Accessible bathrooms are not clinical any more. Done well, a level access room with properly placed support looks like any other contemporary bathroom and simply works better for everyone in the house. The important thing is to design it around the person, not around a catalogue of mobility products.
Start with how the room is used
Before any product is chosen, we look at how the person moves. Do they walk in unaided, use a frame, or transfer from a wheelchair? Is assistance needed, and if so from which side? Is balance or reach the main issue, or is it standing endurance? A room designed for someone who tires quickly looks quite different from one designed for a wheelchair user, and getting this wrong is expensive to correct.
Level access showering
The most valuable single change. A fully tanked floor with a gentle fall to a linear drain removes the trip hazard completely and allows a wheeled shower chair to roll straight in. Where a full wet room is not practical, a recessed low profile tray with a 10mm to 15mm upstand and a half height hinged screen is a good alternative. Keep the shower area at least 1200mm by 900mm if assistance may be needed, and specify an R11 slip resistant floor tile.
Grab rails, done properly
- Fix into timber noggins or a plywood backing behind the boards, installed before tiling. Plasterboard fixings are not adequate for supporting body weight.
- A vertical rail at the shower entrance to steady entry, and a horizontal rail inside for support while standing.
- A horizontal rail beside the toilet at roughly 700mm to 800mm, with a drop down rail on the open side where transfer support is needed.
- Choose a textured or matt finish rather than polished chrome, which becomes slippery with wet or soapy hands.
- Contrasting colour rails are easier to locate for anyone with reduced vision, and modern ranges do this without looking institutional.
Seating
A wall mounted fold down seat with a padded surface, fixed into reinforced structure at about 480mm above the floor, folds flat when not in use. Position it so the controls can be reached while seated, which normally means placing the valve on the side wall rather than under the shower head.
Controls, taps and reach
Use a thermostatic valve with a maximum temperature limit, particularly where reduced sensation is a factor. Lever taps are easier than rotary heads for anyone with arthritis, and a single lever mixer is easier still. Mount the shower riser rail so the handset can be reached from a seated position. Light switches outside the door should be at a height reachable from a wheelchair, around 900mm to 1100mm.
Layout and circulation
- Aim for a 1500mm turning circle where a wheelchair is used, or at minimum a 1400mm clear zone.
- Leave 800mm of clear transfer space beside the toilet if side transfer is required.
- Rehang the door to open outwards, so nobody can be trapped behind it after a fall.
- Consider a 900mm doorway rather than the standard 760mm if the wall is being rebuilt anyway.
- Keep the basin at a height that suits, typically 780mm to 800mm, or wall hung with clear knee space beneath for seated use.
Flooring and safety details
Slip resistance matters far more than appearance here. R11 rated porcelain or a safety vinyl with a welded seam both work well. Use a colour that contrasts with the walls and the sanitaryware, because tonal contrast helps anyone with limited vision judge distance. Round off external corners, avoid protruding fittings at head height, and keep the floor completely clear of freestanding items.
Future proofing when nobody needs it yet
Many customers fitting a bathroom in their fifties or sixties ask us to build in the structure without the equipment. That means plywood backing behind the shower and toilet walls, a level access or low threshold shower, a thermostatic valve and lever taps. It adds very little to the cost now and means grab rails or a seat can be added in an afternoon later, without disturbing a single tile.
Talk it through with us
We fit accessible bathrooms across Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stone and Leek, and we are happy to visit with a family member or occupational therapist present. Free survey, fixed written price within 24 hours, all work carried out by our own insured fitters with a written workmanship guarantee.
Common questions
What is the difference between accessible and adapted?
An accessible bathroom is designed from the start around ease of use, whereas an adaptation adds equipment to an existing room. A full refit is usually the better value route if the room needs replacing anyway.
How high should grab rails be?
Typically 700mm to 800mm above finished floor for a horizontal rail beside a toilet, and a vertical rail at the shower entrance with its lower end around 800mm. Exact heights should suit the person using them.
Can grab rails go on a plasterboard wall?
Not into plasterboard alone. We fit noggins or a plywood backing behind the board before tiling so rails can be fixed into solid timber anywhere along the wall.
Do I need a wet room for level access?
A tanked level access floor is the gold standard, but a low profile tray with a 15mm threshold and a half height screen works well for many people and costs less.
What about a seat?
A fold down shower seat fixed into a reinforced wall is far safer than a freestanding stool, and it folds away when others use the room.
Is help available with the cost?
Local authority Disabled Facilities Grants exist and are means tested. Applications go through your local council, and we are happy to quote in a format suitable for a grant application.