How to profit from aging-in-place remodeling
Aging-in-place remodeling makes it possible for people to remain in their homes as they grow older. Remodeler and attorney Dan Bawden developed the Certified Aging in Place Services certification for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and teaches the certification class.
Find out how to profit from aging-in-place-remodeling with these popular home improvements.
Bathrooms
“When thinking about aging in place remodeling, the first place that crosses your mind is the bathroom, The bathroom is the number one place where people fall and have accidents, and a lot of that has to do with the tub,” says Bawden.
Shower grab bars are important bathroom addition. “Grab bars have come a long way in terms of style and are being disguised as toilet paper holders and decorations, he says”
Another popular renovation is to convert a bathtub to a no-threshold shower for easier access. “This process varies depending on the floor the bathroom is located on,” says Bawden. “You’ll have to cut into the slab if the bathroom is on the ground floor or cut into a beam if the bathroom is on a higher level.”
Bawden also recommends adding more and better lighting, as well as ceiling or floor radiant heat.
Doors and windows
When considering aging in place remodeling, doors and windows should always be included. Change door handles to easier-to-open levers and convert doorways for wheelchair access.
“Doorway conversions can be made by cutting into the adjacent wall to widen the typical 24-inch entry to 34 or 36 inches,” says Bawden. “However, if the client has a small budget, or if there are cabinets or light switches you don’t want to move, you can install swing clear hinges that allow the door to swing completely out of the frame. This will add an extra 1¾ inches to the doorway.” In some cases, the customer may want you to remove the door and install a rod so a curtain can be used for privacy.
Convert double-hung windows to casement windows, which crank open and require less leverage to push up.
Kitchen
Bawden recommends these kitchen improvements for aging-in-place remodeling:
- Place faucets on the side of the sink so they can be reached more easily.
- Install movable cabinets under the sink that make the space wheelchair-accessible, but allow the homeowner to put the cabinets back in place for additional storage.
- Low rolling islands provide accessible seated workspace and can be moved if more space in the room is needed.
- Easy-to-use motion-sensor faucets are an excellent addition.
- Install strip or ribbon LED lights on cabinet fronts to illuminate the entire counter.
- Add plug strips along the leading edge of the countertop, under the overhang or along the backsplash.
- Exits and entrances
Aging-in-place remodeling should include adding lighting at back doors and sloping the sidewalk up to the level of the front porch. “Suggest to your client that you hide the ramp with landscaping,” says Bawden.
Keep fire escape paths in mind and make sure there are multiple exits from the home. Also widen windows to meet egress requirements.
If the customer’s bedroom is on an upper floor, add a Guide Light 11, a bright blue flashing strobe light, into a window. The Guide Light 11 lights up if someone dials 911, helping emergency personnel find the homeowner more quickly.
Multi-story homes
Multi-story homes require some other aging-in-place remodeling changes. “Install handrails on both sides of stairways to prevent falls,” says Bawden. “Make sure stairs to basements or attics are sturdy if the client will want to access them.”
Add additional lighting to basements and attics. Install 2700 or 3000 Kelvin-colored temperature LED lights. They’re ultra-energy efficient and won’t need to be replaced for many years.
While installing railings, add blocking to walls between the studs. This will make installation of a chairlift easier at a later date. Chairlifts are fairly easy to install and the electrical wiring takes about four hours. Let your clients know that used chairlifts are available on Craigslist at a reduced rate.
If your client can afford it, install an elevator by building a shaft on a slab on an exterior wall or by cutting one inside. An exterior elevator installation costs $80,000 to $90,000, much less than an interior one. A pneumatic elevator can be used if the home has a balcony on the second or third floor. This more cost-efficient option uses air pressure to pull the elevator up and down. The unit includes a safety device for power outages that lets the air out slowly for a safe ride to the bottom.
Miscellaneous
Bawden also recommends these aging-in-place options:
• “Tubular skylights bring in natural, full-spectrum light, but don’t bring in additional heat,” he says.
• “Take out bi-fold doors because they take up too much space.”
• “If carpeting has a thick pad, it can cause problems for people who have difficulty walking or are in wheelchairs. Consider replacing carpeting with wood plank or bamboo flooring, preferably a floating floor that will provide cushioning if someone falls.”
• “Lower light switches to 48 inches above the floor so they’re easier to reach.”
• “Add more lighting in garages.”
“Aging-in-place remodeling is profitable,” says Bawden, “so take advantage of it. Homes are not built to adapt to their homeowners, but remodelers have the ability to help clients stay in their homes as they age.”
–By Molly Podlesny and Dan Bawden
Dan Bawden, remodeler, attorney and developer of the Certified Aging in Place Services certification for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), discussed growing your business by adding the specialty of aging-in-place remodeling during a recent Pro Construction Guide PROcast, a podcast for Pros.
About Certified Aging-in-Place Services (CAPS) certification
Anyone that takes NAHB’s CAPS course can be listed as a specialist on NAHB.org and use the certification logo on the company website. The program includes a slideshow that can be used for presentations at civic clubs and senior groups. “Always adjust your presentation to the age of the attendees and their circumstances,” says Bawden. “For example, if the audience is made up of people 60 and older, talk about aging-in-place remodeling as a way to save money by staying in their homes instead of moving to expensive assisted living facilities. If the audience members are 50 to 60 years old, call the process “universal” or “livable” remodeling.”