Ken:
The contractor is working on modifications now, & we
hope to start moving next month.
(To recap, because of an ecological restoration/flood
control project, we were forced to sell our home to
the City. The good side is that, by Federal law,
they are required to replace it with a house
accessible to the owner. I hired an ADA consultant
who, fortunately for me, was far-seeing; he wrote an
evaluation to not only cover me as a crutch user but
as a future wheelchairer. We found a 15-year-old
house that the consultant thought would work. I
presented the house, the report, & contractor bids to
the City & they agreed.)
The door opener (& closer - very important!)is an
"Open Sesame" system IV, runs about $1650 +
installation, with a wireless remote. Combined with
an X-10 (SmartHome) "DOORBELL FON DOOR ANSWERING
SYSTEM" ($155-225 + inst. - & I'm paying for that toy)
should enable me to answer the doorbell on my phone,
talk to the visitor, & open the door to let them in -
all from my study or anywhere else in the house.
Add a wireless camera with the receiver plugged in to
the AUX port of my TV, & I can look the visitor over
also.
OK, so that's my toy. But modifications will include
a roll-in shower, wall-hanger ('handicap') sink,
reinforced hooks in the bedroom ceiling (hey, I can
imagine....), ramped sidewalk & patio, wheelchair
thresholds on exterior doors, of course wider interior
doors, kitchen faucet controls beside the sink, & a
bunch of little things like light switch extenders
(too costly to lower switches, repaint, etc.), remote
control thermostat, & a wireless transmitter in the
curbside mailbox to signal me when the door is opened.
My advice: plan ahead, read articles, save catalogs &
clippings, & plan some more. Even tho I've been
thinking about this for a year, I still see things I
missed.
And when you take bids, make contractors either
specify the model # they're going to use (e.g. Crane
#nnnn toilet) or the dollar allowance (e.g. $2 @ for
bathroom tile).
I'm no expert, but I'm learning from experience -and
lucky to have a sharp consultant & an innovative
contractor, so ask if you have questions.
BOB
_______________________________________
On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 Ken Barber replied:
I AM READING THIS THREAD closely, i had not thought
of this. in retirement(when we leave atlanta) judy and
i will need to build or modify to be assessable.
there are probably other things that i need to know to
put them in, before the need becomes painfully obvious
as i grow older.
--- c p <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks, but I have lit. from 4 manufacturers. I'm
> looking for input based on experience, even 2nd or
> 3rd
> hand. (e.g. my ADA consultant pointed out that in
> my
> case a door CLOSER would be more important than an
> OPENER.)
>
> BTW: I've been to Boulvard before - this time there
> is only a "For Sale" sign.
>
> Thanks,
> BOB
>
>
>
> > >bob, TRY WWW.BOULEVARD.COM
> > >lots of sellers there and one is bound to have a
> > door opener.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Tamar Magenta Raine
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >Oakland Mayor's Commission on People with
> > disabilities
> > >
> > >
> > > > [Original Message]
> > > > From: c p <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > Date: 1/30/2004 7:32:18 AM
> > > > Subject: Automatic Door Openers
> > > >
> > > > Having some modifications done before I move
> > into a
> > > > new home. One of the things I want is a
> > > > remote-controlled opener (AND CLOSER) for the
> > front
> > > > door.
> > > >
> > > > Anybody with experience, please jump in.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > BOB
> > > >
> >
> >
>
>
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