Are BuildX ADUs Accessible? ADA Features Explained
When families first start planning an ADU for aging parents or a loved one who has mobility concerns, the first thing they usually ask about is accessibility options. Which is exactly what they should be asking. There is a big difference between a home that works for someone in their 70s, and one that becomes a daily obstacle course as they get older. Decisions need to be made at the very beginning of the design phase to ensure the correct accessibility options for your specific needs.
We have built dozens of ADUs in Massachusetts that were specifically designed for aging family members, and we have learned exactly which features matter, which ones sometimes get forgotten about, and which ones claim to be accessible, but in actuality fail when real people try to live in them.
At BuildX, we build every ADU while keeping the future in mind. Even if a client is not currently having any difficulty getting around, we install accessibility infrastructure from the beginning that makes it much simpler to modify years down the road if needed. There is a lot we do that you will never see until you need it.
Quick Answer: Yes, BuildX ADUs can be fully accessible. Every unit includes 36-inch doorways, blocking throughout for future grab bars, ramp-ready covered entryways, and comfort height toilets as standard features. For clients needing full ADA compliance, we offer roll-in showers with three-quarter-inch thresholds, ADA-compliant bathroom layouts with transfer space, and custom grab bar placement based on how you actually move. We future-proof every build so modifications take minutes instead of major renovation.
In This Article
- What Makes a BuildX ADU Accessible?
- What Are the Six Core Accessibility Features We Recommend?
- Why Does Blocking Matter So Much?
- How Do You Determine Grab Bar Placement?
- Can You Add a Wheelchair Ramp to a BuildX ADU?
- What About Zero-Entry Showers?
- What Other Accessibility Features Are Available?
- Building an ADU That Works for Real Life
What Makes a BuildX ADU Accessible?
Every single BuildX ADU comes standard with all the accessibility infrastructure you will need. For example, all interior doorways are three feet wide, and every bathroom and hallway has blocking installed for future grab bars. Also, the covered front entryway is designed with the deck flush to the door threshold, which makes it ready for a ramp from day one. In addition, comfort height toilets come standard in every unit as well.
For clients who need full ADA compliance now, we can design the bathroom right off the bat, complete with wheelchair maneuvering space, roll-in shower, and grab bars at custom heights based on how you personally use the space. Also, we are unique in the way that we place grab bars. We don't guess where they should go. We have you walk through the motions and put your hand out where you naturally reach for support so we know exactly the right spot to place them.
What Are the Six Core Accessibility Features We Recommend?
Based on our experience building ADUs for families in Massachusetts, here are the six features that make the biggest difference for accessibility:
1. Covered Entryway with Flush Deck
At least one of the entryways needs to be covered, and the top of the deck has to be 100% flush with the bottom of the door. That makes it safely ready for a ramp. If you need to add a ramp later, there is no tearing your deck apart to make it work. Most people don't know, but the reason the entryway has to be covered is that when you bring the deck up flush with the door, you do not want weather and moisture just sitting there and leaking under the floor causing damage. So we make sure it's covered and protected.
2. Wide Interior Doors
Every interior door should always be either 32 inches or 36 inches. 36 is best, but 32 is ok. All BuildX units come standard with 36 inch doorways. A 30-inch door simply does not work for wheelchair access. 32 is the absolute minimum.
3. ADA-Compliant Bathroom Layout
The bathroom area needs plenty of room and enough distance between the toilet and any obstructions so that you have the ability to transfer and maneuver. If you have mobility issues, you need to be able to transfer from a wheelchair or other device onto the toilet and also into the shower. Our designs all come with wheelchair operating space and direct access from the bedroom.
4. Blocking Throughout the Unit
Blocking is a very important detail that most people never actually think about. Instead of relying on 16-inch on-center wall studs, we add upgraded infrastructure to support grab bars anywhere in the home, rather than hoping you find a stud in the right place. Blocking goes in the bathroom, hallways, kitchen, bedroom, and anywhere you might need a grab bar to steady yourself.
5. Roll-In Shower
For the shower, we use a one-piece acrylic unit called Barrier Free, made in New York. Unlike fiberglass or vinyl, the acrylic construction is extremely durable. It has less than a one inch lip, so it's easy to roll directly in. The unit itself is 38 inches deep, and has plywood backing already built in for grab bar installation anywhere you want. It also includes options for a fold-down stainless steel and wooden seat.
6. Comfort Height Toilets
We always install comfort height toilets. They are taller than standard toilets, so it's less of a struggle to get up and down. Every unit comes standard with these.
Why Does Blocking Matter So Much?
Blocking is a big deal. It is the difference between a 10-minute grab bar installation and having to tear apart the walls of your house. Without blocking, you really only have two bad options for safely mounting grab bars. You can either hope a stud is in exactly the right place, or you can use what's called toggle bolts screwed into sheetrock. But toggle bolts are dangerous. If someone is falling and they grab onto a bar mounted only in sheetrock, it will tear out of the wall, causing the person to fall and be injured. It creates a very false sense of security because you think you are stopping your fall by grabbing the bar, but that bar will just come down with you and can cause further injury such as a broken arm.
With our special blocking system, when you call us two years from now and say that you are ready to install grab bars, we pull up a scan we take of your unit and can see exactly where the blocking is behind all the walls. You just show us where you put your hand and where you reach, and we install the bar at your custom height. And it only takes 10 minutes because the infrastructure is already there.
How Do You Determine Grab Bar Placement?
Well, as we said before, we do not guess where they should go. The way we do it is we walk you through and have you stand in the space (bathroom, kitchen, etc) and pretend you are using it. Walk in and out of the shower a couple of times, get up and down off the toilet, move around from room to room the way you actually would, and we watch what you do with your hands, so we can determine exactly the right placements for you. For example, if you are a lefty, that's a different conversation than if you are right-handed. Then you put your hand out to show us where you naturally want support, and we put a piece of tape on the wall. All grab bars are installed custom to how you move and function. This is the only way to make sure the bars end up in the right places.
We also like the L-shaped grab bars. They go vertical as you are coming in, then you can transition to the horizontal portion. Also, the shower units we use have fold-down seats built in, so you get the best of all options.
Can You Add a Wheelchair Ramp to a BuildX ADU?
Definitely. When we know a ramp is needed, all we do is make sure the grade in front is as high as possible, and the deck or patio is flush with the door. You end up with only about a half-inch lip to roll over, not a step. A lot of times the ramp doesn't even feel like a ramp. It feels like a sidewalk at a very slight incline. In some cases we need an even shorter ramp, which is no problem. We just modify the front of the foundation so the concrete goes right up to the bottom of the siding with no floor joists exposed. This allows for a really short ramp that barely looks like one.
What About Zero-Entry Showers?
We do have clients who want absolutely no threshold going into the shower. Which is no problem because we can do a zero-entry design with a foam dam. The foam dam is soft but very durable, it's only about two inches high, and it keeps water from flowing out onto the bathroom floor. It is flexible enough that a wheelchair just rolls right over it, and it springs back up. The sticky backing keeps it firmly in place, and if it ever wears out, it's not a problem. You just peel it up and stick down a replacement. Which makes it a good option for anyone who anticipates mobility issues down the road. At some point, no matter how well designed, a shower door is going to be in your way. With a curtain and foam dam, it makes your life much easier.
What Other Accessibility Features Are Available?
Well there are the core six features, but we do recommend a few additional considerations for extra convenience.
Nine-foot ceilings: This is not exactly an accessibility feature, but it makes the space feel much larger and more open. For someone spending significant time in an 800 square foot unit, it can make a big difference in whether you feel cramped or not. It just opens up the space and feels roomier.
Natural light: Same concept with this one. Lots of big windows let in tons of natural light and reduce the feeling of confinement. Lots of light also reduces risk of falls.
Countertop height tables: Instead of a standard kitchen island, a countertop height table allows a wheelchair to roll underneath it. It works as a table and an island, creating maximum usage of a small space.
If you are planning an ADU for a parent or considering your own future needs, a site visit is the best way to understand what accessibility features work for your specific property and situation.
Building an ADU That Works for Real Life
Accessibility is about so much more than just checking boxes on a compliance form. It is about creating a space where someone can actually live comfortably and safely. The features that matter most are the ones you install before the walls go up: blocking for grab bars, flush deck entries, wide doorways, and well thought out bathroom layouts.
At BuildX, we plan for the future in every ADU we build. Even if you do not need grab bars today, the blocking is there when and if you do. Even if a ramp is years away, the entryway will be ready. That is what it means to build for real life.
Schedule a consultation with BuildX to review your property and talk through which features make sense for your family's needs.
Request a Free Consultation or call (781) 627-7000
See our work in person: buildx.com/adu-home-tour
