White is equally intolerant of such excuses from builders. “Sometimes, what makes a wider door look institutional is a wheelchair going through it,” she says.

Builders, of course, also worry about costs. While there is a slight premium for some UD features—primarily with regard to site grading for at least one stepless entry—accommodating UD early in the design process mitigates much of the extra expense. “It could be zero if you're already building a variety of home styles and simply make some adjustments,” says Duncan, who estimates up to a 5 percent direct-cost premium for UD.

Some UD features, in fact, might be cheaper; a 3-0 door requires less wall structure than for a 30-inch opening, says Salmen, saving more money in rough framing materials and labor than the cost of a larger, prehung door.

Consider the universal design principles and guidelines illustrated on the previous two pages—the basics that every UD-programmed house should have, plus, suggestions for features that go beyond the basics, to enhance the marketability and profit potential of new single-family homes suited for a diverse buyer demographic. “Understanding how our society is changing is the key,” says Salmen, such as aging-in-place buyers, multigeneration-al households, and echo boomers. “Not taking that into consideration is a mistake if you want the housing stock to be valuable for a long time.”

RESOURCES

The following list is only a smattering of what's available on the Internet and elsewhere regarding universal design and its application in single-family housing, but all are excellent places from which to start:

  • Center for Universal Design, Raleigh, N.C.; www.design.ncsu.edu:8120/cud/index.htm
  • Universal Design Demonstration and Research Facility, Manhattan, Kan.; www .k-state.edu/humec/atid/UDF/index.htm
  • Universal Designers & Consultants, Takoma Park, Md.; www.universaldesign.com
  • NAHB Research Center LifeWise Home project and Directory of Accessible Building Products (2006 ed.); Bowie, Md., www.nahbrc.org
  • Steven Winter Associates and Accessible Housing by Design: Universal Design Principles in Practice (1997); www.swinter.com
    • EVERYBODY LOVES UD

    Think universal design is ugly? Institutional? Obvious? Tell that to the manufacturers of these products, who consciously or not have given style and popularity to the concept of accessibility:

    BD060801162L1.jpgCLICK HERE FOR IMAGE GALLERY

    BD060801162L1.jpgCLICK HERE FOR IMAGE GALLERY

    BATH BENEFITSA 5-foot, square roll-in shower, complete with a warped threshold entry and a handheld shower fitting on a slide-bar mount, is a luxurious, multi-functional upgrade. If the plan or price point demands a tub/shower combination, leave adequate maneuvering space beside the tub and offset the controls and spout to the outside edge of the wall and deck. Rough-in blocking for grab bars that can support 250 pounds of force in any direction. Beyond the basics: Pocket or outswing door with swing-away hinges and adequate floor clearance on handle side in the hallway; pedestal sink or open vanity and single-control lever faucet; anti-scald valves.

    BATH BENEFITSA 5-foot, square roll-in shower, complete with a warped threshold entry and a handheld shower fitting on a slide-bar mount, is a luxurious, multi-functional upgrade. If the plan or price point demands a tub/shower combination, leave adequate maneuvering space beside the tub and offset the controls and spout to the outside edge of the wall and deck. Rough-in blocking for grab bars that can support 250 pounds of force in any direction. Beyond the basics: Pocket or outswing door with swing-away hinges and adequate floor clearance on handle side in the hallway; pedestal sink or open vanity and single-control lever faucet; anti-scald valves.

    KITCHEN TRICKSThe minimum clear space for a wheelchair is 5 feet, but some house plans can't accommodate such spaciousness. So enlarge only the toe space of the cabinets (6 inches to 9 inches high) to accommodate the minimum clear space without changing the distance between the cabinet fronts and tops. Also, overlap maneuvering spaces to limit the need for a larger kitchen plan. Finally, consider varying countertop heights. No one standard suits all, and it's a boring look besides. Lower and higher tops, in fact, might benefit certain food prep, eating, and/or serving tasks. Beyond the basics: Full-extension drawers and pull-out shelves; wall oven with one rack even with the countertop; side-by-side refrigerator with door-mounted ice and water dispenser and/or refrigerator drawers; appliances with front-mounted controls; rolling cart set within the base cabinet run; single-control faucet; built-in desk with knee space; glare-free task lighting; D-shaped cabinet pulls and/or touch-latches; modular pantry storage (a good idea for all closets and the garage too; also, it's space-efficient).

    KITCHEN TRICKSThe minimum clear space for a wheelchair is 5 feet, but some house plans can't accommodate such spaciousness. So enlarge only the toe space of the cabinets (6 inches to 9 inches high) to accommodate the minimum clear space without changing the distance between the cabinet fronts and tops. Also, overlap maneuvering spaces to limit the need for a larger kitchen plan. Finally, consider varying countertop heights. No one standard suits all, and it's a boring look besides. Lower and higher tops, in fact, might benefit certain food prep, eating, and/or serving tasks. Beyond the basics: Full-extension drawers and pull-out shelves; wall oven with one rack even with the countertop; side-by-side refrigerator with door-mounted ice and water dispenser and/or refrigerator drawers; appliances with front-mounted controls; rolling cart set within the base cabinet run; single-control faucet; built-in desk with knee space; glare-free task lighting; D-shaped cabinet pulls and/or touch-latches; modular pantry storage (a good idea for all closets and the garage too; also, it's space-efficient).

    GOOD GRADESMake at least one entrance (not necessarily the front entry) at grade with a garage, carport, driveway, or sidewalk, which not only accommodates people with disabilities but also is more convenient and safer for everyone. On sloping lots, look for opportunities and options to either grade the parcel or place the footprint to allow an at-grade entrance. (Hint: The uphill side of the house will best enable the stepless entry.) Earth-filled approaches or slightly sloping walks to the entry also require no handrails, lowering costs. Beyond the basics: Covered entry for climate shelter and enhanced lighting; full-length sidelites or lowered/twin peepholes for security; at least a 3-0 door; lever-handled hardware; 12-inch to 16-inch kickplate on push side of doors; flush thresholds.

    GOOD GRADESMake at least one entrance (not necessarily the front entry) at grade with a garage, carport, driveway, or sidewalk, which not only accommodates people with disabilities but also is more convenient and safer for everyone. On sloping lots, look for opportunities and options to either grade the parcel or place the footprint to allow an at-grade entrance. (Hint: The uphill side of the house will best enable the stepless entry.) Earth-filled approaches or slightly sloping walks to the entry also require no handrails, lowering costs. Beyond the basics: Covered entry for climate shelter and enhanced lighting; full-length sidelites or lowered/twin peepholes for security; at least a 3-0 door; lever-handled hardware; 12-inch to 16-inch kickplate on push side of doors; flush thresholds.

    SINGLE-LEVEL LIVINGPut all key functions, including a bedroom (ideally a suite) and laundry, on the main or accessible level. An alternative might be to design a plan in which the dining room or parlor can be easily and logically converted to a bedroom, if necessary. Then again, main-level master and/or home office suites, complete with private baths or a shared bath, are mainstream already. Beyond the basics: Hallways should be a minimum 42 inches wide, and doorways and passages should be a minimum 2 feet 10 inches wide, with a minimum 18-inch clear floor area on the handle side; swing-away hinges or pocket doors to increase clear space through openings; lever-handled hardware; 12-inch to 16-inch kickplate on push side of doors; flush thresholds; contrast the floor and wall finishes, as well as finishes on the wall (switchplates, etc.); focus on task lighting instead of general ambient lighting schemes.

    SINGLE-LEVEL LIVINGPut all key functions, including a bedroom (ideally a suite) and laundry, on the main or accessible level. An alternative might be to design a plan in which the dining room or parlor can be easily and logically converted to a bedroom, if necessary. Then again, main-level master and/or home office suites, complete with private baths or a shared bath, are mainstream already. Beyond the basics: Hallways should be a minimum 42 inches wide, and doorways and passages should be a minimum 2 feet 10 inches wide, with a minimum 18-inch clear floor area on the handle side; swing-away hinges or pocket doors to increase clear space through openings; lever-handled hardware; 12-inch to 16-inch kickplate on push side of doors; flush thresholds; contrast the floor and wall finishes, as well as finishes on the wall (switchplates, etc.); focus on task lighting instead of general ambient lighting schemes.

    BEST OF THE REST: Full-extension cabinet drawers and/or roll-out shelves; kitchen range/cooktops with front-mounted controls; D-shaped cabinet pulls; side-by-side refrigerators; adjustable/modular garage or closet storage systems; and engineered hardwood flooring or wood-look laminate flooring.

    BEST OF THE REST: Full-extension cabinet drawers and/or roll-out shelves; kitchen range/cooktops with front-mounted controls; D-shaped cabinet pulls; side-by-side refrigerators; adjustable/modular garage or closet storage systems; and engineered hardwood flooring or wood-look laminate flooring.