S
Stadtpflanze2 Nov 2013 18:16Hello,
we are still at the very beginning of the planning phase. Nothing is decided 100% yet.
My question concerns the significant detail of accessibility. Due to a chronic leg injury, I will need to live in a more or less barrier-free home sooner rather than later. (Life happens while you’re busy making other plans, as they say.) We currently live on the 5th floor without an elevator. Stairs are and will be the biggest problem for me. Hopefully, I will be able to walk on level ground for a long time to come, even if later with an artificial joint and then with a prosthesis – if all goes well!
Are there any funding opportunities for an accessible new build? If so, what documents need to be submitted? Is it just the construction/planning itself or also a disability ID card with a severe disability mark?
What are the additional costs or considerations?
At first, it’s mainly about having no or as few stairs as possible. But since we’re at it, we want to build in a way that allows us to live there comfortably into old age – wheelchair accessible. Is that possible with a KfW-70 house? Would two full stories with the option to install an elevator later be more sensible, or go straight for a bungalow? I don’t want to use the basement for laundry at all, because that means stairs, which will be the first thing I won’t be able to manage anymore. I’ve already had a phase where stairs caused me problems here. At the moment, I have no problems, but that won’t last forever.
If I hardly want to use the basement, it would only be for the building services. Is it worth having a basement for that, or is it necessary? Ultimately, not building a basement would probably save a considerable amount of money.
we are still at the very beginning of the planning phase. Nothing is decided 100% yet.
My question concerns the significant detail of accessibility. Due to a chronic leg injury, I will need to live in a more or less barrier-free home sooner rather than later. (Life happens while you’re busy making other plans, as they say.) We currently live on the 5th floor without an elevator. Stairs are and will be the biggest problem for me. Hopefully, I will be able to walk on level ground for a long time to come, even if later with an artificial joint and then with a prosthesis – if all goes well!
Are there any funding opportunities for an accessible new build? If so, what documents need to be submitted? Is it just the construction/planning itself or also a disability ID card with a severe disability mark?
What are the additional costs or considerations?
At first, it’s mainly about having no or as few stairs as possible. But since we’re at it, we want to build in a way that allows us to live there comfortably into old age – wheelchair accessible. Is that possible with a KfW-70 house? Would two full stories with the option to install an elevator later be more sensible, or go straight for a bungalow? I don’t want to use the basement for laundry at all, because that means stairs, which will be the first thing I won’t be able to manage anymore. I’ve already had a phase where stairs caused me problems here. At the moment, I have no problems, but that won’t last forever.
If I hardly want to use the basement, it would only be for the building services. Is it worth having a basement for that, or is it necessary? Ultimately, not building a basement would probably save a considerable amount of money.
Basement:
Building underground is always the most expensive way to construct.
Plan for a sufficiently large utility room that can accommodate all the technical equipment, washing machine, dryer, and various drying racks, while still allowing enough space to move around. This room will be quite large (possibly 15 m² (160 ft²)), but still cheaper than a basement.
We even have two utility rooms: one on the ground floor for technical equipment and as a pantry next to the kitchen, and one on the upper floor for laundry (the laundry is done where it is created).
Building underground is always the most expensive way to construct.
Plan for a sufficiently large utility room that can accommodate all the technical equipment, washing machine, dryer, and various drying racks, while still allowing enough space to move around. This room will be quite large (possibly 15 m² (160 ft²)), but still cheaper than a basement.
We even have two utility rooms: one on the ground floor for technical equipment and as a pantry next to the kitchen, and one on the upper floor for laundry (the laundry is done where it is created).
S
Stadtpflanze2 Nov 2013 18:48Good point, thanks!
Having the technical rooms downstairs and laundry upstairs sounds good. Although, if you already own a plot, you might also want to dry clothes outside in the garden. However, I probably have to make some compromises. We are still very inexperienced and want to first explore whether building a house really makes sense for us financially and practically.
To be honest, I’m not clear about the purpose of the basement. From what I’ve heard, it seems to be part of a fully functional house for many people. Sure, it saves lot area. But the costs seem to increase significantly because of it.
Having the technical rooms downstairs and laundry upstairs sounds good. Although, if you already own a plot, you might also want to dry clothes outside in the garden. However, I probably have to make some compromises. We are still very inexperienced and want to first explore whether building a house really makes sense for us financially and practically.
To be honest, I’m not clear about the purpose of the basement. From what I’ve heard, it seems to be part of a fully functional house for many people. Sure, it saves lot area. But the costs seem to increase significantly because of it.
T
toxicmolotof2 Nov 2013 19:21It would be helpful to know which state you plan to build in, or did I miss that? If Berlin is correct, I have no idea whether there are any regional funding programs available.
Do you have a registered/official disability or something similar? In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), there are regional subsidies offered under favorable conditions for this.
As far as I know, the KfW does not have any programs specifically for new builds. However, if you want to buy an existing property and then renovate it to be barrier-free, you should check out KfW program 159.
I live on the third floor of a multi-family building and keep my washing machine in the basement, but even a two-story house with a basement doesn’t make things much easier. You will still regularly face two flights of stairs. If you don’t want to plan or install an elevator or stairlift right away, your wish sounds like a bungalow with a large (very large) basement alternative—one utility room, one pantry, and ideally a parking space or a large garage somewhere.
Do you have a registered/official disability or something similar? In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), there are regional subsidies offered under favorable conditions for this.
As far as I know, the KfW does not have any programs specifically for new builds. However, if you want to buy an existing property and then renovate it to be barrier-free, you should check out KfW program 159.
I live on the third floor of a multi-family building and keep my washing machine in the basement, but even a two-story house with a basement doesn’t make things much easier. You will still regularly face two flights of stairs. If you don’t want to plan or install an elevator or stairlift right away, your wish sounds like a bungalow with a large (very large) basement alternative—one utility room, one pantry, and ideally a parking space or a large garage somewhere.
Regarding drying laundry in the garden: a balcony or a roof terrace would probably be a good alternative.
As toxic already mentioned, a bungalow is likely the best choice for your requirements.
For accessibility in old age, we are designing our house so that we can live entirely on the ground floor later on. The study/guest room will become a bedroom. The guest bathroom is planned with enough space to retrofit a bathtub. Door widths are sized accordingly. Of course, it is not as spacious as, for example, proper barrier-free construction for nursing homes, hospitals, or fully accessible apartments, but it is a good compromise. It would generally be possible to move around everywhere with a wheelchair.
As toxic already mentioned, a bungalow is likely the best choice for your requirements.
For accessibility in old age, we are designing our house so that we can live entirely on the ground floor later on. The study/guest room will become a bedroom. The guest bathroom is planned with enough space to retrofit a bathtub. Door widths are sized accordingly. Of course, it is not as spacious as, for example, proper barrier-free construction for nursing homes, hospitals, or fully accessible apartments, but it is a good compromise. It would generally be possible to move around everywhere with a wheelchair.
S
Stadtpflanze2 Nov 2013 21:02@toxic:
Yes, Berlin is true.
Well, let’s say if it were two floors, I would definitely plan it so that an elevator can be retrofitted later.
I see what you mean, so I think the idea of having laundry upstairs and technical rooms downstairs is quite good.
No, I don’t have any degree of disability at the moment. Right now, I can still easily walk up the floors here, I can walk long distances, cycle, and swim. But I notice my leg is increasingly causing problems, I have bad phases sometimes and I know it’s only going to get worse. Since I already know what’s coming with my leg, I don’t want to wait until day X and then have to push through a quick compromise solution.
Other factors make building a house attractive for us, but if we do build, it must be fully accessible because this issue will affect me sooner rather than later. And if I decide to get a joint replacement (just a matter of a few years), I will be at least half a year so limited in mobility that the current apartment won’t work anymore. And that’s only if things go well — it could also be different… tssk. This whole cycle repeats roughly every 10 years, again only if things go well. So I will be dealing with this issue for the rest of my life.
What speaks against a house from this perspective, however, is the fact that I am more mobile here. At the moment, I only have a 5-minute walk to the suburban train. I have managed that even during bad phases and could get to work or further training, do shopping, go to the doctor, meet friends — the usual.
A plot of land with such convenient transport connections will be hard to find or maybe even unaffordable for us, although our finances are not very tight. Living remotely means you immediately need two cars, which is another cost factor.
@klblb:
Yes, what you mention is the usual approach to see the ground floor as the living area for older age.
A bungalow just needs space, that’s the disadvantage. If you also plan for a technical room and want to park at least one car on the property, there’s hardly anything left of the plot. I need to check how much an elevator would cost.
What I also find important, apart from sufficiently wide doors and no thresholds, is an accessible bathroom — that is, a shower with level access right away. The bathtub is usually the first problem, especially stairs and getting in and out of the tub.
Yes, Berlin is true.
Well, let’s say if it were two floors, I would definitely plan it so that an elevator can be retrofitted later.
I see what you mean, so I think the idea of having laundry upstairs and technical rooms downstairs is quite good.
No, I don’t have any degree of disability at the moment. Right now, I can still easily walk up the floors here, I can walk long distances, cycle, and swim. But I notice my leg is increasingly causing problems, I have bad phases sometimes and I know it’s only going to get worse. Since I already know what’s coming with my leg, I don’t want to wait until day X and then have to push through a quick compromise solution.
Other factors make building a house attractive for us, but if we do build, it must be fully accessible because this issue will affect me sooner rather than later. And if I decide to get a joint replacement (just a matter of a few years), I will be at least half a year so limited in mobility that the current apartment won’t work anymore. And that’s only if things go well — it could also be different… tssk. This whole cycle repeats roughly every 10 years, again only if things go well. So I will be dealing with this issue for the rest of my life.
What speaks against a house from this perspective, however, is the fact that I am more mobile here. At the moment, I only have a 5-minute walk to the suburban train. I have managed that even during bad phases and could get to work or further training, do shopping, go to the doctor, meet friends — the usual.
A plot of land with such convenient transport connections will be hard to find or maybe even unaffordable for us, although our finances are not very tight. Living remotely means you immediately need two cars, which is another cost factor.
@klblb:
Yes, what you mention is the usual approach to see the ground floor as the living area for older age.
A bungalow just needs space, that’s the disadvantage. If you also plan for a technical room and want to park at least one car on the property, there’s hardly anything left of the plot. I need to check how much an elevator would cost.
What I also find important, apart from sufficiently wide doors and no thresholds, is an accessible bathroom — that is, a shower with level access right away. The bathtub is usually the first problem, especially stairs and getting in and out of the tub.
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