What Are The Best Floors For A Wheelchair In The Home?
Remodeling to make your home safe and secure for all the people in the house? If you have a person
who is confined to a wheelchair, it is all the more important to choose wisely. Disability might be a
challenge, but it does not need to be a deal breaker, especially if remodeling the house is on your
agenda. During the remodeling phase, you should keep the following thoughts in mind, especially when
the house flooring has to be wheelchair friendly.
1) High transitions which will vary from room to room
2) Slippery floor surfaces
3) Loose carpeting
4) The durability of the floor’s surface
Hardwood flooring: Solid oak flooring and even engineered oak flooring are great options for people
who want to make good use of hardwood flooring. Not only are these floors durable, resilient and
attractive, but they are also ADA compliant. If hardwood is the option being considered, then it’s
important to choose a durable wood variety. Wooden floors made out of pine or fir can dent easily, and
should not be considered as a flooring option. Some of the good options include oak flooring, maple as
well as hickory, as these floors can easily sustain the bumps and scratches of wheelchair traffic.
Ceramic tiles: Ceramic tiles might be an excellent option for people looking to decorate the house’s
flooring with excellent flooring options. However, tiles can be slippery, and large tiles can easily break
under the pressure of a wheelchair. If tiles are a preferred option, then you should choose smaller tiles,
which are around 2 inches long and two inches wide. This will ensure the tiles are durable and there will
be no grout issues while scuffing and cleaning.
Vinyl: Another compatible flooring option is vinyl, which is less expensive and even easier to install. Vinyl
can be replaced after a while since it is not that expensive to replace. However, during the installation
phase, do make sure that the vinyl surface is not slippery, as it can cause the wheelchair to lose balance.
Avoid using luxury vinyl, as they provide more cushion and might prove to be expensive during the
replacement stage.
Carpeted flooring: Thin carpeting is slip resistant; thick carpeting should be avoided, as it does not
facilitate easy movement of the wheelchair. While using carpeted flooring, make sure the pile length is
no more than ½ inch. The shorter pile will make the wheelchair propelling easier and faster. Make sure the
pile is attached firmly to the subfloor, in order to avoid slipping. If the pile is not attached properly,
chances are ripples can be formed, which will definitely cause problems during the wheelchair
movement.
Stone flooring: Stone is yet another option which can be used as a flooring option in such a scenario.
However, a stone is an expensive flooring option, which can’t be replaced that easily, especially when
there are scratches and breaches on it after a period of time. In order to be light on your pocket, it is
best to choose from the options listed above, for best results.
