Handicap Accessible Remodels

No one should be limited in their own home due to narrow doorways, stairs, or other obstacles. If any of these, or similar problems, sound familiar, remodeling for handicap accessibility could help your home meet all of your personal requirements.

When it comes to modifying a home to suit the owners' health needs, no two projects are ever exactly alike. That's because each individual's accessibility needs are different, so their home renovations should be, too! Some require major alterations, such as handicap ramp construction and door widening, while others simply require shower grab bars. No matter what alterations are needed, the main goal of every project remains the same: to make sure that you can enjoy a safe, comfortable home. With just a few changes, your home can, once again, be your castle.

The success of your handicap remodeling project depends on:

* Smart product choice - Just like any household feature, handicap accessibility and safety aids are not all created equal. Make sure that you are purchasing quality equipment by doing research and weighing all of your options carefully in order to confirm that you're investing in an item that will serve you reliably for years to come.

* Attention to personal needs - In addition to choosing quality materials, you may also want to think about which products will be best suited to your particular health restrictions. Perhaps your wheelchair dictates a full bathroom remodel with a handicap accessible shower or maybe you're having a hard time deciding if having your toilet raised would really be the best idea for your mobility limitations. To ensure a successful outcome for your home renovations, be sure to consult your doctor and before making your final purchase. You won't regret making an informed decision!

* Proper installation - When it comes to equipment intended to encourage a safe environment, proper installation can make all the difference in the world. Just think: a grab bar that's secured into the wall studs provides reliable support while one incorrectly attached to just the drywall will have you taking a tumble in no time. Correct installation of everything from wheelchair ramp supports to handicap bathroom adaptions can safeguard against physical injury - the very thing that your safety apparatus was meant to prevent! Regardless of the magnitude of your project, it is always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure your renovations are completed accurately.

Residential Historical Renovation and Restoration by Marrokal Wins another Contractor of the Year Award (CotY)!

This home remodel is a compelling family generational story encapsulated within a charming and historically significant Point Loma Community of San Diego. When the owner was a child, her parents, with the design help of her grandparents, built a modestly sized but very well constructed, traditional home overlooking a park. She was raised in this home and her parents lived there until their deaths a decade ago. Upon inheriting the home, a lengthy and meticulous renovation/restoration of this little coastal gem was undertaken.

The square footage of the house was not increased and very little was removed from the original structure except for the kitchen and main bathroom. Hardwood floors, painted moldings, wrought iron features and basket pattern brick floors and patios were painstakingly restored. The charming features original to the house have been retained and finishes made new, such as the arched telephone niche which perforates the wall between the hallway and the kitchen. This was originally designed so that her parents could easily answer their one telephone from both the kitchen and the master bedroom.

All of the new cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom are custom designed following the same design aesthetic as the original case work in the home providing a seamless transition from old to new. Highly detailed, period correct tile work in the kitchen as well as the enlarged, accessible master bath, have enhanced the charm of the original house. Planned in the late 1930’s and finished in 1940, the black and white, high-gloss tile and wainscot of the bathroom appear absolutely original to the home. Reclaiming space from an adjacent closet allowed for the bathroom expansion and the creation of a curb less and door-less, walk/roll-in shower with a seat and a multitude of plumbing features including a ceiling-mounted rain head. Matching period correct porcelain pedestal sinks, a deep soaking tub and toilet were all selected to appear original. Storage was achieved through custom medicine cabinets with mirrored doors and electrical outlets inside as well as a custom linen cabinet behind the bathroom door that matches casework in the kitchen. Original lighting fixtures were reinstalled with period correct replicas reflecting the design spirit of the original fixtures being added where appropriate. Cabinet pulls and towel bars were also selected from restoration sources for their period correct design. The top-of-the-line kitchen appliances in stainless steel mesh wonderfully with the couple’s collection of historic objects arranged behind glass cabinet doors, while providing state of the art utility and function.

The exterior of the home, including landscaping, was treated with the same care and exhaustive research. Plant varieties were selected from memory of the original installations 70 years ago and enhanced with selections which were popular from that time period. Additions were made to extensive brick work existed to increase the outdoor living areas including a new front porch. The color scheme for the exterior involved a selection process based in popular color trends from 1940, which enhance the façade and increase interest, although not the original color palette.

The owners claim that passers-by now stop and repeatedly ask about the house whereas prior to the renovation/restoration the home was generally unnoticed. The owners are once again in love with this revitalized childhood home.

The Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards are given each year by NARI Headquarters to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects.  NARI Contractor Members are invited each year to compete for the prestigious Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award.  CotY Award Winners report that winning this award is a major factor in enhancing their image within the industry and with prospective clients, and is a major morale-booster for their employees.