When you think of home remodeling, you probably think of extending a room or changing cabinets in a kitchen or modernizing an older home. Yet there is a whole new market of people needing home renovations – the elderly.

Renovations for the Elderly:

According to a recent CNN report, home renovations for the elderly are on the rise. These types of renovations are the fastest-growing segment of the remodeling industry, said James Lapides of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB’s recent study concluded that 75 percent of remodeling companies have seen an increase in requests for so-called “aging-in-place” work.

The “Certified Aging in Place” Specialist program, offered by the NAHB Remodelers Council to teach professionals how to modify homes for older adults, has increased in enrollment, according to Lapides. Representatives of NAHB and the AARP created the program in 2002. Over 1,000 participants have learned building techniques and structural awareness for accommodating physical needs. (CNN, “Builders: Home Renovations for Elderly on the Rise”, by Grace Wong)

Statistics Show Elderly Want to Stay in Their Homes:

According to the AARP, 83% of people over 45 own their own homes. A 2003 AARP survey, “These Four Walls,” sampled this group and found that 75% expect to stay there for the rest of their lives. 51% envision making changes so that can happen.

In addition, The National Association of Home Builders conducted a survey of remodelers and learned that:

• 75% reported getting more requests for “aging in place” projects

• 60% had done “aging in place” projects. Of those:

• 43% were for customers aged 45 to 54

• 76% were for customers aged 55 to 64

• 67% were for customers 65 and older

Remodelers reported that clients wanted aging-in-place remodeling because:

• 75% were planning for future needs

• 53% were living with older parents

• 46% had acute, age-related disabilities

• 23% had acute disabilities unrelated to aging

(realestate.msn.com, “Elegant Remodels Allow ‘Aging in Place’”, by Marilyn Lewis)

A Remodeling Project:

Some families are bringing older relatives to live with them and extending a part of the house to accommodate that change. Others are making modifications for physical reasons, such as widening doorways for wheelchairs, lowering bathtub walls and adding support bars. Other modifications simply include updating an older home because of wear and tear. However, the going trend is to do it all with style.

An example of an accommodating remodeling project occurred in a California backyard. A playhouse was rebuilt to become a livable apartment for one family’s 70 year-old father with Paget’s disease. Building aspects of the apartment include a walk-in shower with no obstructing ledge at the entrance, two-inch-square commercial nonskid tile, lever handles instead of doorknobs and an anti-scald device to keep water temperature even. (realestate.msn.com, “Elegant Remodels Allow ‘Aging in Place’”, by Marilyn Lewis)

Suggestions for Remodeling:

If you are contemplating a remodeling project, keep the future in mind. You can make simple changes now for what may be needed many years in the future. Sam Clark, a builder and author of “The Real Goods Independent Builder: Designing & Building a House Your Own Way” and “Remodeling a Kitchen”, provides the following suggestions for changes to make to your home to accommodate the physical bodily changes that occur over time:

• Remodel your home so that you can live on the ground level if necessary.

• Widen doorways to accommodate wheelchairs.

• Plan the front entry to be as level with the ground as local building codes allow. Eliminate stairs with sloping sidewalks.

• Try to think way ahead. For example, in a bathroom remodel, install reinforcement for grab bars.

• Plan for a lot of storage within the “optimal reach zone” – the space between 20 inches and 44 inches above the floor to a depth of 20 inches away from your body.

• Use drawers instead of cupboards where possible.

• Install lever handles throughout the house.

• Use hard flooring or choose an attractive, low-pile commercial carpet.

• Place electric outlets higher than usual and switches lower.

• Install a shelf outside the front door so you can put down packages while searching for keys.

Additional tips from the Home Remodelers in New Jersey (www.homeremodelersgroup.com) further suggests vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is made to look like real wood and it never needs painting, preventing any hazardous maintenance or painting. Vinyl windows are also suggested; they are easy to clean and energy efficient.

For additional remodeling articles, visit http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/?source=articles



By: Home Remodelers Group

About the Author:

Bathroom remodeling is considered as one of the spectrum services offered by the Vista remodeling. Vista remodeling is a remodeling company well known in the Denver area for its renovation and repair works done for the betterment of the residential environment. The Company Vista Remodeling is popular for its professionalism in the work and maintenance of a team of expertise workers. Large or for a small project the workers of vista remodeling show their same attitude and efforts.

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Bathroom remodeling is done with the intention for serving for a number of years. Hence arriving at the designs that lasts for longer years is really difficult. But the bathroom remodeling designs offered by Vista are really challenging and they are unique from one design to another. Bathroom remodeling services are done by this company with the motive of easy maintenance by the people and the materials used for the construction provide longer durable life.

The professionals in the Vista remodeling company guide the customers with the quality materials that are available for lower cost price and provide durability for the purpose of bathroom remodeling. The professionals also from separate projects for the bathroom remodeling services and make the dream come alive in the life. Vista remodeling offers free consultation charges and free estimates of expenditures to the customers for the bathroom remodeling services. Such activities have earned a big name for the Vista remodeling for the services offered by them in the Denver area.

Vista remodeling had its existence in the field of remodeling during the year 1999 and it has earned a great experience in the renovation of bathroom remodeling for more than fifteen years. Some of the bathroom remodeling services is fixation of tiles, shower doors, installation of bath tubs and full construction of bathroom remodeling as per the specifications of the customers. Though Vista remodeling is a big company it undertakes the work of bathroom remodeling from minor repairs to a major custom made project.

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Bathroom remodeling services can be done with Vista remodeling located at Denver and the professional of the company can be contacted for a free consultation. Vista provides the future bathroom remodeling of your dream home.



By: Vista Remodeling

About the Author:

Are you one of the many homeowners in the United States who would like to have your bathroom remodeled? If so, how you do plan on paying for it? Unfortunately, a large number of homeowners would like to have their bathrooms remodeled, but not everyone thinks that they can do so. The good news is that you can easily remodel your bathroom, even if you on a budget.

When it comes to bathroom accessories and remodeling on a budget, perhaps, the first thing you should do is develop yourself a budget and then a plan. You will want to know exactly how much money you can afford to spend on your next remodeling project. Once you know how much you can spend, you are advised to start the planning. For instance, if you need to hire the services of a professional contractor, you need to keep the cost of doing so in mind. Also, if you would like to have your bathroom toilet replaced, you will need to examine the cost of new, replacement toilets and so on. Once you have got everything planned out, you need to total the costs. If you are lucky, you will find yourself within your budget, but if not, you may just need to make a few changes.

One of the many ways that you can accessorize remodel your bathroom while on a budget is by taking everything one step at a time. If you are interested in remodeling every square inch of your bathroom, but you can not necessarily afford to do so right now, you may want to go one project at a time. By choosing what you would like to have remodeled first, such as your bathtub, you could do that and then move on the next project, when it easier to afford the supplies and the materials needed. Speaking of accessories, supplies and materials, where you shop may also have an impact on being able to afford a bathroom remodeling project.

If you are looking to remodel your bathroom on a budget, you will want to shop around for the best prices on bathroom supplies, fixtures, and materials. Perhaps, the easiest way to compare prices is to use the internet. With a few minutes and the click of a mouse you could easily find exactly what you need for your next kitchen remodeling project, but at a relatively affordable price. It is also advised that you checkout your local home improvement stores, particularly ones that are known for having good prices. It may also be a good idea to keep an eye out for any television commercials or store fliers that advertise sales on bathroom accessories, supplies, and remodeling materials. Purchasing all of your bathroom remodeling supplies at a discounted price is the best way to remodel your bathroom while on a budget.

As previously mentioned, if you are planning on using a professional contractor to remodel your bathroom, you will need to keep the cost of doing so. If you are remodeling your kitchen on a budget, it may be a good idea to do the remodeling yourself. This may be easy if you have prior home improvement experience. If you do not have any home improvement experience, you can easily learn what you need to know. Online, you should be able to find instructions and tips on bathroom remodeling. Also, you can purchase bathroom remodeling books or how-to guides online or from most home improvement stores or bookstores.

If you want to have your bathroom remodeled, but you do not want to spend more money that you have to or more money than you have, you are advised to keep the above mentioned points in mind. Although it is typically expensive to remodel a bathroom, it is possible to do so while on a budget. In fact, even if you are not remodeling on a budget, it may still be a good idea to keep the above mentioned points in mind. Why pay more money for a bathroom remodeling project than you need to?



By: Pj Germain

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