Austin, Texas Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Thu, Sep 12, 2019 @ 14:09 PM

Designing for specific physical conditions during a handicap retrofit will lessen the impact of say arthritis, restricted mobility, or loss of vision by using combinations of products, concepts, and techniques available today. Working as a team, a trained CAPS specialist along with any family caretakers or therapists is able to identify the day to day problems weighing on those with health limitations. If you are considering an aging in place remodel for your home don't just contact any local remodeler in your area and expect a satisfactory accessible home modification. A professional design/build accessibility project can only be created for your specific needs by a qualified home remodeler having a nationally accepted CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist) certification. This credential is backed by the NAHB. Only a CAPS home remodeler possesses the specific knowledge that will insure a successful outcome for your accessibility or aging in place project and what's more, keep you in your home longer.

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 evolves 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 and so on. Physically challenged has become the more socially accepted description of a person with an impairment.

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. This has brought about the realization that handicap bathrooms are needed. 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 accessibility design.

Wheelchair accessible bathrooms today contain stylish vanities set at a universal height of 34 inches with clear knee spaces. Plan on 27 inches of vertical clearance for a wheelchair. The sink faucets must be easily controlled by either wrist handles or levers. The faucets can be fitted on the side of the sink to make them easier to reach. Or install infra-red faucets that detect motion. Hang the mirror low enough for a seated person to see themselves, and tip the top of the mirror out. bathroom vanities with universal height cabinet tops and open knee spaces are taking over the marketplace. These new residential vanities do not need to look institutional even though they are wheelchair accessible. 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.

The threshold is the most dangerous component for any ADA compatible shower. Not only is it impossible to overcome in a wheelchair but it isn't safe for those who are vision impaired or those with mobility issues. Curbless roll in showers that are 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep having a 36" clear entrance are advised for everyone. Low threshold shower bases with add on ramps can solve the shower entry problem when the floor cannot be lowered to form a true contoured roll in slope. The accessible 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. Install the slider bar for the hand held shower hose and head 4 feet off the floor so that the head can slide up to 6 feet high. Always use a shower valve installed below or at 48" from the finished floor that is thermostatically controlled and pressure-balanced to prevent scalds. If you desire a full body wash, you can include a regular shower head as well. 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 fixtures and finishes. Built-in shower seats provide comfort and safety but can sometimes get in the way of accessibility. Folding seats are an option in the shower and are useful if caretakers are ever involved or a shower chair is ever required. These seats are much safer than a free standing shower seat which can collapse and cause a fall. Recessed shampoo niches located 48" above the floor help keep shower floors or seats free of trip hazards. Grab bars around the bath and especially on each wall in the shower installed at 34-36" above the floor should be used. All grab bars must be secured into either adequate wood blocking or existing wall studs so they can hold at least 250 pounds of downward force. Non slip floor covering should always be considered with a 0.5 friction coefficient rating. Enclosures can vary by the accessibility needed by all and can be everything from an out-swinging frame-less door to just a simple glass splash panel or even a curtain on a curved rod. Walk in tubs are also a consideration but some people get chilled while the tub is draining.

Austin handicap remodeling, aging in place home modifications, and ADA Accessible kitchens are available through T-Square Company. Each design/build handicap accessibility situation will be customized to fit your personal needs. 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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Handicap Bathroom Remodel

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Fri, Sep 06, 2019 @ 16:09 PM

Life happens and your present way of going about it includes newly discovered physical barriers which were never an issue before. You've lost your mobility and are now forced to rely on a wheelchair for assistance at least for the present time. The maneuvering of familiar areas within your home you'd always taken for granted are now presenting barriers that are limiting your new means of mobility. Clear openings of 32" or greater, elevation changes steeper than 1:12, and being able to have access to all your home's facilities have been affected springing forth handicap remodeling. The removal of these home grown barriers that now disrupt your accessible route for handicap bathrooms in Austin, Texas needs to be done by a qualified building professional holding a CAPS certificate. Any ADA remodeling should comply with both ADA and local building code standards along with the TDLR guidelines. A handicap bathroom remodel is not age related but becomes a major aspect concerning remodeling for seniors.

Problems encountered while accessing your home when you are wheelchair bound generally begin before or at the front door. Given that you can reach the front porch approach without obstruction is surely a great start. The stairs leading onto the front porch are yet another matter all together. A correctly designed ramp having the correct slope can adequately solve this problem. The use of grab bars and any railings will be dictated by the ramp's design and the regulations involved. Once your safely upon the porch, your home's front door width can become an issue. Any entry door less than three feet in width will cause a problem in maintaining a required 32 inch clear entry way that starts the new accessible route within your home. Once inside the structure a new set of problems concerning your accessibility will be discovered.

An accessible bathroom for your convenience becomes the first issue. The disability access bathroom will be located within the accessible route. Any barriers encountered while approaching the bathroom entrance will need to be removed. The minimum clear widths have to be observed. This will include the bathroom door itself. Twenty four to twenty eight inch wide doors are commonly used during the construction of American homes for accessing the bathroom and must be widened during a bathroom transformation. Anything below three feet does not meet the clear 32 inch requirement mentioned above and will need to be altered for clearance of your wheelchair. This work may involve moving light switches. These alterations should be done by a licensed electrician assuring your safety.

Once inside the accessible bathroom you should try to maintain a five foot turning radius for your wheelchair if at all possible. You will need to have your plumbing facilities brought into compliance to enable your freedom and safety. Bathroom modifications for the disabled involve the use of grab bars within the tub or shower and around the toilet which can be very helpful insuring your safety for maneuverability. These should be installed at 34 inches above the finished floor to safeguard your use of them. Having roll under capability for the new 34" high ADA compliant vanity can be very helpful while you are in the wheelchair. Exact clearances should be complied with underneath the vanity. The proper safety equipment should be installed on the plumbing pipes that don't allow scalding of your legs. The toilet may need to be replaced providing a comfort level height for easier access. The handicap bath or roll in shower may need to be altered to become only a shower with roll in or possibly transfer capabilities. Roll in showers are always easier to deal with than handicap baths having walk in ability. However, these tubs are not for everyone especially those with dementia so do your homework before buying such an expensive addition to your bathroom. All of these changes must be done along the ADA guidelines for your safety but these are only to be used as a reference. At this point every individual has their own set of needs according to their disabilities.

handicap bathroom remodel in Austin

The referenced door situation above will be true for any room in the house if you are to enter them barrier free. The kitchen, your bedroom, and any other rooms you require accessibility to enter could be affected. Even the closet door within your bedroom will need to be wide enough so that you can manage getting your clothes to dress. Any other bedrooms that you may need to enter with your wheelchair will need alterations.

The accessible kitchen is another story altogether. You will at least need the roll under capability as mentioned above at the sink. Upper kitchen cabinet heights may become an issue if you still plan to do meal preparations. No matter what you end up doing, make sure to hire an experienced building professional who understand the ADA guidelines for your well being.

Aging in place design is mostly used for homeowners who require home modifications to allow them to remain in their home safely and comfortably as they age while their physical abilities change over time. Universal design is a much broader term covering the design of products and environments that are usable by all members of the household, from the youngest to the oldest, to the largest extent possible, without the need for further alterations, adaptations, or specialized design. Universal Design provides a pathway to seamlessly age in place. It is truly thinking ahead when it comes to accommodating the living environment for better home access.

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 (CAPS) 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

Wheel Accessible Remodeling In Austin, Texas

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Home Remodeling Austin, Texas

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Thu, Aug 29, 2019 @ 16:08 PM

When it finally becomes apparent that your existing home no longer fits the needs of your family, it's time to reach out for professional help. Whether you're looking for a local residential remodeling contractor in Austin, Texas to accomplish a kitchen remodel or a construction professional to complete an entire gutting and remodel of your entire home including a home office transformation, the final accenting finishes most likely will include the use of fine cabinetry. The choice between frameless European and Northern face frame cabinetry styles will highlight practically any design. Choosing the correct wood species can further add to the richness of the job. Then there are those needed additions for a growing or multi-generational families that must blend with your home without being noticed.

To begin with, kitchen upgrades and bathroom remodels return the most money at resale on the initial investment of the remodeling project. National averages show that kitchen remodels recoup around 70% of the costs of the upgrade at the time of resale of the home. However, your kitchen remodeling costs should never exceed 15% of the total value of your home. Here is where you need to get your thinking cap on and plan for an affordable budget that is within your means. Your material choices are very important and if you need to stay mid-level to fit the budget then do so. The labor involved for the project will be around 1.6 times the cost of the materials used. The total budget should allow $100 per square foot for your kitchen upgrade project.

Any kitchen remodel will need to produce a better service or work triangle between the sink, refrigerator, and stove placement. The shorter the sum of the triangle legs the more efficient the layout but islands can also be incorporated into the design to increase the efficiency. The prep sink within the island can become it's own focal point of the work triangle displacing the duties of the main kitchen sink. The orientation of the island toward the work triangle is very important making sure traffic can still flow freely within the designated triangle. Islands can contain all sorts of special storage areas. Mixer lifts, produce storage drawers, wine storage, and dough board pullouts are just a few of the many useful aspects that can be incorporated into the island.

Living with a dysfunctional bathroom layout reduces the total feeling of relaxation your master bath is capable of providing. During those much deserved private moments you long for your bathroom's surroundings to provide both luxury and function. There isn't adequate lighting for the many daily personal duties like applying makeup. There needs to be adequate ventilation so you don't always feel as though you are housed in a "sweat box" while getting dressed. The outdated plate mirror extending from your vanity top's splash upward toward the drywall furrdown above has never been a design you thank the world of. You have always disliked that box above housing the poorly illuminating fluorescent tube lamps that are concealed by the yellowing plastic diffusing panel. You are sick and tired of the poor storage facilities inherited when you purchased your home. The height of the vanity is out of line according to your needs and it is also inadequate for your storage needs. The existing cabinet layout contains unusable drawers beginning to come off their tracks and the cabinet doors have their own particular issues. Your cabinets are either too deep to access what they contain or their storage capabilities have been limited by their total improper design. What were those guys thinking? What's more the out of fashion ceramic tiles are either partly missing or they are totally the wrong color for the day along with the colors within the rest of the room. Having improperly working plumbing fixtures that are now also antiquated with their own set of problems is yet another quandary within itself. The fixtures themselves can also be finished in a color that is long out of style. So what do you do?

It is well past time to undergo a fine bathroom upgrade and makeover. Bathroom remodeling can either be a pain or a pleasant experience according to the participants involved. Bathroom remodeling in Austin, Texas like most other cities includes many of the same aspects. Be sure to choose a qualified residential construction contractor whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally. You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only. The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities. His professional remodeling experience will include his capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards. These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be avoided while making a bathroom remodeling design come into reality. His experience can also aid you in accomplishing bathroom upgrades that include disability issues. Accessibility is what the project is about anyway. The job needs to flow between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome. This too is a reflection on his remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

Colors for bathrooms today are natural and earthy creating a calming effect. Accents of color reflected from the tiles, paint, fixtures, and woodwork are used to make things a little more interesting compared to the room's overall vanilla tones within your design. Help is just a phone call away but be sure the one who answers has the qualified experience you need for completing your new bathroom transformation.

Home Remodeling In Austin

home remodeling Austin, Texas

T-Square Company is a local General Contracting firm and builder with over 35 years of experience. Our design/build services can show you how to make your dreams come true in a seamless manner. Call us at 512-444-0097 today to find out how we can make your living environment better for you and your family. We are CAPS certified to help our clients with special needs.

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What Is Universal Design?

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Tue, Aug 27, 2019 @ 14:08 PM

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.

Bathroom Using Universal Design Techniques

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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Bathtub Remodeling Near You

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Fri, Aug 23, 2019 @ 12:08 PM

Even if you only use your tub to wash the dog or wash your mini-blinds, most real estate agents are adamant about having at least one bathtub in your house to preserve marketability. A recent Houzz poll agrees, with 58% of respondents claiming, "you'll never sell that house without a tub." However, bathtub to shower conversions are very popular for many households. Whether you are looking for a safer alternative to climbing over a tall bathtub wall or simply want to create a more sophisticated style in your bathroom many designs are available without extensive remodeling.

If your current bathroom is unsafe or if you find it inconvenient you may need to consider a complete bathroom remodel. Then you can build in ease of use, and you can add safety features that address slips and falls, and other concerns as you age. This is especially important if you live alone. A fall in the shower or the bathroom can be a devastating and frightening experience. Sometimes it's possible to address these problems by making significant changes. These can include options like adding a monitored alarm system to alert people to a fall or removing the bathtub and installing a large, low or zero threshold shower with slip resistant porcelain floor tiles.

Bathroom Remodel Austin, Texas

If your old tub is in an alcove, you can remove it and be left with a space that's about 30 to 34 inches deep and 5 feet wide. This is an adequate space for a shower. With some minor modifications, your water supply and drain lines will already be in place, saving you money on plumbing costs. With some limited framing alterations, you can enjoy future shampoo niches, folding seats, and grab bar placement. The floor of your shower has a lot to do with the style and cost of your tub to shower remodel. You have a choice of two basic types of pan: one contains water with curbs that you step over as you enter while the other recessed type is curbless. Liners or pans beneath the floor tile can be composed of either a custom fiberglass application or the proper vinyl material. Waterproofing is the most important aspect of shower building and all precautions must be taken. One piece above the slab shower bases can solve any future problems that might arise using any type of shower pan. These can be equipped with add on ramps for wheelchair access if the floor slab construction will not allow lowering the shower floor for roll in capability. Prefab fiberglass sides are the cheapest way to complete the shower; but, a custom tiled unit will have better resale value even though it is more costly.

If you're a homeowner and contemplating aging in place the main area you'll need to consider is the bathroom. Accessible showers should be a part of any aging in place bathroom remodeling project. Even if your middle aged and planning for the future, an accessible shower is a smart investment because they can be built to be usable by anyone including those in a wheelchair. These showers are designed to provide for a person's safety in the shower by utilizing design elements like no or zero step entries, grab bars, non-slip flooring and more. A properly and fully designed bathroom will incorporate these and other features. This is called Universal Design, and the principal includes accessibility, hardware, and materials. This building technique works to help create a safe showering experience for people of all abilities and ages. If you're planning a bathroom remodel to aging in place, it is a different type of remodeling than one undertaken for merely aesthetic purposes. That's not to say that aging in place bathroom remodeling can't be aesthetically beautiful. It simply means that the choices you make will incorporate safety and independence for aging homeowners along with ease of use. For older homeowners, a walk in or low threshold shower is a smart choice. Both the lower threshold and the shower entry width are mutually important for accessibility. This will allow those using any mobile device like a wheelchair or walker to safely enter the shower.

Certainly there are many upgrades available when planning a bathroom transformation. A custom tub shower conversion for the replacement of the tub with a new walk in or roll in shower can create a bold look but will run you around $13,000. 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 suite remodel. The type of fixtures and building components chosen along with the labor will compose the overall cost of the remodeling project.

The fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry is home modifications for aging in place and ADA accessibility. 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.

We here at T-Square Company know that quality and customer service has always been at the heart of our mission. We often go above and beyond making sure your new shower meets all your requirements for luxury, style, functionality, and safety. To get the process of replacing your old tub with a beautiful new shower started today, just give us a call at 512-444-0097 or fill out one of our online contact forms to request a free no obligation consultation. We offer a complete design/build service to our customers.

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Bathroom Remodel Contractors

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Wed, Aug 07, 2019 @ 14:08 PM

The first thing you can do when considering a bathroom remodel project is do your homework. There are many things to take into consideration. First off is your budget. Just how much can you afford to spend realistically on your new bathroom? Next, you need to figure out your needs and desires that made you consider a bathroom remodel in the first place. What about the design? Look at all the many bathroom remodel ideas on the internet and see which ones offer the best solution to your needs. You can mix and match your finds to come up with the perfect design for you. The identification of these specific needs belongs to you the home owner. The way your home is structurally altered to accomplish these needs is the job of the professional remodeling contractor. 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 is using the restroom. CAPS professionals in the remodeling industry can help with solutions in solving these issues. Bathroom remodeling contractors Austin, Texas can provide you with answers to your much thought about questions.

Smaller homes, cottages, sprawling historical town homes surrounded by architecturally pleasing fences, rustic ranch homes, Macmansions, and sleek high rise condominiums are just a few examples of the structures that define Austin's diverse housing landscape. Economic situations along with personal preference formulate where we choose to live in a town with such diversity. Most people remember how the old style bathtub/shower combination was a standard part of any bathroom design. Some residential showering areas were enclosed using the multicolored vinyl shower curtain option while others had bipassing or sliding shower doors on tracks. The doors were framed with either chrome or gold colored aluminum matching the sliding tracks. Modern bathroom designs have become much more sophisticated because the many available bathroom products are easier to be discovered by the homeowner. There are millions of pictures representing fine bathroom upgrades or bathroom remodeling all across the internet.

Certainly there are many upgrades available when planning a bathroom remodel. A custom tub shower conversion can create a bold look but will run you around $11,000. 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 suite remodel. The type of fixtures and building components chosen along with the labor will compose the overall cost of the remodeling project in around a 1:2 relationship.

Keep in mind that moving plumbing, especially drains, is one of the more expensive aspects of a fine bathroom makeover involving floor demolition. If you can limit and control the costs involved with this issue you will have more money to spend on the things that show off your endeavors. Changing water supply line locations for a custom tub shower conversion is not as difficult as moving drains especially when they go into the main drainage system that resides underneath the finished floor.

Proper lighting is always an important aspect to be installed during a bathroom remodel. It can be broken down by task. Recessed cylindrical can lighting is used today to provide the overall luminescence for the room. Trims with lenses can be installed above baths and showers by code to brighten darker areas. Light strips or single wall fixtures can be designed around the new framed beveled mirror that you have chosen. The choice of bulbs utilized is yours for now at least. Try using dimmers to control your new lighting creating mood.

Ventilation is so important when planning a bathroom upgrade because of the humidity involved. Too many times a single exhaust fan is installed above the toilet, or what is much worse, in the center of the room. Heat and humidity naturally rise and will overtake the entire room if given a chance. Today's quiet bathroom exhaust fans should be sized according to the room's air volume. They should be located above any bathing or showering facility and above the toilet. Conditioned air along with adequately sized duct work supplied by your central unit will further accentuate a pleasant feeling within the bath.

Bathroom plumbing fixture choices are numerous to say the least. Select reputable companies offering the best warranties especially when considering finishes used on control valve trims and the fixtures installed in the project. Larger walk in shower designs should have seamless fiberglass liners to avoid leaks if the house ever shifts. Using natural stone or glass tiles while additionally designing in glass blocks will certainly be an upgrade. As for the new walk in shower design, you can design the space to not need a door for splash protection or you can take the route of a clean looking frameless glass shower enclosure. This will surely set you back at least $900. The end result will be a sophisticated clean look of beauty enclosing your new shower. Whether the door sits upon a curb or you have a specific need for a curbless situation you will be satisfied with your choice.

Who do you choose to help you with your dream? It is true that a professional 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 verses 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 down time of a most useful room. Subcontractors will not be covered up and each skilled trade is brought onto the sight 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 experiences covering a worker's accident while on your property. Don't forget that only a certified aging in place (CAPS) professional can help you solve your accessibility issues.

Austin Bathroom Remodel

bathroom remodel Austin, TX

T-Square Company has been successfully remodeling bathrooms in the Austin area for over three decades. With our design/build experience we are able to qualify what will work best for the homeowner and ultimately save them money. We are CAPS certified to help our customers age in place or for those with special needs. We practice universal design techniques which benefit everyone. Contact us today at 512-444-0097 to begin to find the answers to all your remodeling questions.

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Bathroom Remodeling Contractors Austin, TX

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Wed, Aug 07, 2019 @ 13:08 PM

If you have been considering a fine bathroom makeover or remodeling project in Austin there are a few things you should take into consideration. Bathroom makeovers in Austin, Texas can take on many looks and facets. The scope of work you choose to accomplish your bathroom transformation should effectively solve your problems and most importantly, your needs as the home owner. The identification of these specific needs belongs to you the home owner. The way your home is structurally altered to accomplish these needs is the job of the professional remodeling contractor. 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 is using the restroom. CAPS professionals in the remodeling industry can help with solutions in solving these issues. Bathroom remodeling contractors Austin, Texas can provide you with answers to your much thought about questions.

Just look at the different types of housing represented throughout Austin and the surrounding areas. Smaller homes, cottages, sprawling historical town homes surrounded by architecturally pleasing fences, rustic ranch homes, Macmansions, and sleek high rise condominiums are just a few examples of the structures that define Austin's diverse housing landscape. Economic situations along with personal preference formulates where we choose to live in a town with such diversity. Most people remember how the old style bathtub/shower combination was a standard part of any bathroom design. Some residential showering areas were enclosed using the multicolored vinyl shower curtain option while others had bipassing or sliding shower doors on tracks. The doors were framed with either chrome or gold colored aluminum matching the sliding tracks. Modern bathroom designs have become much more sophisticated because the many available bathroom products are easier to be discovered by the homeowner. There are millions of pictures representing fine bathroom upgrades or bathroom remodeling all across the internet.

T-Square Company is a design/build remodeling contractor specializing in bathroom and kitchen remodels for over three decades in Austin. Our CAPS certification helps provide accessibility to our clients with special needs because we have the knowledge and experience to work with.

Austin Bathroom Remodels

bathroom remodel Austin, TX

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ADA Wheelchair Ramp

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Wed, Jul 10, 2019 @ 12:07 PM

ADA wheelchair ramp guidelines are as follows:

The minimum ramp width must be 36 inches minimum but 48 inches is preferable.
Ramps must have edge protection to keep anyone from slipping off their surface in the form of a raised outer curb or railing.
All wheelchair ramps must have level or flat unobstructed landings at the top and bottom of the rise being overcome that are 60 inches by 60 inches to provide a proper five foot wheelchair turning radius. The landing areas cannot have more than a 30 feet long ramp separating them. If the rise distance requires longer than a 30 foot run to overcome it then a series of landings can be used creating a switchback design.
Thirty six inch handrails are required on both sides of all ramps that rise steeper than 6 inches from the ground below.
All surfaces must be slip resistant and stable.

A wheelchair ramp is basically an inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of stairs. Ramps provide wheelchair users or users of other mobility aids as well as people pushing strollers,carts, or other wheeled objects, better access to any building. When designing a wheelchair ramp, you need to consider the users physical limitations. The ramp should be wide enough to be safe and maneuverable and sturdy enough to carry the weight of an electric wheelchair and it's cargo (this can approach 6-700 pounds in many instances) and have a slope that is gradual enough for a manual wheelchair user to navigate.

ADA wheelchair ramp in Austin, Texas

Let's say your front porch is 24 inches tall and you are needing easier access to your home while using a wheelchair or walker. A straight ADA prescribed 1:12 ramp will let you overcome the 24 inch porch rise over a span of 24 feet. This is as steep a ramp that is allowed but it may not work for everyone and it may need to be of less slope as in 1:16-1:20. However, if your porch is 36 inches tall, a maximum thirty feet long straight ramp will overcome only 30 inches of the rise of your porch and the remaining six inches can be overcome by an additional six feet long ramp which occurs only after a five feet by five feet flat turning area is installed. This is referred as a switchback and the additional six feet ramp can be added on any face of the flat area. It can be installed as a straight run or as a ninety degree turn in either direction. If adequate room isn't available for the above scenario, then the switchback can occur along the path of travel anywhere as long as the approaching ramp doesn't exceed thirty feet in length which is a maximum. Don't forget to include another flat 60" by 60" landing at the front door and at the end of the incline ramp to allow for greater maneuverability and door operation.

Upon entering the home, you can begin the accessible route which is designed to take you through the home to the most visited areas like the bathroom, kitchen, and living areas in that order. Our homes have always been exempt from any and all of the accessibility regulations that have been put in place since 1968 when our Viet Nam veterans were returning home. The new evolving concept known as Universal Design and specialized handicap remodeling contractors for home remodeling is catching on nation wide and has been for several years as a sign of the times. Universal design techniques used in building makes a home more accessible to all regardless of their mobility or adaptive abilities. 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.

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 and ADA accessibility in Austin, Texas. 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. Schedule an appointment by calling 512-444-0097 today.

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Wheelchair Ramp Slope

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Mon, Jun 24, 2019 @ 10:06 AM

DETERMINING SLOPE RATIO

To determine the slope of your ramp and how much horizontal space it will require, use the following calculation per the ADA guidelines: Multiply the inches your ramp will rise by the slope ratio you desire, and then divide the sum by 12 (to convert the horizontal space you'll need to feet). For example: 31-inch rise x 20 slope ratio = 620. That divided by 12 gives you a 51-foot horizontal projection.

ADA wheelchair ramp guidelines are as follows:

The minimum ramp width must be 36 inches minimum but 48 inches is preferable.
Ramps must have edge protection to keep anyone from slipping off their surface in the form of a raised outer curb or railing.
All wheelchair ramps must have level or flat unobstructed landings at the top and bottom of the rise being overcome that are 60 inches by 60 inches to provide a proper five foot wheelchair turning radius. The landing areas cannot have more than a 30 feet long ramp separating them. If the rise distance requires longer than a 30 foot run to overcome it then a series of landings can be used creating a switchback design.
Thirty six inch handrails are required on both sides of all ramps that rise steeper than 6 inches from the ground below.
All surfaces must be slip resistant and stable.

A wheelchair ramp can be permanent, semi-permanent or portable providing wheelchair accessibility. Permanent ramps are designed to be bolted or otherwise attached in place. Semi-permanent ramps rest on top of the ground or concrete pad and are commonly used for the short term. Permanent and semi-permanent ramps are usually of aluminum, concrete or wood. Portable ramps are usually aluminum and typically fold for ease of transport. Portable ramps are primarily intended for home and building use but can also be used with vans to load an unoccupied mobility device or to load an occupied mobility device when both the device and the passenger are easy to handle. Ramps can be constructed from a variety of different materials, though some are better than others and friction is of upmost importance.

Austin Wheelchair Ramp

The ADA guidelines recommend a slope ratio of 1:16 to 1:20. The Americans with Disabilities Guidelines dictate how ramps are designed for all public places. A noted 1:12 ratio is too steep for some people to navigate using a manual wheelchair. This translates into an 8% slope or grade. These ratios must be followed in all public places; however, there are no rules for residential construction. On a residential basis, the ramps can be customized for the user without having to rely on the ADA averages. The ADA rules become simply guidelines. The publication assists private homeowners to create ramps that are usable, safe and sturdy. Homeowners aren't required to follow these slope guidelines but if you have the available area then less slope is always better.

Many people find themselves needing accessible homes for themselves or family members. There are approximately 30 million Americans using wheelchairs and the number of people who need accessible homes 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 can increase safety, accessibility, and independence for people who want to live independently.

Whether your family needs the support now or down the road, universal design features are a good long-term investment for the home itself. Whatever your situation please remember to rely on the experiences of a local building professional. Check out their credentials and references and don't limit yourself to only price checks against other bidders. Don't make the mistake of letting a cabinet making subcontractor or tile installer play the part of a general contractor. Their knowledge will be limited to that of the cabinets or tile and not much else. More importance needs to be given to the reputable contractor's personality and knowledge and how well you two communicate. You are making your choice for a professional to lead the way enabling your dream to be realized. You get what you pay for with proper planning when using an experienced and qualified local contractor. T-Square Company is CAPS certified and can be reached at 512-444-0097 in Austin, Texas. Find out how a design/build remodeling contractor can save you money during your next project.

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Wheelchair Ramp Specifications

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Tue, Jun 11, 2019 @ 17:06 PM

wheelchair ramp in Austin

ADA wheelchair ramp guidelines are as follows:

The minimum ramp width must be 36 inches minimum but 48 inches is preferable.
Ramps must have edge protection to keep anyone from slipping off their surface in the form of a raised outer curb or railing.
All wheelchair ramps must have level or flat unobstructed landings at the top and bottom of the rise being overcome that are 60 inches by 60 inches to provide a proper five foot wheelchair turning radius. The landing areas cannot have more than a 30 feet long ramp separating them. If the rise distance requires longer than a 30 foot run to overcome it then a series of landings can be used creating a switchback design.
Thirty six inch handrails are required on both sides of all ramps that rise steeper than 6 inches from the ground below.
All surfaces must be slip resistant and stable.

DETERMINING SLOPE RATIO

A wheelchair ramp can be permanent, semi-permanent or portable. Permanent ramps are designed to be bolted or otherwise attached in place. Semi-permanent ramps rest on top of the ground or concrete pad and are commonly used for the short term. Permanent and semi-permanent ramps are usually of aluminum, concrete or wood. Portable ramps are usually aluminum and typically fold for ease of transport. Portable ramps are primarily intended for home and building use but can also be used with vans to load an unoccupied mobility device or to load an occupied mobility device when both the device and the passenger are easy to handle. Ramps can be constructed from a variety of different materials, though some are better than others and friction is always your friend.