My diary: Building a new home

[Clipper]

Here is the first (posted) photo of my new home. Construction began in September and is expected to be completed in April. I'm starting this thread to provide information on accessible home design. I'll post regular updates and specifications as things progress. Please feel free to ask questions or post your own information. First, the basics:

Location: Portland, Oregon

Layout: Main level has a dining room, kitchen, great room, office/den, full bath, half-bath, laundry room, garage and deck. Upper level has two bedrooms and full bath. Lower level is a "daylight basement" that is accessible only from the outside.

SF: 2743 (that figure includes the lower level but excludes the garage and deck)

[Shannon]

Cool! It will be really fun to read about over the next few months.

Are you using Bearson for the elevator?

[airart1]

how r u gettin up the stairs?

[Clipper]

Hey Beaker. Yes, we are using Bearson. He's coming out this week to talk with the framers to make sure the wall is reinforced properly. He's already reviewed the plans to make sure we had adequate clearance on the landing to accommodate the lift.

Airart1: I will be installing a Concord inclined platform lift to access the upper level. The lift will have a battery backup, and the house will have an emergency generator. In case of mechanical failure or other problem, the office/den can be transformed into a bedroom, with a fully accessible bathroom. The lower level can be reached by using the stairway off the deck, or the path I'm having built from the front of the house to the back. Also, the lift is the ONLY accessibility-related expense, since the bathrooms and other areas were "modified" prior to construction.

[Clipper]

Several people (here and elsewhere) have asked me why I am building a multi-level home since a single-story "ranch" would be accessible without the cost of a lift/elevator. I looked into every option and carefully weighed the pros and cons. The main factors:

Location. The area of Portland where I wanted to live is hilly, and there are few single-level homes with adequate square footage. As you might be able to tell from the photo, my lot is very narrow. The appeal is the wooded view out the back. Most houses in this area are built into the hill. My lot is graded, so the main level will actually drop off at the back.

Size: I could have gone farther out into the 'burbs to get size, but doing so would have compromised location. If I stayed in my chosen area and found a single-story home, I would have compromised size.

Cost: After crunching the numbers, I figure I'm saving between $50,000 and $75,000 by building a new home -- rather than modifying an existing one. How? I found a lot that already had a set of plans. I paid a small sum (less than $3,000) to have those plans modified. The only "real" cost directly related to accessibility is the platform lift. Everything else -- from wider doorways to roll-in showers -- will cost me nothing extra since the modifications were made prior to construction.

I hope this explains my decision.

[Shannon]

Glad you are using Bearson.

Please check Private Topics. There is a message for you from me.

[airart1]

i was wondering what kind of lift setup u were using, thats gonna be cool...i built mine in 92', and love it, but its flat on the ground, but it sure is nice not having all the barriers that come with just buying an existing house......

Koran Verse 9 : 11

-- For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome
Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of
Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair, still more
rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and
there was peace.

[Brad_D]

FYI: Make sure you pay very close attention to your contractor and the subs. I learned the hard way when my house was built...I found out a little to late that my general contractor stopped paying his subs during the ladder part of construction and my house wasn't finished. I also got taken for a lot of $$. Be very aware of what's going on and get everything in writing. Talk to the subs and make sure that the are being paid and are not having any problems with the general contractor.

Good luck.

[KDK513]

Did you eliminate the 11" difference in elevation between the house and garage? We did and were charged extra because the foundation required a "step" to do so. We were left with a 2" difference, a requirement for carbon monoxide according to code, so we had a concrete ramp built to access the house from the garage. There are no steps to the front door of our new home or to the rear patio. We were also charged extra for the wider doors.

Some of my husbands favorite features are the remote controlled ceiling fans, remote starter for the fireplace and the remote controlled duet window shades we had installed.

Good luck with everything!

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Brad_D:

FYI: Make sure you pay very close attention to your contractor and the subs. I learned the hard way when my house was built...I found out a little to late that my general contractor stopped paying his subs during the ladder part of construction and my house wasn't finished. I also got taken for a lot of $$. Be very aware of what's going on and get everything in writing. Talk to the subs and make sure that the are being paid and are not having any problems with the general contractor.

Good luck.

Great advice, Brad. Thank you.

Fortunately, I don't have oversight responsibilities. This house would have been built on this lot regardless of whether I was the buyer. It's not a custom house, per se. The builder has granted me great flexibility, but the decisions are essentially his to make. I therefore have no direct contact with the general contractor, othen than regular site visits to check on accessibility issues.

I actually learned a lot when I bought my condo several years ago. Though the building and unit were essentially finished, I was able to make several modifications. This saved me big $$$ without having to go through the "custom-built" process. I would recommend this tactic to anyone considering a new home. Find a new home development and get in early on modifications.

[Clipper]

Originally posted by KDK:

Did you eliminate the 11" difference in elevation between the house and garage? We did and were charged extra because the foundation required a "step" to do so. We were left with a 2" difference, a requirement for carbon monoxide according to code, so we had a concrete ramp built to access the house from the garage. There are no steps to the front door of our new home or to the rear patio. We were also charged extra for the wider doors.

The builder "dropped" the foundation so that we would have, at most, a 2-inch difference between the garage and main level. This will be sloped out. Ditto for the front entrance. Only the lower level and garage rest on a true concrete foundation. The remainder is pier and beam because of the graded lot. The "drop" didn't add to the cost, and the wider doors will not cost extra. So far, the builder has been wonderful.

Agreed on the remote controls for ceiling fans and fireplace. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Julia_Catherine]

First things first - CONGRATUATIONS!! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Wow, I must say that your home is a lot closer to completion than my home is. I am also building a house. My husband and I started this process in May, and we were finally able to start the actual building process about 3 weeks ago. Currently, I'm hopeful that the foundaton will be completed by the end of the week.

[annabell123]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce08b3127cce80a0741cae8d0000001610

This is our house that we finally moved into Memorial weekend... It took 8 months to build and I subcontracted everything out myself...

[duramater]

Hey Clipper!

Can we get that lunch in before you bolt for greener pastures???

Drop me a line ok??????

Lots to tell!!

Mary

[Clipper]

Julia_Catherine: Congratulations to you too! We started the process at about the same time. Things really moved quickly in the past month, but the waiting seemed to take forever. We did a one-time close, construction to mortgage, that didn't occur until Oct. 16! The builder wanted to start before the weather turned rainy. Please tell us more about your new home!

Annabell123: Beautiful house! I love to hear more about your experiences.

Mary: Of course!

[Julia_Catherine]

Thanks Clipper! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

It will be a one-story structure with 2256 sq ft of living space. The house will be located on almost 2 acres just barely southwest of Amarillo, TX.

My husband and I hope to move into it sometime this spring. Our contractor also was in a hurry to get started before the weather turns bad for the winter.

I should have some pictures of the house building process in a week or so.

[joyt]

Originally posted by annabell123:

It took 8 months to build and I subcontracted everything out myself...

...she even bought a herd of holsteins that live in her back yard and gets up before dawn to milk them! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif
moooooooooooooooooooooooo! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

clipper...i love the idea of a daylight basement! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
good luck!

joy
"Now the only healthy way to live, as I see it, is to learn to like all the little every day things."
-Larry McMurtry

[KDK513]

Clipper, you are most fortunate with your builder. We were charged an extra $1800 for our special foundation, extra $250 for wider doors, extra $67 for a taller comode, to name a few. It was very frustrating.

[Clipper]

Originally posted by KDK:

Clipper, you are most fortunate with your builder. We were charged an extra $1800 for our special foundation, extra $250 for wider doors, extra $67 for a taller comode, to name a few. It was very frustrating.

Was your home built on a slab? My lot is/was actually level. The garage is "ground level" but the rest is dug out. They dropped the "foundation" nearly a foot to eliminate the step up. But since it wasn't a slab, they just had to dig a little deeper. I wonder if this accounts for the added cost you incurred. Was your home entirely custom? This might also account for the added costs.

The picture I attached shows the completed foundation. The area on the left is the garage. You can see the drop-off more clearly.

[Clipper]

To those who have built and/or purchased homes, can you please post information regarding special funding/loans/rates available to people with disabilities? I've had a few people contact me privately about this and thought it would be good to discuss in this thread.

[Clipper]

I've attached a photo of the main floor to illustrate the staircase. We consulted with the lift contractor when the plans were being revised to ensure that the staircase was wide enough, had adequate space on the landing and to ensure that the plans called for adequate wall bracing. During framing, the contractor visited the house to provide specific instructions on proper wall bracing, which can be seen in the photo. This will avoid problems down the road.

[weekender410]

Clipper. Your house looks like its coming along nicely. One question and I hope it doesn't open a can of worms. Regarding the lift, how thick is the platform? I'm wondering if a recess in the floor at the foot of the steps would make sense. This would eliminate having to roll up over a bump.

It would make require a little modification if you moved out and took the lift with you.

[nate007]

I'm not sure about the price differences but I've found stair lifts much slower and more of a pain to get on and off of than elevators. What made you decide on a stair lift?

[marco25]

We built a ranch 10 years ago in the Atlanta suburbs. It was a nightmare. If I hadn't driven out to the construction site almost every day w/my tape measure, who knows how much worse it would have been. We'd carefully measured and considered the dimensions of the garage and master bathroom for optimal function and safety. The builder didn't seem to give a crap about that, and were pretty naive and trusting--at first. We had to bust up the concrete foundation to move a toilet and sink, and then later move an entire wall between the MB and bedroom. And because he didn't follow the agreed upon dimensions of the garage, we couldn't park my car and Scott's van in the garage at the same time. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif

Measure, measure, measure--and then raise hell if it isn't exactly what you need.

[Clipper]

weekender: Your suggestion is a good one, but I want to keep to a minimum the type of things that might require modification down the road. My parents have the same lift in their home, and the bump is minimal. The fact that I use a power chair also influenced my decision.

nate007: We first explored the cost of a residential elevator when we were looking at buying an existing two-story home. The elevators we priced start at about $28,000, whereas a lift costs about $15,000. Also, elevators are virtually impossible to remove and may not be appealing to a potential buyer. Lifts are more readily removed. So, my decision was based on the cost of the lift and resale value of the house.

Marcomo: You are so right! Excellent advice.

[KDK513]

Clipper,
Our house has a full basement with a partial walkout. My goal was to ensure that my husband could exit the house from all levels without any barriers. We had the stairlift from our other house installed to the basement. I was told that the actual cost to pour the "step" in the foundation is about $800. This does eliminate the need for the 11" diference in elevation between garage and house.

I also had to measure regularly to make sure the specifications were followed. The supervisor kept "forgetting" our plan deviated from the norm, or did not understand the importance to us. He was not happy when I insisted that corections be made. Therein lies the reasoning of doubling or tripling the cost of changes to the plan, to correct their mistakes. I wished I would have had more time and energy to fight it.

I also tried to plan the house as if certain things would be there, so it can be easily added or modified. For instance, there is room for a work island in the kitchen, but I did not put one in, so my husband has more room to manuever. I can easily set up a table for additional serving space, as needed.

We had extra light switches to the fan, overhead light and outside light installed on the wall next to his bed, which has been helpful. He does not need a roll in shower, so we designed it as if it would have glass doors, but use a shower curtain instead. The sink can easily have a base cabinet added underneath. Hope this helps.

[Clipper]

Thanks, KDK. Very good points. Since I'm some 3,000 miles away, my father is "supervising" the construction process. He goes down to the house daily and consults with the contractor and subs. He also takes tons of photos so that I can correct any errors that arise. Your advice, and Marcomo's is extremely helpful. We've made a few changes and additions so far during construction that will save us $$ in the long run:

- plumbed the basement for possible future modification, such as the addition of a bathroom

- wired the house for a security system

- added a central vac system

The builder has been really on top of things. He's done a lot already to improve the design of the house, at no additional cost. Also, the plumber had some good ideas for sinks and faucets. But before anything goes in, we agreed that I must first see pictures. I'm particularly paranoid about the bathrooms. Attached is an updated exterior shot, with the roof and windows in place. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful replies.

[KDK513]

Lucky you! Dad's are very particular. I like the roof line and second floor windows.

[monkeygirl]

Hey Clipper! Make sure the measurements of the height of the kitchen and bathroom counters are made taking into consideration after the floor tiles or whatever is applied. Also your height measurements for under the counter are good no matter what you're wearing on your feet. Or your different chairs, cushions, tires, etc.

The reason I bring this up is because when we reno'd our kitchen, we screwed this up. After all the work into the cupboards and counters, we couldn't put down the tile we wanted (too thick) and my knees hit the counter depending on what shoes I was wearing. We took measurements when I was in slippers or bare feet. DUH!!! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif We could fix it but nah, not worth ripping it all apart again, and it's actually better now because my cushion is lower profile.

It's truly amazing how tiny things like the height of your chair, cushions, tires, shoes, (even tiles vs lino), can mean so much. Even when rolling up the ramp in my van, it's like one inch between getting up or not. Weird hey!

Anywho, just some thoughts to ponder, give yourself more room than you'll think you need just to be on the safe side. With us it's a matter of inches! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Go Canucks Go!!!!!!

[rtr]

We built a house a few years ago. We did two things I would recommend for everyone.

1. Place the showerhead higher than standard. I use a hand-held showerhead anyway. Placing them higher means that anyone over 5'10" won't have to crouch to fit.

2. Wire the house for a computer network while the walls are open. We have a hub in the basement and at least one computer connection in every room. Out office has several. Even if you don't have a network now, it's much easier and cheaper to put the wiring in at this phase of the process.

The place looks great Clipper! Congrats!

[betheny]

Clipper, how fortunate that your father can supervise! My parents built a home, what a nightmare. My stepmom wanted it handicap accessible because Dad's getting up there, she used to be a nurse and thought it prudent. She hounded their quite excellent builder every day. I wind up in a chair, and guess what? Can't get in the front door or the bathrooms. Just a few oversights of just a few inches...

C5/6 incomplete, injured Aug. 2000

[rdf]

Looking Good Clipper http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Best Wishes when you move in, and Good Luck!

-Bob

[Clipper]

Progess report: The exterior is coming together nicely, and the interior work continues. We have spoken with a variety of sub-contractors in the past two weeks as wiring and plumbing work begins.

The drawing below is one half of the kitchen. The builder uses a firm that takes the architect's drawings for the kitchen and bathrooms and specifies specific cabinet arrangement. After some tinkering, these are the final designs. There's an entrance to the kitchen on the left, through the dining room, and another via the great room. The area above the cooktop opens into the great room.

I don't use the kitchen much, as I am not a cook and have no plans to be. Therefore, the key elements were pantry access (left of the refrigerator), drawers, refrigerator, microwave and a small workspace. You can see the microwave in this drawing. Just below the microwave is a pull-out "bread board" to make loading and unloading easier. This is built atop a lowered countertop (30 inch clearance) with room to roll underneath. I will not be using the cooktop, so it remains at standard height.

[This message was edited by Clipper on 12-02-03 at 10:46 PM.]

[This message was edited by Clipper on 12-02-03 at 10:47 PM.]

[Clipper]

This drawing shows the opposite side of the kitchen. No accessibility adjustments here other than the type of hardware used on the cabinets. I tried to keep resale in mind while realistically assessing what features I will use.

[This message was edited by Clipper on 12-02-03 at 10:49 PM.]

[Clipper]

Updated exterior photo. The siding color is a primer, not the real deal.

[monkeygirl]

Hey Clipper! Nice place you're building there, but, geez, I'd sure re-think your kitchen plans somewhat. Hey I know you said you don't cook much and don't plan to, but things may change, you never know. (They did with me) Even if you never do, I'm afraid you're being to concerned about resale, you seem to be putting that ahead of your own needs. (I also did that at my last home) http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif I was to damn worried about when I went to sell it, and didn't lower my cabinets and counters enough.

You even leaving your cooktop at regular height, because you don't use it. Huh, your having this beautiful new home built for you, obviously you don't plan on moving out anytime soon, but you WON'T using your cooktop? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif Like ever or what? I hope your sink counter is lowered, it doesn't say.

It also appears you are only giving yourself a tiny space beside the microwave to do everything. One roll under counter? What about your coffee pot, or can opener, toaster, etc, you are so going to wish you made "YOUR NEW HOME" - "CLIPPER FRIENDLY" You have an opportunity of a lifetime to build yourself a beautiful kitchen with accessibilty & the functionality that anyone in a chair would dream of. Geez, you're having to use a chairlift as it is, make the rest of your home as accessible as possible.

I hope you don't take offence to what I'm saying, I'm only speaking from rollin around for 20yrs and fiquring out little things along the way. Please Clipper, think of yourself here, for today & down the road a few years, this is "YOUR HOME", we have enough challenges to deal with, and our homes shouldn't be one of them. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif (especially when we have a choice)

[This message was edited by Monkeygirl on 12-03-03 at 04:07 AM.]

[weekender410]

Clipper, I was looking at the second kitchen sketch showing the sink and dishwasher. You know, it wouldn't be a big deal to modify the cabinet under the sink to make it a roll under set up.

The bottom of the cabinet could be cut out and the toe kick could be added to the doors. The doors could be rehung on tracks like they put on entertainment centers for the TV cabinet. That would allow you to keep the look of the original cabinet. You could open the doors and slide them back out of the way while working at the sink.

You might also consider a pull out cutting board to the left of the sink that would give you a lower work surface next to the sink for prepping vegetables and the like.

That modification wouldn't be very hard, either. I have a couple of ideas for that if you're interested.

Edited to add: if you don't already have this planned, look at in-cabinet ovens which open to the side like a microwave oven. This will make removing a hot turkey or other dish much easier than with a pull down door. They're even great for ABs so it won't have a negative impact on resale.

[This message was edited by weekender on 12-03-03 at 01:20 PM.]

[monkeygirl]

OMG! Clipper I looked again after weekenders post, and saw your sink. You can't leave it like that. You have to be able to drive under it with swing around room at a proper level, not only accessibility and convienience but a safety issue too. Hopefully we're just jumping the gun and you guys just haven't started the plans on that section of your kitchen. Oops if you haven't, bad idea if you have.

[Clipper]

Thanks for the replies, Monkeygirl and weekender. I appreciate everything you've suggested. Please keep in mind two things:

1) I am C5/6 complete, 14 years post.
2) I have owned my own home (condo) for 7 years.

My new design is based on the way I use my current kitchen, my functional level and the way I would like to use my new kitchen. I gave the entire area considerable thought.

Cooktop: I originally planned to have a lowered electric cooktop with front-mounted controls and a smooth surface for sliding things on and off the burners. The area below the cooktop would allow me to roll underneath. But then I gave it more thought. I don't cook. I really don't want to learn to cook. Manipulating pots and pans at my level of injury does not appeal to me. I've never - not once - even wanted to use my current oven/cooktop. So, realistically, I can't see myself using the cooktop in my new home, either. I opted to go with the current setup, which requires a downdraft so that the sight lines into the great room are not obstructed by a hood. To me, for my use, this is the absolute best option.

Countertops: There actually are two lowered countertops with roll-under space - one by the microwave and another that is not shown in the current drawings (added today). I don't use appliances such as coffee pots myself, primarily because of functional reasons. In my current kitchen, I use the microwave only. I want to be able to heat things up, prepare small meals, access the fridge and pantry. Again, my decisions are based on my needs - past, present and future.

Sink: This is still under consideration. I've gone back and forth a zillion times. I probably will decide to make the modifications as suggested by weekender, although I must stress that my kitchen sink usage now is zero.

Oven: We looked at the various side-opening ovens and decided against one for two reasons: I had great difficulty opening the door, and I knew I'd never use it.

Simply put, I'm not a kitchen person and never will be. The kitchen is a very important room in terms of resale. I've had a lot of people review my plans, and the vast majority of able-bodied folks have said that lowered work surfaces would influence their decision to buy. I asked them to be brutally honest, and they were. The kitchen is not an important room to me personally. This is a very individual decision. It will be as accessible as I need it to be. My current home has given me a lot of insight into what I want in my new place. I've read books on accessible design and toured models.

Thank you both for your excellent ideas. They have been very helpful, and the "final" final design will reflect your input.

[KDK513]

My husband does not cook, never did, never will. The only modifications we made were to eliminate the island (can be added later) and we also put the microwave at desk height. He can reach the sink sideways and the only dishwashing he does is to rinse a glass and put it in the dishwasher. Our pantry is next to our side by side refridgerator (ice and water dispenser on the door is favorite feature) We did double doors (french) to the pantry which has been easier than sliding or a large single. Pull out drawers in the lower cabinets have been very helpful. If you can swing it a double oven is a wonderful feature and would provide one at a lower level.

[krajaxa]

Wow,

I was impressed by the vast amount of information you folks have described here...

We are in process of deciding between adapting and building. I'm more inclined to building... One of the companies I work for builds homes and my boss just told me today he would build one for us. His general flexibility is one of the great pros. Yesterday, I just got to see the house they finished up and were showing at the Parade of Homes. It's not build as wheelchair accessible, but I saw that most of the doorways were wider that usually and I just fell in love with the master bathroom - plenty of space. There is lots of space in the kitchen, I really like the idea of two drawer dishwasher that pull out.

Now my only question is, did you guys just go to the internet and found a floorplan you liked and had it adapted to your needs?

We are still in process of looking for property, so we are definitely in the beginning stage.

Good luck with your house Clipper, it's looking great!

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Clipper]

Originally posted by krajaxa:

Now my only question is, did you guys just go to the internet and found a floorplan you liked and had it adapted to your needs?

In my case, this particular house had already been designated for this particular lot. We were given the opportunity to alter the plans, although we couldn't do anything that would change the "footprint" of the house. The inside was fair game. We had to pay architect fees to do this (less than $5,000). Building from scratch would have been too costly and too much of a headache, in my opinion.

Below is a photo of the sink I have selected for both of the full bathrooms. It's a Murro Wall-Mount Sink made by American Standard. It measures 21 inches wide (15.5-inch bowl width, 22 inches front to back (13.5-inch bowl) and 5 inches deep. I'm also getting the pictured shroud/knee contact guard. American Standard has a nice feature on its Web site that allows you to search for ADA compliant sinks such as this one. My current bathroom sink also is an American Standard, but it's a bit too institutional-looking.

[weekender410]

Clipper, it does indeed sound as if you have thought things through very throroughly. I hope the remainder of the building process goes smoothly for you.

[Emi2]

We had these installed in our upper cupboards to allow more accessible storage space but they are pretty much impossible for me (C 7/8) to use. We even removed one pneumatic ram to make it easier to pull down, but it's still very difficult. Also two of them are above counters with cabinets at the base so I can't get close enough to pull them down anyhow. An OT reccomended them and they sounded great bt in reality they aren't appropriate for me (maybe good for a para).

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow"
~ Anon

[Clipper]

Below is a photo of the cooktop that we considered. It's made by Dacor and has an even surface. The best feature is the touch top -- no pressure needed to activate the controls. I tried it out at a store and found it very easy to use, though quite pricey. It's a good alternative if you have little or no finger dexterity.

[24/7 Quad]

Clipper,

Didn't read the entire thread so ignore the sugestions if the have already been posted. I'm on my third house so I have done a few adaptions. Definately slope the entire bathroom floor towards a barrier free shower drain. No threshold in the shower. Accidents can just be rinsed away. I had a Dacor cook top with the disapearing vent. The cook top was over priced, and didn't like the way it heated. Even sprung for the halogen burner. I like to cook but didn't like it. If you were considering the disapearing vent, unless it is against an outside wall the vent will have to be mounted under the cooktop or in a cabinet then piped out. Takes up room and may limit your foot room. I found a large overhead exhaust hood is cheaper and works better. Went to sell the house and the key board failed on the vent. Check out replacement parts and service charges from Dacor and make your own decision.The coolest thing I would suggest is X-10 Lighting and outlet controls. Go to Smarthome.com. You can control lights and appliances with table top controlers and tv learning remotes. You can dim almost every light you set up and can hook it into your computer. You can even have it turn on lights and appliances based on your routine.Its not that expensive, gives me more independence (and control) and definitley increases the value of the house. Sold two of my homes to abled bodied couples becaused they loved the bathrooms and the lighting features. Just my 2 cents..

[Clipper]

Well, the first "significant" glitch has occurred. Both of my full bathrooms have rather large tiled roll-in showers. Unfortunately, the plans did not provide enough direction to the builders when the subfloor went in. This was only caught when the builder mentioned having to construct a threshhold at the entrance to each shower. Wrong!

The subfloor of the shower should have been dropped below the subfloor of the rest of the bathroom to allow for the extra stuff that goes in under a shower (such as the pan). This results in the shower being slightly higher than the rest of the bathroom, thus the need for some type of threshhold to allow for proper drainage.

Since ripping out the subfloor was not an option at this point, we decided on a different solution. Both bathrooms are fairly long, so the concrete guy is going to build a gradual slope in the bathroom up to the shower, then slope down as planned into the drain. The slope will be minimal and not noticeable. And no threshhold will be required.

This obviously isn't the ideal solution, but it'll work out nicely. I hope to get photos up of the rough bathroom very soon.

[SCI-Nurse]

You have to watch them like at hawk at every step. Inspect, inspect and then inspect again at every stage. Take lots of photos too so you can keep records of what is behind the walls, etc. We had tile guys who tiled over electrical outlets in the bathroom. Having photos let us know exactly where they need to rip out tiles. Many similar issues can be saved by having lots of photos.

(KLD)

[~Patrick~]

I found this doing some research for other stuff. It gives alot of fine details you need to think of when designing a kitchen.

http://www.bobvila.com/ArticleLibrary/Subject/Storage/AccessibleKitchen.html

[Clipper]

Thanks, Pat. This is an excellent link.

[~Patrick~]

Wondering how to make a kitchen sink more accessible due to the drain pipe? Check these sinks out....

http://kitchensource.net/bl-supremeundermounts.htm

[Clipper]

No new pictures, but some news. I saw my new home in person for the first time this past week. WOW. Very exciting. The drywall was installed during my trip. Dad is doing an excellent job of "supervising" everything there and communicating all of my changes. Now for the update:

Tile: We selected tile for the bathrooms during our trip. Aside from the obvious aesthetic decisions, it was important to keep functionality in mind. My current bathrooms have white tile and white grout, with no tile around the sink. The roll-in shower at my parents' house is great, but water gets everywhere because of spray. I wanted to eliminate all of these problems in my new home, so here's what I decided to do:

- The shower in the main bathroom is huge at 5x6. It will have two handheld shower heads with separate controls, one at each end, so my able-bodied roommate can shower without having to remove my shower chair. The shower will have four corner ledges (at my height) to hold shampoo, soap, etc. The shower has an indented area that will have a "seat" that I will use as an additional ledge. This area will also be home to my urological supplies, which I hang when not in use. It was important to me to get these things out of sight yet within reach.

- I initially wanted a large glass shower door. But after seeing the size of the shower in person, I have decided to leave the entrance to the shower open for now -- no door, no curtain. The shower is big enough to contain spray, and leaving it open provides me with greater access.

- With no shower door, I wanted the shower area to "flow into" the rest of the bathroom, from an aesthetic standpoint. I decided to tile the walls up to three feet around the entire bathroom to accomplish this goal. Doing this solved other problems as well. First, any spray from the shower will hit tile, not a painted wall. Second, tiling around the sink area protects the walls from bleach splatter (from cleaning urological supplies).

- I chose several different sizes and colors of tile. The tile I selected cannot be discolored by bleach. Also, I selected a darker grout that won't show dirt tracked in by my chair.

- The "slope" I mentioned in a previous post is going to work out quite nicely. It's very subtle and sufficient for proper drainage. Most importantly, there won't be a threshold into the shower.

- I exceeded my tile allowance with my selections, but the builder is going to apply the difference to other areas (like not having a glass shower door).

Appliances: We selected these as well. Though appliance needs vary person-to-person, I'll pass along a few things that I have come across during my journey.

- Look for cooktops with controls mounted in the front. Electric cooktops are easier to use, since all you have to do is slide your pot/pan off instead of lifting. As for access, it is possible to leave the area below the cooktop open so that you can roll underneath. I've seen several nice designs with "pocket doors" under the cooktop that open and slide in to give you space.

- Most new refrigerators have shelves that slide out easily, but some do not. I also like the "can cradle" feature on some models that hold cans in the door without requiring you to lift them out. Good for those of us without hand use.

- Side-opening ovens are out there, though I opted for the traditional style. Just another option that makes cooking more wheelchair-friendly.

- The microwave is my best friend. I'm disappointed with the newer microwaves being offered -- most have a push-button to open instead of a handle. I also like the convection/microwave combos -- they give you more freedom. I'll have a pull-out shelf under my microwave to slide food out easily.

I hope to have more photos of the inside soon.

[marco25]

Clipper, hadn't checked in on your progress in a while. Everything sounds wonderful, well, except for the shower sub-floor problems. It's frustrating when you plan so carefully for something that important, and then the people you're TRUSTING and PAYING to do the job properly screw it up! (Bringing back bad memories ... http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif) Anyway, happy and excited for you. I wish you much joy and many happy memories in your new home.

[Lewis]

Clipper,

Things look great.

Question: Have you looked at kitchen sinks yet? If you have, is there a brand that offers shallow basins? I am currently building my kitchen (it's just an empty wall now).

Also, did you get a chance to check your private topics. Just wondering if you saw my reply in "Article".

-Lewis

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Lewis:

Question: Have you looked at kitchen sinks yet? If you have, is there a brand that offers shallow basins? I am currently building my kitchen (it's just an empty wall now).

Lewis,

I've given more thought to the kitchen than I probably should. I finally decided to leave it as-is, with no modifications for accessibility. I can get to my current sink from the side, which gives me all the access I need. I thought a lot about angling the cabinetry to get me closer, but my knees stick out too much for this design to really work. I also considered opening it up underneath and dropping the sink. But, in the end, it wasn't worth it to me.

Kohler makes a nice shallow-basin sink that is ADA compliant:

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?item=333002&prod_num=6536-3&frm=2&module=Kitchen+Sinks

Sterling makes one in stainless steel that is ADA compliant:

http://www.sterlingplumbing.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?item=4092903

I'll e-mail you soon about the article. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Clipper]

There's been a lot of progress since my last post -- we are less than a month away from completion. The photo below is of the full bathroom downstairs, off what will be my office. This bathroom, like the master bathroom above it, has a roll-in shower and wall-hung sink. In this photo, the sink will go in the area to the right, with the toilet on the other side of the mini-wall. The large tiles lead to the shower area in the back. The floor is sloped to the drain, and there is no threshold whatsoever. The door to the left leads to a linen closet. The tile guy built up the bathroom floor so that it would be perfectly level with the hardwood in the adjoining room.

[Clipper]

The concrete for the driveway/entrance/pathway was poured on March 2. This was a little tricky because there is a pathway on the left side of the photo (see next post) that leads to the back of the house. This pathway had to join up with the driveway, as did the entryway sidewalk. I'm really pleased with the outcome. The entryway sidewalk is nicely sloped with almost no threshold into the house and into the garage.

[Clipper]

Here's the pathway to the back of the house.

[SKYCO]

Hi Clipper,your house looks great,the concrete looks good except where the curb meets the pathway it may be a stress point that could crack in time.My wife and I are planning to either build a stick built house or get a modular home still trying to decide.Well,goodluck with your project looks great!
Steve

[Clipper]

Here's a photo of the kitchen (most of it, anyway). This view is looking from the dining room to the great room. Too bad there's plastic over the windows!

Anyway, you can see the lowered countertop areas on the left side, and at the end on the right. The microwave housing has a pull-out shelf beneath it. The cabinets don't have any hardware on them just yet.

[Lizbv]

Thanks for continuing this thread, good luck finishing the house, Clipper! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

"I guess pain is a great motivator."- Yanni

[Clipper]

Attached is the latest photo of the exterior. Almost done!

[Clipper]

Here are the latest, greatest interior pictures. First up is the platform lift. It took much longer than expected to install the lift -- they had to remove the track twice to get it positioned correctly. In this photo, the lift is in the stowed (folded) position.

[Clipper]

The bottom of the track.

[Clipper]

Exterior door lever. Even though I had specified levers, instead of knobs, about 30 times over the past year, knobs were initially installed. They finally got it right.

[Clipper]

Living room, looking out onto deck. They raised the deck to eliminate the threshold.

[Clipper]

This photo was taken in the dining room, looking through the kitchen and into the living room. The cabinetry still needs hardware.

[woman from Europe]

Originally posted by Clipper:

This photo was taken in the dining room, looking through the kitchen and into the living room. The cabinetry still needs hardware.

Clipper, your house looks very nice, I wish I could live like that http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

I only have one question, why don't you have an electic kitchen? I mean, where everything is going up and down so you can reach everything while you are sitting.

Otherwise, your house is great.

TH 12 incomplete 12-12-69. I am still a walker but I do not know for how long time.

[Clipper]

Originally posted by woman from Europe:

I only have one question, why don't you have an electic kitchen? I mean, where everything is going up and down so you can reach everything while you are sitting.

I don't cook or have a desire to (I am C5/6 complete), so I really only need access to the food pantry, refrigerator, microwave, drawers and countertops. An electric kitchen wouldn't have been very useful for me. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[woman from Europe]

OK, then I understand why.

I am waiting for the electric kitchen, and I am looking foreward to it because I get crazy the way it is now. I can't even get a glass down when I am sitting and the dishes is making me crazy http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

TH 12 incomplete 12-12-69. I am still a walker but I do not know for how long time.

[Chris Chappell]

Clipper, awesome pics, beautiful home - congratulations!

When do you expect to move in?

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Chris Chappell:

Clipper, awesome pics, beautiful home - congratulations!When do you expect to move in?

Thanks Chris! We're moving the end of June. So much to do!

[nate007]

In that dining room into kitchen and living room shot, the house looks like it goes farther back than the exterior shot led me to believe. It was probably just the angle of the exterior shot though.

[Shannon]

It's beautiful! Love the floors and windows. It's so nice and bright.

Alive for 34 years
T4/5 complete for 25 years
Mom for 6 years

[Curt Leatherbee]

Looks real good Clipper, love those hardwoods. Looks like a good lift setup too. I have a lift going downstairs, but it is just a chair lift and I have to transfer, I get tired of doing so many transfers just to get downstairs. I have often thought about welding a platform to the chair frame so that it will carry the whole chair down the stairs.

Its funny, that shadow in the first picture looks like the jolly green giant, lol.

[Lizbv]

hi Clipper. I've enjoyed following the house plans. What are your upstairs floors? hardwood?
Everything looks great.

"I guess pain is a great motivator."- Yanni

[Clipper]

Originally posted by nate007:

... the house looks like it goes farther back than the exterior shot led me to believe ...

You are correct. The house doesn't look very deep from the outside. I've attached a photo that shows the shape of the lots. Mine is indicated by the blue dot. Narrow, but long.

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Lizbv:

What are your upstairs floors? hardwood?


Yes, hardwood upstairs too. I almost went with carpet upstairs, but decided against it because of wear and dirt created by my chair. Grrr.

[monkeygirl]

Wow Clipper....Beautiful, especially your livingroom with the deck off it like that. The doors, windows, floors, "Absolutely Gorgeous" I'm jealous, ya lucky bum! Hey, you deserve it...Enjoy! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[joyt]

oh, my goodness! what a well thought-out houseplan! those windows are gorgeous, plus they disprove the rumor that the pacific northwest is rainy 365 days a year! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

steve and norm would love it! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

good luck,

joy
"You've got to learn to love the little things in life in order to be happy, like a sip of whiskey in the evening or a beautiful morning sunrise."
~Gus McRae, "Lonesome Dove"

[Lizbv]

Originally posted by Clipper:

Yes, hardwood upstairs too. I almost went with carpet upstairs, but decided against it because of wear and dirt created by my chair. Grrr.

You can cordinate some beautiful furnishings with hardwood. Love the look. Your walls have a nice tone. I have an Ivory type carpet and it ends up getting steam treated often. Thank goodness I don't own it! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

"I guess pain is a great motivator."- Yanni

[PN]

Clipper, will you have another power chair on the second floor so you can be mobile? Also, will someone help you with these transfers from the first-floor to the second floor?

PN

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Paul Nussbaum:

Clipper, will you have another power chair on the second floor so you can be mobile? Also, will someone help you with these transfers from the first-floor to the second floor?

There are no transfers involved - it's a platform lift. My power chair rolls onto the platform, and the lift ascends/descends the stairs. I can use the controls without assistance. "Chair" lifts, like the one Curtis described in a previous post, require transfers.

[PN]

Clipper:

I don't mean to get too personal, but approximately how much does that power chair weigh with you in it?

I think congratulations are in order on this new home that you that you will be living in.

PN

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Paul Nussbaum:

I don't mean to get too personal, but approximately how much does that power chair weigh with you in it?


Paul,

I don't know the total weight of the power chair with me in it, to be honest. I weigh about 125 pounds, though, and the Quickie P200 runs 88 pounds without batteries. I'm guessing that the total weight would be about 275-300 pounds, with me + chair + batteries. The Concord Residential Inclined Platform Lift is rated to hold 500 pounds.

The weight issue brings up an important point. One of the reasons they had to remove the track and start over is because the lift was brushing one of the steps when they tested it under load. It'll still have to be adjusted after a few months of use, but I guess it's a bit tricky to get it just right. Too "high" will cause the lift gates and arms to function improperly; too "low" and the lift will brush the steps. So I guess my tip of the day is to make sure whoever installs your lift will adjust it for free while you break it in.

[mk99]

Clipper, you may have the same problem as I did with my elevator. In the first year as the house settles, sometimes things get out of alignment and need to be adjusted. Suddenly my elevator would just die for no reason at all. I think I had the elevator service people here 6 or 7 times in the first year and got stuck on certain floors more than once. (all service calls were covered by warrantee)

After the first year though, it's been very reliable. Nice looking house, BTW.

[Clipper]

Now for some pictures of the bathrooms.

This photo shows the lower bathroom. The toilet is on the other side of that wall. The shower is next to that (divided from the toilet by a wall.) The floors gradually slopes into the roll-in shower. The shower has a light that unfortunately wasn't turned on for this pic. The towel rack next to the sink and the one next to the shower (not seen) were installed too low and will be raised. All cabinetry hardware consists of "pulls" rather than knobs.

[Clipper]

Here's a close-up view of the roll-in shower on the lower level. All grout is gray to hide dirt!

[Clipper]

Here's the master bathroom roll-in shower. Again, there's a light in the shower that was not turned for the photo. This shower is bigger than the one downstairs. There's two showerheads - one on each end - with separate controls.

[Clipper]

Showerhead ...

[Clipper]

Master bathroom sink ...

[Clipper]

One final picture ... for now.

The garage was challenging. The door going inside has a 4-inch step up, so a ramp was needed. I usually open a door by first pulling up next to it, depressing the handle and then going inside. I can't manage a door if it's in front of me, particularly if I'm on a ramp. I came up with the idea of a platform that would allow me to turn parallel to the door after ascending the ramp. The idea was executed by my dad, who built everything in the photo below. The ramp can be moved, depending on whether we have both cars in the garage or just one. Good job dad!

[Lizbv]

How is everything coming Clipper? Are you moved in yet? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

"I guess pain is a great motivator."- Yanni
Eine Welf, Ein Volk

[Clipper]

Originally posted by Lizbv:

How is everything coming Clipper? Are you moved in yet?

The movers come on the 21st, then we head out for our drive west. We should be moved in by July 1. We're finishing up packing right now and closing out the sale of my condo here. So much to do!

[Clipper]

We've been living in our new home for about three weeks, and most everything has exceeded my expectations. Some final tips to pass along:

- Whether you are building a house, having one remodeled or just retrofitting a few rooms, stay on top of each contractor and make sure they understand exactly what you want. If possible, go to the building site often. If something is incorrect, have the builder fix it. I found that even though some contractors are well-intentioned and think they understand accessibility, they don't neccesarily know your needs.

- Zero-threshold doorways are awesome. With the exception of the garage, all of my entrances are perfectly flat. No steps, no bumps. Flat.

- Give the contractors specifications for everything - light switch height, door handle design and height, countertops, sinks, towel racks, etc.

- Tiled roll-in shower. If you want or need a roll-in shower, consider going with a tiled stall instead of a pre-fab insert. My shower stall is enormous, with tile all the way to the ceiling. Drainage is excellent, and there is no lip. We have separate controls, too. Easy to clean, looks sharp.

I have no regrets, so far, about building a multi-story home that needs a platform lift to get and down the stairs. The lift has needed some modifications, but I feel it was a good choice. A multi-story home gave me the ability to live exactly where I wanted to, without compromising space.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

[offthahook]

Looks pimp. I'm building, too. Peep out my thread or just the website New home construction (http://www.joelandkelly.com) Looks like some things are universal...

http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewire/pictures/halle250-.jpg

My phat site (Not SCI related) (http://www.urbanfab.50megs.com)

[lilsister]

Congratulations on your new home! I've been following your thread with interest, thank you. Will you be posting pictures of how it looks now? Your Dad sounds like a really nice guy to keep the contractors in line.

[30something]

Clipper,
Great house! Thanks for sharing. You've given me a fever to build!
You really gave me a great solution to my front door. I too cannot open a door in front of me. I'm going to show my husband the picture of your ramp and platform. That could really work for me. Thanks so much for the idea!!!

Shannon
C6/7 incomplete

[Clipper]

Originally posted by 30something:

Great house! Thanks for sharing. You've given me a fever to build! You really gave me a great solution to my front door. I too cannot open a door in front of me. I'm going to show my husband the picture of your ramp and platform. That could really work for me. Thanks so much for the idea!!!

Thanks, Shannon! The platform/ramp combo has worked VERY well. In fact, I find myself using the garage entrance more frequently than the front door, which is level with no ramp. Best of all, the platform/ramp was inexpensive and easy to build.

lilsister,

No more pictures for now. I might post a few after we are more settled.

[Chris Chappell]

Congrats Clipper. Beautiful job. Hope you're thoroughly enjoying your new home. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[cheesecake]

Clipper~
By far one of the best topics that has been posted here. Great diary and addition to the site.
Congrats on the new home. Many years of happiness and pleasure.

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles"....C. Reeve 1998

[bette]

HI, Clipper,

I saw this thread and have read all of your house notes. Great notes, great house, great ideas, etc. Congrats!

I have one question regarding the roll-in showers. Without any type of door, do you find them to be cold after you turn off the warm water? I've been told by an architect that showers without any type of door will get cold quickly. I'm building before too long and would prefer the roll-in, no door showers but don't want the problem of coldness if it exists.

My sweetheart is T12-L1 and I want him to be comfortable when at my home.

Thanks

[Clipper]

Originally posted by bette:

I have one question regarding the roll-in showers. Without any type of door, do you find them to be cold after you turn off the warm water? I've been told by an architect that showers without any type of door will get cold quickly. I'm building before too long and would prefer the roll-in, no door showers but don't want the problem of coldness if it exists.


bette,

I had the same concerns but don't find it to be a problem. With the bathroom door closed, it seems to trap the warmth of the shower fairly well. I think the design of the shower might also play a role. My shower is fairly large and is like a small room. Also, the shower is on the second floor, which is warmer than the one below. Another solution for you might be to install a heat lamp light fixture. I really enjoy using those when I travel.

[SCI-Nurse]

Our bathroom does not have a door at all, and we use a ceiling mounted heat lamp to warm the bathroom in the winter. It works well.

(KLD)

[bette]

Thanks, Clipper and SCI Nurse.

The suggestion of a heat lamp is a good one.

[JDR]

That is an absolutely beautiful home. Congrats on all that you've done....it is amazing.

I noticed you live in "Raleighwood"...too funny. That's what we call Raleigh around here.

Oh, and about the bathroom heat. I used heat/bathroom fan/light combo deal in my bathroom. It heats things up very quickly on those cold winter mornings.

"The Great Thing In This World Is Not So Much Where We Are, But In What Direction We Are Moving"
- Oliver Wendell Holmes -