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Age in place

A home that still works with a cane, a walker or a wheelchair: wider doors, no steps, blocking for grab bars, a curbless shower, and controls you can reach. Cheap to plan in, expensive to retrofit.

02

Before framing

Room sizes, openings, stairs, ceiling heights and anything structural. Cheap on paper, expensive once the walls are up.

6 cards

Curbless shower

Drainage, floor slope and traps
  • no step into the shower
  • floor recessed or built up
  • best for aging in place

Door

Bathroom dimensions you should know
  • 32″ door, more for accessibility
  • swing clear of fixtures
  • outward or pocket doors help small rooms

Curbless

Shower bases and systems

In the full fieldbook

Widths

Door details

In the full fieldbook

Pocket

Interior doors

In the full fieldbook

3 · Usable doors

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

03

Before rough-in

Where pipes, wires, ducts and boxes go, before the inspector signs off on them.

7 cards

Linear drain

Drainage, floor slope and traps
  • one-way slope, so large tiles work
  • clean modern look
  • good for curbless showers

Stair lighting

Halls, lighting and power
  • light the whole flight
  • switches at top and bottom
  • no glare in the eyes going down

Step lights

Halls, lighting and power
  • low LED step lights
  • great as night lights

Thermostatic valve

Shower bases and systems

In the full fieldbook

Switches

Outlet and switch ideas

In the full fieldbook

Lighting

Smart home

In the full fieldbook

Locks + security

Smart home

In the full fieldbook

04

Before drywall

Blocking, insulation, fire blocking and anything else that lives inside the walls.

4 cards

Grab bars

Shower areas and fittings
  • install blocking now, bars later
  • rated to carry body weight
  • 33–36″ high is typical

Bathroom

Blocking: plan what hangs

In the full fieldbook

Stairs + safety

Blocking: plan what hangs

In the full fieldbook

6 · Grab-bar walls

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

06

Throughout the job

Choices and checks that aren’t tied to one stage. Settle them early, or check them as the work goes.

25 cards

Counter height

Kitchen dimensions: a useful guide
  • 36″ standard
  • adjust ±1–2″ for the main cook
  • a lower 30–32″ baking section is a luxury

Aisle

Kitchen dimensions: a useful guide
  • 42″ for one cook
  • 48″ for two cooks
  • 36″ for a walkway (NKBA)

Hand shower

Shower areas and fittings
  • flexible, great for cleaning
  • helps kids and older users
  • on a slide bar or holder

Bench

Shower areas and fittings
  • 17–19″ high, about 15″ deep
  • slope the top to drain
  • great for shaving and aging in place

Movement space

Bathroom dimensions you should know
  • 30″ clear at each fixture
  • 60″ circle for a wheelchair

Threshold

Doors and landings

In the full fieldbook

Landings

Doors and landings

In the full fieldbook

Hardware

Doors and landings

In the full fieldbook

Handrail height

Handrails and guards
  • 34–38″ above the nosing line
  • on at least one side with 4+ risers

Grip

Handrails and guards
  • round: 1¼–2″ diameter
  • shaped: 4–6¼″ perimeter
  • 1½″ clear of the wall

Continuity

Handrails and guards
  • full length of the flight
  • ends return to the wall or a post

Guard height

Handrails and guards
  • 36″ at landings and floors
  • 34″ along the stair
  • where the drop is over 30″

Guard openings

Handrails and guards
  • 4″ sphere can't pass
  • 4⅜″ on the open sides of a stair
  • 6″ at the stair triangle

Materials

Handrails and guards
  • wood, metal, glass or cable
  • cable must stay tight enough to pass the 4″ test

Accessible (ADA)

Toilet dimensions you should know

In the full fieldbook

Seat height

Toilet dimensions you should know

In the full fieldbook

Standard vs comfort height

Which toilet works for you?

In the full fieldbook

Thermostats + sensors

Smart home

In the full fieldbook

Smoke + CO alarms

Smart home

In the full fieldbook

1 · Accessible entrance

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

2 · Common areas

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

4 · Route through the unit

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

5 · Controls

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

7 · Usable kitchens + baths

The seven Fair Housing design rules

In the full fieldbook

Safety

Upgrades worth deciding early

In the full fieldbook

Kitchen, Bathroom and Stairs are open to everyone. The rest are in the full fieldbook.

Get the full fieldbook