include In An Accessible Bathroom Design
1. Vanity Sink Accessibility
Accessible bathrooms today contain stylish vanities set at a universal height of 34 inches with clear knee spaces. The sink faucets must be easily controlled by either wrist handles or levers. Bathroom vanities with universal height cabinet tops and open knee spaces are taking over the marketplace. These new residential ADA vanities do not need to look institutional. They can be designed like any other piece of fine furniture. Scalding must be guarded against by using either insulating pipe wrap or a removable panel for the plumbing.
2. Toilet Accessibility
Toilets are available in comfort heights eliminating the deep knee bend needed for seating. Grab bars should be installed on at least both sides of the toilet. Creating a toilet within an open area and not a closet is much more accessible. Toilet seats are available with a heat feature and some have the ability to self close or have a night light.
3. Bathing Facilities
Curbless roll in showers with a 36" clear entrance are advised for everyone. The shower should contain at least a shower wand on a sliding bar for varying heights of use along with a regular shower head and control if desired. Installing fixtures with a scald guard or lowering the temperature at the water heater is a must to prevent burns. Folding seats in the shower are useful if caretakers are ever involved. Grab bars around the bath and especially in the shower should be used while non slip floor covering should always be considered. Walk in tubs are also a consideration but some people get chilled while the tub is draining.
4. Safety and Accessibility
Always choose fixtures and fittings that are easy to control with a single hand motion or a closed fist. Motion controlled sensor fixtures are also a possibility when specifying finishes. Provide easily accessible storage compartments with pull out shelving eliminating architectural barriers by not using doors on the cabinetry. Always consider the individual needs of the occupant and find the best placement of any reachable items within their reach distance of 24". Fully consider where the best access is for all accessories such as robe hooks, towel bars, paper dispensers, soap dishes, toothbrush holders, shower shelves. The distances and clearances required will be dictated by the user and not by an accepted general outline. With falls in the wet area of the bathroom being such a great concern, a non slip tile floor should be installed without placing loose rugs in the general area.
5. Lighting
Natural lighting is always better for anyone using the bath. Adequate task lighting in the shower, dressing area, and vanity vicinity should be installed. Lowered switches at around 48" above the floor in reaching distance should control all the lighting. Outlets that are ground protected should be installed at 18" above the floor.

There are really three categories of aging in place customers. Those who are simply and wisely planning ahead for their futures to remain in their present homes. The second category concerns those people who know they have a chronic medical disorder and need to prepare in advance for accessibility issues which will come as a result of their disease. People with diseases that are constantly causing increased physical or mental changes to their being are a good representative of this second group. The third group involves those people who either have had a chronic problem that has progressed severely altering their mobility or those who have sustained a life altering tragedy such as being involved in an accident. All of these groups will drive the future metamorphosis of existing inaccessible dwellings.
Accessible wheelchair designs in Austin are available through T-Square Company. Each design/build situation will be customized to fit your personal needs. Call 512-444-0097 today to begin your accessible second chapter in your life while remaining safe and secure in your existing home. CAPS 1636580

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In designing for specific physical conditions, we realize that aging doesn't always bring on disease while the body declines making certain physical limitations inevitable. Arthritis is the most common chronic condition to appear as it restricts ordinary daily activities. The lack of hand strength and stiff knees are indicative of this illness. This most reported arthritic condition affecting people over the age of 65 is followed by heart disease and vision loss in that order. Smart aging design and concepts can compensate for the introduction of frailty, lack of mobility, and blindness in aging in place families. We are constantly coming up with new methods for home modifications and household products to increase the comfort of our residential environments.


Mobility limitations vary dramatically but, depending on the personality of the individual, any diminished capacity creates feelings of dependence or depression. When considering an accessible home remodeling project, anticipate that any conditions you are experiencing will only progress for the worst with age. Simple changes to help with hand grip strength or coordination within the home can include large rocker type wall switches, touch controlled lamp switches, and converting round door knobs to lever sets. Mobility aids like walkers, canes, and wheelchairs need to be available at any time. People utilizing these mobility aids may use them all but at different times during the day or hopefully not at all. Accessible home remodeling for elders must take this into account and be designed to accommodate them all as needed by the user. Accessible housing refers to the construction or modification (such as through renovation or home modification) of housing to enable independent living for persons with disabilities. Accessibility is achieved through architectural design, but also by integrating accessibility features such as modified furniture, shelves and cupboards, or even electronic devices in the home.
Custom Walk In Showers


Most residential housing is geared to young healthy adults. Builders do not take into account age-related conditions such as reduced mobility or limited range of reach. Hence, dwellings do not support the physical and sensory changes that older adults encounter as they age. What appear to be insignificant home features can have significant effect: for a person with even minor aging issues.
Some permanent disabilities require constant wheelchair use. The home modifications must accommodate a person who is always seated. A five foot turning radius should be observed in the bathroom, kitchen, and living area so as not to restrict the movement of the wheelchair. An unobstructed barrier free accessible route will be determined during the assessment for wheelchair accessible remodeling. Clear wider hallways of at least 42" in width and doorways of at least a 32" clear width must be the standard. Light switches and cabinetry must be lowered where 48" is the reaching limit of a person sitting.
Impaired memory and think presents a different set of problems to the aging in place specialist's design. Every effort must be made to limit the confusion of those utilizing the remodeled space. As with all progressive diseases , a patient's needs will change over time, any modifications or solutions may be effective only for short periods of time. Restricting the entrances to rooms that present the greatest hazards like the kitchen and bathroom must be taken into account during the assessment.
Concerning visual challenges, good lighting that is not glaring, appropriate color choices, and contrasting elements within the room design are paramount as considerations for a design. Hearing limitations require LED lighting to indicate appliances being on. Doorbells, stove tops, and life safety devices need to be visual as well as audible.
Accessible homes look much like other homes but they still help with handicap accessibility. These homes often have a sunny open feeling since there are fewer walls between common areas. Level floors create a comfortable flow between living areas and make rooms easier to keep clean. The kitchen is more efficient having compact storage and the bathrooms are a little more spacious than in a traditional home. The house is safe designed to reduce the potential for falls. Adequate glare-free lighting is well positioned to prevent dark spots. The accessible home is the home of the future representing the way we want to live right now. Well-planned accessible homes lift the spirits and enhance dignity. They have the ability to transform our relationships with our bodies and our homes.
Knowledgeable construction and design professionals are utilizing their CAPS training across the nation. CAPS stands for Certified Aging In Place Specialist. This designation is taught through the National Association of Home Builders in collaboration with AARP. CAPS connects responsible professionals with home owners who need these services on an ever-increasing basis. CAPS is a nationwide initiative and all active CAPS members can be found at nahb.org/CAPSdirectory.
What really defines accessible home modifications and elder construction in Austin? Barrier free architectural design and accessibility for all who enter the structure while approaching the main living areas of the home in question is a fair definition. Universal design and aging in place trends have taken hold in the residential remodeling industry. The current housing inventory doesn't offer the features needed for safety and accessibility in the numbers needed to accommodate the ever growing demand. It is ultimately up to the individual homeowners and their families to plan for future housing needs. Once it is discovered that modifications to an existing home are not possible to accomplish total accessibility then it is time to consider a newer or custom built accessible home.

Aging in place home modifications are available through T-Square Company in the Austin area. We have an A plus rating with the local BBB and have over 30 years of remodeling experience. We are additionally a certified aging in place specialist offering complete aging in place services. Each design/build situation will be customized to fit your personal needs increasing your accessibility. Call 512-444-0097 today to begin the accessible second chapter of your life while remaining safe and secure in your existing home. CAPS #1636580
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