Helpful bathroom features and accessories can make your restroom more accessible for aging family members, those with disabilities, or simply easier for children to use by themselves. Whether you’re looking to improve the functionality of your space to suit your aging needs, or accommodate someone who needs extra assistance, it’s essential to incorporate accessible bathroom features. This guide highlights the importance of an accessible bathroom layout, the necessary dimensions and features to make one possible, and more.Helpful bathroom features and accessories can make your restroom more accessible for aging family members, those with disabilities, or simply easier for children to use by themselves.
Whether you’re looking to improve the functionality of your space to suit your aging needs, or accommodate someone who needs extra assistance, it’s essential to incorporate accessible bathroom features. This guide highlights the importance of an accessible bathroom layout, the necessary dimensions and features to make one possible, and more.
Importance of an Accessible Bathroom Layout
A well-designed accessible bathroom layout can boast confidence in people facing mobility issues. By incorporating features like wide doorways and grab bars, you eliminate obstacles, allowing everyone to independently move around easily within the bathroom.
Accessibility improvements such as raised toilets, handheld showerheads, lever-handled faucets, wall-mounted sinks, and roll-in showers also contribute to using a wheelchair being more manageable. These thoughtful additions facilitate comfortable and unrestrained bathroom use, creating a seamless and inclusive environment for all family members, regardless of their mobility.
Accessible Bathroom Dimensions
Bathroom features and accessories require extra space to be fully accessible. 30-inches by 48-inches of space is recommended by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These dimensions provide both parallel and forward access to bathroom fixtures. Keep in mind, for a standard-size wheelchair to make a 180-degree turn, it requires a 60-inch diameter of space.
Remember to also include about five feet of room from the back wall and the side wall around the toilet. This gives a wheelchair user enough space to safely maneuver on their own, or if needed, someone can step in and help without the room feeling crowded. We also recommend planning for unobstructed floor space beneath bathroom fixtures such as a toilet with knee or toe clearance or a wall-mounted sink or toilet.
Features of a Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Layout
There are several features you can include to make your bathroom wheelchair accessible. This could mean adding grab bars near the toilet, altering your shower so wheelchair users can wheel in and out without any steps or bumps, or building wider doorways so anyone can enter and exit the bathroom with ease. Let’s look at some essential features you need as part of your wheelchair accessible bathroom layout.
Accessible Bathroom Layout with Small Tiles
Smaller tiles are preferable for an accessible bathroom layout because they require more grout lines and grout offers a better grip for wheels. Smaller tiles are also much more slip resistant than large format tiles.
In addition, porcelain or ceramic tile is considered the best type of wheelchair flooring on the market. Tile floors are durable, so they won’t dent under a wheelchair; plus, they are available in a large variety of size and texture options, so you can customize them for greater traction.
Benefits of an Accessible Bathroom Design
Accessible bathrooms renovations in Ottawa not only offers practical advantages, but they prioritize the well-being and independence of individuals who may face mobility challenges.
By considering the accessibility of your bathroom, you can avoid potential accidents and benefit from:
Challenges of Renovating Older Homes in Ottawa
There are so many benefits to renovating a bathroom or any part of your home. However, homeowners in Ottawa face unique challenges when it comes to home upgrades. Although built well, older homes in Ottawa are equipped with old plumbing systems that do not meet today’s standards and often cause plumbing issues. This is why you need bathroom contractors in Ottawa who are experienced and know what they are doing.
Another issue Ottawa bathroom renovation contractors face is foundation movement that causes cracks in the foundation. These may start out as small cracks but, over time, will cause more significant foundation issues. We often discover these issues during basement bathroom renovations.
Our iBathrooms team offers services such as replacing outdated plumbing systems and fixing foundation issues. We are thorough and honest contractors and can update your bathroom without disrupting the design and style of your home.
Check out more: Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Design
Start Your Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Layout Today!
When you’re ready to embrace inclusivity and ensure that everyone in your home can experience the joy and freedom of an accessible bathroom, choose iBathrooms. From toilet cutouts to shower grab bars, our expert team has the products and expertise to help you easily design a bathroom space that meets all your accessibility needs and preferences.
Contact us today to start your wheelchair accessible bathroom layout and let us help you make safety choices that are equally as comfortable as they are stylish too!