When a longtime Capitol Hill homeowner was diagnosed with Parkinson's, he and his wife began looking at how their home could better accommodate his changing mobility.
Their existing bathroom had a separate shower and soaking tub, but stepping over the shower curb and getting into the tub had become increasingly difficult. We initially explored whether grab bars alone could solve the problem. When it became clear they couldn't, the homeowners decided to remodel the bathing area while preserving the existing vanity, toilet, sink, and much of the tile floor to help control costs.
The solution included a barrier-free shower and a walk-in bathtub with an outward-swinging door. The outward-swing design provides easier access and also considers the possibility that he may eventually need to transfer from a wheelchair.
As often happens in remodeling, demolition revealed a surprise. We had hoped to eliminate an existing bump-out in the shower, but discovered plumbing and a vent pipe inside that would have been expensive and disruptive to relocate. Instead, we turned the obstacle into an opportunity and added a beautiful, functional shower niche.
Matching new finishes to an existing bathroom was another challenge. Without doing a complete remodel or bringing in one of our designers, we worked with the homeowners to find a tile with enough color variation to complement both their existing floor and the glass tile around the vanity.
Accessibility extended outside the bathroom as well. Because Parkinson's was affecting the homeowner's depth perception, we added contrasting yellow markings to the concrete stair nosings to help him distinguish each step. We also made the front steps more secure and added a railing.
And because we're a full-service remodeling and home repair company, a few other items were added along the way: closing an opening in the enclosed deck that was letting a squirrel visit the cats, repairing rot near the chimney, replacing deteriorated window trim, and handling a dryer vent.
Speaking of the cats, Buster spent half the project hiding before deciding one of our carpenters was his new best friend. Emily was more interested in testing our jobsite containment skills and became quite the escape artist. When she disappeared one day, we eventually found her sitting on top of the dryer in the basement.
By the end of the project, the homeowners were thrilled with their new bathroom and excited to begin using the walk-in tub. They later left reviews mentioning several of our carpenters by name—something we celebrate at our weekly company meetings with a $20 "Atta Boy" for each client-recognized employee.
For us, this project meant more than remodeling a bathroom. It was about helping a longtime homeowner adapt the home they love so it can continue working for them as their needs change.
This project is a big part of what we mean when we say we want to be your contractor for life.
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