Barrier Free Architecturals
August 25, 2011

Finding the Perfect Handicap Shower

Bath Accessories. Image Source: ShowerCurtains.org

Purchasing your first handicap shower can be confusing.  There are so many factors to consider – price, construction time, features and durability are only a few of them.  There’s also the matter of personal décor.  Luckily, there are a wide variety of handicap showers available on the market today and, with a little research, you’re sure to find something to suit your unique needs and preferences.  Here are a few things to consider when purchasing your first handicap shows.

Handicap showers are, obviously, easier to install in a newly built home, but remodeling a bathroom to accommodate a new shower is also quite feasible.  Contact us and we can help you find the best contractors on the market.  We have a lot of experience with handicap showers, and only work with the most knowledgeable people.

One thing to consider when designing a handicap shower is accessibility.  Soap, shampoo, wash cloths and other bathroom accessories need to be easily reachable and at a good height.  Having to bend down or stand up to reach bathroom essentials is dangerous and could lead to accidents.  Your faucet also needs to be positioned at the right height, and your handicap shower should be equipped with a handheld device to facilitate quick and easy control.

Our tile showers usually have a cement mortar base that lie beneath the tile and it is designed to slope about 1/8 inch per foot.  This allows water to reach the drain easier.  Your entire modified bathroom should have a subtle tilt towards the shower.  This will help water spray reach the drain easier.  All-in one shower pans are great products that help water drain easier, but slopes will still have to be a part of your bathroom design.

Handicap shower doors are water-tight, but you will still want to invest in a good shower corner with weighted corners.  This will help prevent spills or excess water making its way onto your bathroom floor.

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April 20, 2011

Handicap Bathtubs

Handicap bathtubs are an economical way to add an extra level of safety to your bathroom.  Here, we’ll go over some of their benefits and outline some points to consider when purchasing a handicap tub.

An Overview of Handicap Bathtubs

There are several different types of handicap bathtubs.  All are carefully designed with accessibility in mind and many allow users to take full advantage of the bathing experience by fully submerging themselves in water.

Handicap bathtubs are typically taller than standard tubs and are equipped with a waterproof, airtight door that allows the user to enter effortlessly.  Handicap tubs are usually equipped with some sort of seat which allows the user to remain in an upright position while being completely submerged in water, making it even easier to get in and out of the tub.  Because of their innovative design, users in wheelchairs are often able to enter and exit a handicap bathtub with very little difficulty.

Safety Benefits

The simple act of entering a tub through a door as opposed to climbing over a tub is one of the main safety benefits of a handicap bathtub.  As people age, balance and agility can sometimes be a challenge.  A walk-in door eliminates unnecessary stress, prevents the risk of slipping, and will not present a challenge to users suffering from spinal injuries, arthritis, or other degenerative conditions.

The main difference between a handicap bathtub and a handicap shower stall (where the user is also seated) is the fact that a tub allows the bather to fully submerge in water.  Once the user is finished, he or she simply drains the tub completely before exiting.  The sealed door ensures that no water will seep through the entrance.

Most handicap bathtubs have comfortable armrests and can easily be filled with warm water, allowing the user to enjoy a soothing bath, which can help to relieve stress and promote healthy blood circulation.

If you’ve been considering having a handicap bathtub installed, talk to us.  We will work with you to ensure your tub suits all your needs.  Contact us today!

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November 24, 2010

How to Make Simple Accessibility Modifications to Your Home

Wheelchair Symbol. Image Source: Wikipedia.

If you’ve decided the time is right to make your home more accessible to wheelchair users, but are worried about the cost or time involved, fear not! Here are a few simple things you can do to your home to make it more accessible to anyone with mobility problems:

-       It’s really easy to change doorknobs from round to lever-type handles, and it will make a huge difference to the overall accessibility of your home, both for wheelchair users and anyone with restricted mobility.

-       Add a piece of string to each lever door handle in your home – it will help anyone who uses a wheelchair to close the door behind them should they want or need to.

-       Look at all the floor surfaces in your house and work out if there are any ledges or uneven levels that might cause problems to a person in a wheelchair. You can easily purchase wheelchair ramps online or simply attach small wedges of wood or metal to serve the same purpose.

-       Consider getting rid of any loose carpets or loose rugs from around your home as they will cause problems for wheelchair users and may be a tripping hazard for anyone with mobility issues.

-       Move around your house and ensure there is at least an 80 centimetre path around the furniture. There should also be a 5 foot turning radius.

-       Make sure you don’t have any really low tables around the home. If you do and don’t want to get rid of furniture, you can easily attach wooden blocks to the bottom of the legs to make them an easier level for wheelchair users.

-       Check how slippery your bathroom floor is and consider installing a non-slip surface. It’s also a good idea to install some grab bars around the bathroom – you can easily get these online as well and will make a big difference in your accessible bathroom.

-       Make sure you have at least one entrance to your house that is wheelchair accessible. Because this is outside, you might need to get a professional ramp instead of the home made ones inside the house. If you do decide to install the ramp yourself, make sure you research the correct gradient first.

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August 14, 2010

Shower Seats and Their Importance

Shower seats are basically sitting devices designed for one primary purpose: to provide people a place to sit on while taking a shower. Many individuals may not actually believe that they need to have these fixtures in their bathrooms and you may probably think so, too. After all, most people are used to standing in their bathrooms while taking a quick shower. So, why should there be a need for you to accessorize with a shower seat?

Definitely, a bathroom or a shower room can do without a shower seat. However, if people will consider the safety of their bathrooms, they may realize that having one of these accessories is indeed important. The floor tiles of bathrooms are often slippery and accidents can happen. Shower seats, such as chairs, stools and benches can provide safety to people while taking a shower. These accessories can help them avoid accidental slips and falls. With a shower seat, one can sit down and enjoy taking a shower without ever having to worry about the slippery, wet floor.

Shower seats are especially beneficial to people with disabilities or those suffering from injuries.  These shower accessories are also great for families with little children and baby boomers.  With these fixtures in the shower room, children, elders, injured persons, and persons with disability do not need to spend shower time standing up. They can take a shower themselves without needing much help from their family members.

There are several different styles of shower seats. There are the shower chairs, shower stools, and shower benches. Some of these may be integrated into the bathroom as a permanent fixture right under the shower and some may be designed as retractable devices attached to walls. Some may also be portable and can be placed and taken out from one place any time when needed. All of these designs may provide people the same convenience of a shower seat but when purchasing a shower chair, you may want to make sure that it is ADA compliant or ADA approved. This will ensure that the seat is indeed safe for use in the bathroom especially by persons with disability, children, elders, and those with injuries.

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July 14, 2010

Accessible Shower Tools and Devices

We talk a lot about the kinds of accessories you’ll need for an accessible shower in your bathroom. For example, you’ll want grab bars and we offer a variety of shower pans for just about any project that you and your contractor might dream up. But, unless you’re a construction person, do you know what a “shower pan” is? Of course you have experience with them, but we don’t usually think of them in these terms on an everyday basis. Here’s a little guide to explain some background:

A shower pan is simply the floor of the shower. It directs all the water into the drain while keeping the subflooring and walls dry and rot-free. Shower pans are made of waterproof, synthetic materials like fiberglass, acrylic, etc. There are new materials on the market all the time, but you get the basic idea.

Many of the threshold-free showers need to be constructed with tile, since they are on the same level as the main floor. These do not require a shower pan (which you can think of as a liner) but are contstructed by a mason using grout and tile. This is custom work, so you can see that using a shower pan is a more economical option.

Installing a shower pan usually takes half a day plus. There is some light demolition work required—to strip out the existing pan or tile, and then plumbing skills come into play. The pan consists of the liner—the pan itself, and the drain assembly. The main part of the drain is typically a chrome-plated ring that has threads on the outside of it. Then, a nut is screwed onto it from underneather. These are your typical plumbing methods to ensure that all the water goes directly into the drainpipe. This prevents leaks that might otherwise develop around the outside of the hole in the pan. The last part is the strainer, which, if you’re observant at all, you will be quite familiar with.

We’d love to help you with your selection of a shower pan, or anything else when you’re refitting your bathroom. Get in touch!

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July 8, 2010

Five Factors for the Perfect Roll In Shower

There’s a rather big problem with showers. The problem starts with shower enclosures and how inaccessible they are for the handicapped and the elderly. As if this first problem isn’t enough, many other factors inside the shower compound the difficulty handicapped and elderly people have when they take showers. Therefore, instead of being a pleasurable experience, the shower becomes another way of wasting precious time.

We at Barrier Free understand this problem all too well, which is why we have a comprehensive list of roll in shower options. Here are five things every person must consider when buying roll in showers:

Accessibility. Before anything else, the shower should be easily accessed by a person with disability without difficulty. There should minimal difficulty from the moment the person tries to enter the roll in shower until it is done.

Ease of Installment. The idea of having to reconstruct a certain portion of the house in order to accommodate a roll in shower is inconceivable. As a matter of fact, there are many showers that can easily be installed even by the person residing in the house.

Safety. Of primary importance is how safe the roll in shower is for the people who are going to use it. If there are express dangers, then the shower should not even be considered. Buyers must keep a watchful eye on hazards that may not be readily apparent to the eye.

Value for Money. Money doesn’t grow on trees, so each penny must be spent with carefulness. In the same way, buying a roll in shower must be as least costly as possible, without compromising its quality. Getting exclusive discounts is a great privilege that can easily be obtained by a quick search.

Convenient. The roll in shower must contain everything that any regular person will need when taking a shower—from the soap dish to the reachable towels, all these must be at the convenience of the person taking a bath.

Our roll in showers can be installed directly on existing sub-floor. There will be no need to either recess the floor or make adjustments in your house. An empty space where these roll in showers can be installed is the only requirement. These roll ins can also have interior dimensions for the grab bar, soap dish, fold down seat, and a shower spray unit. This is convenience both for the elderly and the handicapped at best!

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July 2, 2010

Bathroom Accessibility: What to look for in a handicap shower

There are a lot of factors to consider when updating a bathroom for accessibility purposes. And there are even more decisions to be made that have to be constrained by budget, time, personal taste and so forth. If you’ve already made the decision to do a shower and not a bathtub, here are some things to consider.

Accessible showers are nothing new, but ageing populations as well as an emphasis on universal design have made them much more common nowadays.

It’s easier building a new home with a handicapped shower rather than having to do a remodel, but it’s still a perfectly reasonable undertaking. You will need to contact one of our contractors, or any top quality remodeling contractor with an awesome tile setter should be up to it. The biggest problem most people face is finding room–you need a roomy area to turn a wheelchair–54 inches is a minimum, and 60” square is better.

The tile showers typically have a cement mortar base just beneath the tile. It slopes to allow water to travel down to the drain, and the floor slope required is only 1/8 inch per foot. The rest of the bathroom should have a slight tilt back towards the shower stall so that the water spray will go back to the drain as well.

We also have all-in one shower pans that take some of the complicated planning out of this, but the slopes still have to be seen to before the liner goes in.

Some other things to be aware of when undertaking a shower remodel–soap dishes and accessories need to be at a comfortable height for the user. The shower faucet needs to be positioned at an appropriate height, as well as the controls for it. A handheld device is essential.

Also, without doors, water on the floor is more of a concern. Try installing two shower curtains, with weighted corners. The first shower curtain should be well within the shower area–another reason why more room is better.

Feel free to contact us for advice or assistance when planning your handicap bathroom. We’re happy to assist.

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July 1, 2010

Shower Seats: How to Choose

Shower seats make it easy for elderly and people with reduced mobility to enjoy showers independently and in full comfort. Different shower seat models cater to different needs and bathroom types. In choosing a seat, it’s important to look into features such as size and material, which play a big role in comfort.

If you want something basic, a simple shower chair may be enough. These usually come in straight-back or stool forms, and can easily be stored away afterwards. Slipping and sliding are a common risk, though, so make sure your chair comes with a good suction grip on the feet. The shower seat should also be made of a lightweight (but durable) material so you can move it out of the way when other people need to use the shower. An even better bet, however, is the wall mounted shower seat.

Wall-mounted shower chairs are less mobile and may take up more shower room, but they offer better stability. Barrier Free has a line of phenolic wall seats—they’re made of a sturdy plastic designed to withstand extreme environments—which can be installed with stainless steel brackets for added support. You can also adjust the height to suit your mobility, since it’s not mounted to the floor.

We also have a line of fold-up shower seats. These are a popular type because they don’t take up too much space and are fairly solid. It’s a semi-permanent fixture and obviously requires a bit of installation work, but once it’s in place, a folding shower seat is convenient both for the disabled user and those who share the shower with them.

Suspended shower seats are less common, but may be useful for those who want more mobility. They are usually hung from the grab bars and can be moved sideways, although the height is fixed. One advantage is that the grab bars are right on the sides, which makes getting up much easier.

Padded shower seats are a great choice for those who prefer a bit more comfort in the shower. They come in simple fold-up and shower chair versions, as well as a good range of sizes. Our padded seats are lined with a thick vinyl cushion, so they’re soft and comfortable but also made to last.

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June 25, 2010

Bathroom Accessibility: Shower Pans

In our last entry we discussed the merits of properly installing grab bars. We would like to continue along the theme of a well equipped handicapped shower and now turn our attention towards shower pans.

At Barrie Free Architecturals, we offer several types of quality shower pans and bases. Each offers its own advantages and features.

Barrier Free Shower Pans

Shower Pan Remodeler – If you are remodelling an existing bathroom, we would like to suggest our shower pan remodeler. This single piece model will is easily installed in your existing shower with a traditional threshold of 4” to 6” and allows for easily installation of shower doors.

Corner Shower Pan – Our corner shower pan is made of a high quality polyester gelcoat and does not require a mud setting.

Barrier Free Shower Pan – This fibreglass pan is available with center, right and left drainage, replaces existing bathtubs, and features a low threshold.

ADA Shower Pan – ADA Shower Pans are made of fibreglass, available as ADA transfer pans, and also available as roll in shower pans.

We also happen to be having a sale on many of our shower pan models so make sure to check out the shower pan section of our website for a complete descriptive list along with our featured sale items.

Of course, if you have read the above shower pan descriptions and are still unaware of which exact shower pan to choose then we welcome you to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Installing a grab bar in a Handicap Shower

In our earlier post this week we discussed the importance of shower seats to improve accessibility in the shower. We would like to stay on the theme of handicap showers and now turn our attention towards grab bars.

Since the point of having a grab bar is to help people stay upright and potentially avoid falls, they really need to be installed correctly and not fail when they are needed most. A proper installation is essential. Ordinary towel bars will not do because they are simply not strong enough to support the weight and torque that may be placed upon a grab bar.

Anything that needs to stay on the wall and not come off–especially grab bars–needs to be screwed into the studs. And we want our grab bar screwed into 2 studs, not just one. Studs are typically located 16 inches apart, measured from center to center. You can locate them by using a stud sensor or by using a nail (if you don’t mind patching up). But make sure you’re certain you have got them located. Then, mark your tile or other bath surround effectively using some colored tape or a dry erase marker. Determine how you want to place your bar. For example, often a grab bar is placed at an angle between two studs on the tub’s longest wall. The bottom of the bar is typically about 6 to 10 inches above the top of the tub.

Drill a 1/8 inch hole to confirm the stud location. Obviously you’ll be going through the tub surround now, so make sure you have the appropriate bit, be it for plastic (for acrylic surrounds) or glass and tile, or stone (for slate tiles). If you find the stud, keep going and drill the remaining holes. If not, locate the stud and try again. If you’ve hit the wrong place, don’t worry, the hole should get covered up by the mounting plate. If you need to enlarge the holes with a larger bit to accomodate the screws, do that at this point.

Now you’ll want to put caulking on the back of the flange and screw the bar to the wall with stainless steel pan head screws. The screws should go in to a depth of at least one inch. Two inch screws are a good rule.

Finish off the details that come with the kit, and test your bar’s strength by yanking on it. If you can feel any kind of give, you need to figure out what went wrong and rectify that. You don’t want a grab bar to fail when you need it.

Check out our great selection of grab bars, and feel free to contact us for advice or recommendations.

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