REMODELING AND THE ADA
I love designing houses. Of course, my talents have mostly been expressed on graph paper and the computer. I did get to design our initial retirement cottage in Texas. The contractor thought he knew better than I did and changed up my plans while I was at work. Bless his heart. When we moved to Georgia and gutted an older home, we were blessed to have a contractor who respected my drawings and opinions.
Like any home remodel, there are always woulda, coulda, shoulda issues I failed to consider. We figured this would be our last house, so we picked one that only had a few steps up. As I haul myself up on creaky, torn up knees, I think maybe we should have purchased a total one level or included ramps in our renovation. As we haul Mama up the automotive ramps we have set in place, with Ronald a pushin’ and me a pullin’, I am sure we may consider another upgrade. Soon!
And bless my heart! I designed the master bedroom and bath with extra wide doorways. I failed to realize that ALL the doors needed to be that same width. OR WIDER! Even though ADA standards say doorways should be at least 32”, they don’t figure on a person like me driving her mama in a wheelchair! We won’t go into my driving challenges, but let’s say Mama is always REALLY careful to pull in her elbows and make sure her toes are well behind the metal edge of the wheelchair footrest. The trim has been getting a nice metallic detailing along both sides of the bathroom doorway. Only a few inches of the actual door sport that look. And the dining table. And the dresser.
Ronald is planning on painting again next week.
Blessings
Kara Beth
It’s great to know that Mama will someday enter the door to heaven without worrying about her elbows, and I will be right behind, tripping my way through! Seriously, in speaking to the church in Philadelphia, God wrote in Revelation 3, “I know your deeds … you have kept My Word and have not denied My name.” May we all be faithful and be able to pass through the open door to eternity that He has provided.
