Visitability by laws

[Curt Leatherbee]

I was discussing these new laws with a friend today. A number of States have these laws now and they are required in new home constuction. It only makes sense, if your going to do new construction, might as well make it accessable. This means new home construction must have at least one accessable entrance and other accessable features, interesting stuff. http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0103/visitability.html

[loreo]

We have similar visitability regulations coming out very soon up here in Ontario - a few months away. New builds will have to be compliant. There are also some regulations around upgrading to visitability during renovations. Can you imagine visiting anyone without pre-planning washroom breaks and help to get in?

[Curt Leatherbee]

We have similar visitability regulations coming out very soon up here in Ontario - a few months away. New builds will have to be compliant. There are also some regulations around upgrading to visitability during renovations. Can you imagine visiting anyone without pre-planning washroom breaks and help to get in?

Exactly, these regulations make a lot of sense. Also if someone were to become disabled after the fact of building it would be a shame if they had built a inaccessable dwelling that had to be changed around at a far greater expense, if able to be changed at all in a cost effective way.

[Foolish Old]

Thanks for this, Curt. It is so timely! I am currently attempting to get the local Habitat for Humanity chapter to agree to incorporate minimum Universal Design concepts into all their new homes. I have been making all the "Visitability" arguments without knowing that the word or movement existed.

It is encouraging to learn of a bill in Congress and an advocacy network to which I can reach out.

[CurvySAT05]

It would be neat if they were able to incorporate that each house should have a minimum of one room downstairs so that an injured person, disabled person, etc. can have accessible accommodations downstairs rather than having to rely on someone to carry them upstairs or sleep on the couch (or in some cases turning the garage into a bedroom). The space saved upstairs (assuming its a 2 story home) could be used as that extra "living/family room". Also, the bathroom downstairs should be big enough to fit a wheelchair into and have a shower.
I know....I know....I'm dreaming!

[Foolish Old]

H.R.1408
Title: To require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities.
Sponsor: Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD003+@4((@1(Rep+Schakowsky++Janic e+D.))+01588))) [IL-9] (introduced 3/10/2009) Cosponsors (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:1:./temp/~bd3Jnz:@@@P|/bss/111search.html|) (6)
Latest Major Action: 3/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
COSPONSORS(6), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:1:./temp/~bd3Jnz:@@@N|/bss/111search.html|))
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Bordallo++Madelei ne+Z.))+01723))) [GU] - 3/10/2009Rep Farr, Sam (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Farr++Sam))+00368 ))) [CA-17] - 3/10/2009Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Gutierrez++Luis+V .))+00478))) [IL-4] - 3/10/2009Rep Kildee, Dale E. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Kildee++Dale+E.)) +00631))) [MI-5] - 3/23/2009Rep Kirk, Mark Steven (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Kirk++Mark+Steven ))+01647))) [IL-10] - 3/10/2009Rep McGovern, James P. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d111&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+McGovern++James+P .))+01504))) [MA-3] - 3/10/2009

[Big Tuna]

all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses

I think its awesome, but what does "federally assisted" mean?

[Foolish Old]

The project received federal money as grants or loans. I think its awesome, but what does "federally assisted" mean?

[Sue Pendleton]

They will have a rough time building townhouses in some areas on the east coast. Many with garages you have an entrance, garage and stairway up to the actual house. Every foot wider adds to already enormous land costs. NOT that I'm against it. Love it. With so many friends in such townhouses I'm about to have friends chip in for new carpeting if we have to do all the entertaining. I mean who wants to entertain with carpet that always seems dirty? And due to a slab that was badly poured hardwood or tile in most the house is impossible.

[brucec]

thanks curt, it only makes sense, as you ride thru neighborhoods now a days, seems like about one in ten has a ramp to the front door, you would think builders would have caught on by now

[Foolish Old]

Here in the Keys (where we are barely above sea-level), almost every new house is built on tall concrete stilts. FEMA considers an elevator shaft built below base flood elevation to be an enclosure - making it illegal. Catch 22 -There are strict limits on the amount of fill that can be used to raise the building elevation above the pre-construction elevation.

Where we can't get above BFE. we ignore the FEMA elevator rule - since appeals are close to impossible.

Naturally, no one without an immediate need installs an elevator in a new private home. My goal is to have the design of homes built with public or donated funds allow for an elevator to be easily added at a later date. It's a good first step.

Sue, are you saying your concrete is too wavy for tile or wood? If you are willing to spend some money, I would guess that you could have a leveling "float" applied. Or, wooden "sleepers" could be installed with shims that make the floor level. Worse case would have you grinding down the high spots. You might have to adjust your thresholds with either of the first two methods. Carpet is no fun.

They will have a rough time building townhouses in some areas on the east coast. Many with garages you have an entrance, garage and stairway up to the actual house. Every foot wider adds to already enormous land costs. NOT that I'm against it. Love it. With so many friends in such townhouses I'm about to have friends chip in for new carpeting if we have to do all the entertaining. I mean who wants to entertain with carpet that always seems dirty? And due to a slab that was badly poured hardwood or tile in most the house is impossible.

[brucec]

Here in the Keys (where we are barely above sea-level), almost every new house is built on tall concrete stilts. FEMA considers an elevator shaft built below base flood elevation to be an enclosure - making it illegal. Catch 22 -There are strict limits on the amount of fill that can be used to raise the building elevation above the pre-construction elevation.

Where we can't get above BFE. we ignore the FEMA elevator rule - since appeals are close to impossible.

Naturally, no one without an immediate need installs an elevator in a new private home. My goal is to have the design of homes built with public or donated funds allow for an elevator to be easily added at a later date. It's a good first step.

Sue, are you saying your concrete is too wavy for tile or wood? If you are willing to spend some money, I would guess that you could have a leveling "float" applied. Or, wooden "sleepers" could be installed with shims that make the floor level. Worse case would have you grinding down the high spots. You might have to adjust your thresholds with either of the first two methods. Carpet is no fun.

yep, i pulled up my carpet about 15 years ago, was going to replace it, found rolling around without the carpet so much nicer, i never did replace it

[Jeff B]

But then people will have no excuse for not having Gramma come live with them when before they could just stick her in the nursing home because she can't get up the steps.

[madmaddmother]

Ok folks, this is just my opinion...but, the government is in my life already to the hilt...to pass a law, making me build to their demands is bull shit...business I do agree need to follow guidlines...
As an appraiser I can tell you most federal funds come AFTER the build...so if these guidlines were not done, an FHA loan for example, would not pass an inspection. The builders should build so anyone has access but the all mighty dollar and bottom line is were it is at...and of course the mind set that "it will never happen to me" so homes are built without features those in chairs need...sad, very sad, especially because the cost is less during the build...
But, like I said...I want the government out of my life...I'll go read the bill now but don't think it will change my mind...I just hate being told what I HAVE to do...soon enough we will most likely have to make everything green before a home can be sold...especially the roof...and there will many new government employee's whose job it will be to check us out...

[Sue Pendleton]

Foolish, in our kichen that we expanded into the entire family room the corner in the main cabinet run is on a 2 X 4 and the two ends are on concrete. I had wanted this beautiful 12" square marble tile and am so glad we went with the 8" ceramic. At this point, we'd be moving and building before shaving or leveling.

Judy, the one problem I have with government not interferring are the new age restricted, active communities. We checked out a few here that tend to look promising as the main bedroom suite is on the ground floor. But the front entrances are brick, 3 or 4 flared steps up and no railing of any kind. One broken leg on the ski slopes and those active 55+s are gonna be renting non-existant accessible units until healed. A new place has acessible condos with elevators but walking the dog at midnight is sort of out for a gimp. I want a fenced yard with doggie door. They do allow dogs.

It is rather dumb not to use heavy duty bracing behind walls in bathrooms and wider doorways all around on new builds though.