ADA Compliance - What it means to YOU!

Stearns Custom Homes builds every home to be ADA  compliant. This is important, and you may not even know what it is or why…

First off, what is “ADA compliance?” Well, ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act. This civil rights legislation was enacted in 1990, and among other non-discriminatory policies it outlined, it contains a set of standards for construction of commercial buildings to ensure that they are accessible and usable by people with handicaps. These standards were never extended to residential new construction and remodels, but that hasn’t stopped Stearns Custom Homes from adopting those standards in all of their construction.

Here are a few of the ADA standards that you will find in every Stearns Custom Home:

1. All hallways are a minimum of 3 feet wide to facilitate the passage of wheelchairs.
   
2. All light switches are located 1 foot lower to be more accessible to those who are disabled.
   
3. There are no steps at any entry ways or in the garage areas which would be impassible to wheelchairs. Likewise, all dedicated showers have minimal lips at their entries.
   
4.  All bathrooms and kitchens have the minimum required turning radiuses in the open.

There are certain features of ADA compliance that you will not find in a Stearns Custom Home, most notably the absence of a rail beside the toilet. However, Stearns Custom Homes pre-plans for this eventuality by adding structural backing behind the sheetrock in the walls so that the addition of the rails is an easy undertaking at a future date without costly remodel work.

So, what does this mean to you as a member of Stearns Custom Homes’ family? Well, there are many advantages, a few of which are:

1. As much as we may not like the idea, none of us are getting younger. If your next home is the one that you plan on staying in for the long run, you have to look at the possibility that sometime in the future, you may require easier access. It is better to have everything in place now than have to invest in a costly remodel later.
   
2. ADA compliant homes are easier, and SAFER, for children. There are fewer obstacles to create the potential for tripping. The light switches are more accessible, preventing the little ones from having to venture about in the dark. And, with wider hallways and larger living spaces, beginning toddlers have much more room to learn those first few steps.
   
3. You want your home to be an inviting place to visit. If you are or become friends with someone with a handicap, they will find your home to be a more pleasant place to visit and socialize.
   
4. Resale value and curb appeal will be enhanced by opening up a whole new segment of potential home buyers. When the time comes to move due to your new promotion and relocation, or if it is time to have Stearns Custom Homes build you a bigger home, you will have a leg up on others trying to sell their houses because people with handicaps will be able to move right in without the added expense of an ADA remodel.
   
5. With the ever increasing life expectancy in the United States, there may be a time when your parents come to live with you. They will really enjoy the fact that you thought enough ahead to make your home more welcoming.
   
6. Your new home will “feel” roomier and more luxurious through ADA compatibility. Every space and hallway will have more “elbow room” and an exceptional “airy” feel. The living areas are more comfortable and inviting than those built with conventional construction.

Are there any downsides to ADA compatibility? Well, certainly. After all, there are no free lunches! You will have to learn to reach in the dark to a different height to “flip on the lights.” And, that’s about it! With the increased livability, and the overall luxury of a Stearns Custom Home, that will go away in a couple of days and you will be thrilled with the whole experience of a owning a Stearns Custom Home!

In short, ADA compatibility may not be something that you are thinking about now, but it makes a ton of sense and truly enhances the home experience. Best of all, it costs nothing more to incorporate into construction. But, when ADA compliance is a factor, experience counts. Stearns Custom Homes knows how to build with these features as standard. Stearns Custom Homes knows how to maximize design to ADA standards. And, most importantly, Stearns Custom Homes has the experience to do it right.