Presidential Conversions understands that many of us will experience at least a temporary disability. Accidents will happen and you could find yourself using a wheelchair or walker. As we mature and grow older, getting around our home becomes more difficult. Then we ask "How can I get up those steps or through that narrow door?" Traditional home builders have never really considered the needs of those who are disabled or elderly, and that can make life really hard to deal with at times. We understand these difficulties, and we want to help you make your life a little easier and more productive. That's why we offer handicap accessible remodeling and accessibility modifications in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We have the solutions to your home accessibility needs and modifications to enhance and improve the safety and accessibility in your home.

Move or Improve?

Most of us would choose to live and retire in our own home rather than move to a nursing home or assisted living center. Your home can be remodeled and modified to accommodate your needs and physical capabilities and conditions. Your house can become more accessible with a few minor home modifications.

Bathroom Remodeling:

Your bathroom can be modified or redesigned for wheelchair access. Modifications to the bathroom will help avoid injury and is our most requested service. Let's start at the bathroom door. Why do architects design, and builders insist on installing a 24" door to the bathroom? Wheelchairs need a minimum 32" door for a straight in approach. If the doorway is located in the typical hallway and requires turning a wheelchair, you'll need a 36" door.

• Doors can be widened for wheelchair and walker access. We remove the existing door unit, relocate the light switch, widen the framed opening, install a new wider door unit and repair the finished flooring. A swing away door hinge is also an option and will increase the door width by 2".
  
  
• Bathtubs can be very hazardous. Transferring from a wheelchair to the tub can be difficult. The tub area must be carefully designed to provide maximum safety. Bathtub and shower grab bars can be installed to provide support. Tub transfer seats allow persons to sit in the tub and take a bath or shower without having to lower themselves to the tub floor. Many people find it difficult to use a tub. Bath tubs can be replaced with showers.
  
  It can be difficult for some of us to step in and out of a bathtub because of the high tub walls. We can make it easier by replacing your tub with a shower. We custom build our showers depending on your site conditions. The configuration of most existing bathrooms will limit the size of the shower to the tub area (standard tubs measure 30" to 34" x 60").
  
  
• Roll-in showers can be more difficult to install and use. We suggest a shower with a curb but, there's times when a roll-in shower is your only option. There are problems associated with roll-in showers in a remodeling situation. The size of most existing bathrooms limit the options to a tub to shower conversion. This limits the dimensions of the shower to the same floor area as the tub. A wheelchair will fit into the area but it is tight. The bathroom floor will also get wet.We custom build ceramic tile roll-in showers using the same basic procedures as used for a shower with a curb. There is additional work required. The tub drain is usually the same elevation as the bathroom floor, requiring jack-hammering and removing the concrete, center and lower the drain, install a rubber shower pan and the new shower floor flush with the existing bathroom floor.
  
  Prefabricated, fiberglass/acrylic roll-in shower floors can be considered. They can replace and are available in the same size as your standard 5 foot tub, and comes with a right or left hand drain. This makes it easier since no jack hammering is required and only minimal drain adjustment is needed. If you have the room, these units are also available in assorted sizes.
  
  
• Toilet seat height varies from one individual to another, usually between 17" to 19". Toilets can be replaced with special units or raised seats can be installed. Toilet grab bars can be installed for balance and support and to allow individuals to safely transfer from a wheelchair.
  
  
• Sinks can be installed to allow wheel chair access. Vanity cabinets can be removed from below the sink. This will expose the plumbing pipes requiring covering with insulation or boxed in to prevent contact with sharp edges and burns by hot water pipes. Pedestal style sinks can give you a little more room to maneuver, but can be difficult to use from a wheelchair and are usually a couple of inches higher than the standard vanity top. We suggest a wall mounted lavatory.
  
  
• Faucets can be replaced with single lever controls. Consider the use of anti-scald temperature controls that prevent the water temperature from exceeding an established limit.

Handicap Grab Bars:

We install grab bars and safety rails to insure you won't lose your balance and provide a safe, accessible surrounding. Safety bars provide stability for everyone, including the elderly and those with physical limitations. It's the most cost effective home modification we make!

Swing away offset hinge:

Additional door clearance can be economically obtained by using the swing clear, offset door hinges, increasing the width by about 2", and is often enough to provide the necessary minimum width for a wheelchair or walker to pass through the doorway.

Accessible Kitchens:

It can be difficult for people in wheelchairs to use standard counters because of the cabinets below. Under counter base cabinets can be removed to provide access to the sink or work area. A pull out or drop leaf shelf can be added for working space. Sliding shelves can be installed in lower cabinets. Electric receptacles, garbage disposal and exhaust fan switches can be moved to the front of the counter or cabinet.

Accessible Doors:

In order to accommodate a wheelchair, (a standard wheelchair is 24-27" wide), doorways should be a minimum of 32" wide. If the doorway is located in the typical hallway and requires turning a wheelchair, you'll need a 36" door. It is suggested to look out for plumbing and electrical lines. If there's utilities located in the wall you can consider double wall installation.

Closets:

Most walk-in closet doors are only 24" wide. The door can be widened, shelves and rods lowered or adjustable shelving installed. Usually the light switch must be relocated and made accessible to the individuals requirement.

Environmental Control Units:

Our products make every aspect of home life accessible. Using an Environmental Control Unit has allowed even the most severely challenged individuals to get the little things we take for granted accomplished around the house, such as being free to surf the net or read a book without help. The user of an Environmental Control Unit issues instructions by spoken command or by whichever switch method he or she can most easily manage to operate a wide range of electrical devices such as lights, telephones, computers, thermostats, electric beds, televisions, VCRs etc. With our radio remote control accessory, the user can be in any room in the house or outside in the yard and remain in control. The Environmental Control Unit stays put, yet fully available to the user.

Power Access Doors:

We can install a fully automated door opening system on just about any door. The principle of it’s operation is simple. The unit will push the door open with a wheeled arm on the operator and close the door by means of a conventional door closer. This means that the door can be used in a fully manual mode as it was before, or can be used automatically.

Stair Lifts:

With a stair lift, you can go up and down stairs effortlessly, anytime you want. Unlike ordinary chain or cable driven stair lifts, our units use a rack and pinion system, so there's no slipping or lurching when the unit stops and starts. Your ride is smooth and controlled. We can even set the speed of the unit to suit your personal comfort level. Battery operation assures you of access between floors even if an electrical outage occurs. The unit charges automatically when it is parked both at the top or bottom of the stairway. The lift utilizes a wireless "call-send" control, which allows you to call or send the unit to the other end of the stairs. This wireless system can either be mounted on a wall, or can be used as a hand held remote.

Patient Lift and Transfer Systems:

Our lift products are safe and easy to use. With the help of our lifts, the patient gets proper attention to their needs. It is also important when choosing a lift solution to look at the costs. Our products, with the unique room to room transfer, and 100% mobility implies a highly cost effective usage. Presidential Conversions puts the focus on people. Our aim is to make users feel secure during the lifting process. New user-friendly features have been introduced to create a more flexible lifting solution.

Handicap Wheelchair Ramps:

Wheelchair ramp installation is also one of our most requested services. Although the ADA guidelines do not pertain to private residential applications, we use these guidelines to build wheelchair ramps when possible. Although there's times when a wood ramp is the only alternative, we recommend aluminum or metal wheelchair ramps. Wood requires constant maintenance and lasts only a few years when exposed to the Arkansas outdoor elements. Wood can possibly be a hazard, it's slippery when wet. Although slip resistance can be improved by painting the surface with a sand additive or applying those stick on grit strips, neither method will last a long amount of time, requiring repeated applications. Outdoor carpet has been used, but we find that it traps moisture and promotes rot, even when using treated wood. One solution we've found for this problem is to apply rolled roofing asphalt to the ramp surface. Please let us know if you would like us to do this treatment to your wooden ramp.