Posted: December 2009

When considering green building or green construction alternatives for home remodeling, stepless entries and stepless grade changes are the greenest choice to incorporate into a project.  Why? Because a stepless entry will accomodate any person living in the house regardless of age or physical ability. And, a stepless entry will never have to be remodeled a second time.

What is a stepless entry? Simple – it’s an entry way that doesn’t require any steps to enter the house.  If you are remodeling now, eliminating steps also eliminates a potentially unnecessary tortuous and wasteful future remodel related to aging challenges or an unexpected life changing event such as a temporary or permanent disabling injury. 

Designing and building for the possibility of life changes is simply “green forward-thinking.”  Count the number of things on wheels in your own home (e.g., BBQ, wheelbarrow, yard cart, trash & recycles containers, shop-vac, luggage, generator, pressure washer, lawn mower, furniture dolly, strollers, bikes, wagons, etc.) and you can clearly see the practicality of having stepless paths incorporated into your landscaping.

Ok, so you’re convinced that a stepless entry or grade change is what you want. What is the best alternative to use?

Replacing existing steps with a traditional ramp is the most obvious choice and a lower cost investment up front. However, traditional ramp structures (even the best built) will have a shorter life span when compared to stepless grade changes that are integrated into your landscaping, using bricks, pavers, concrete or similar on-grade building materials.  Additionally, when selling your home, curb appeal weighs in heavily and a traditional ramp structure may be used against you at the time your home goes on the market, subject to the potential buyer.

A longer lasting and more attractive alternative is to use on-grade building materials described above to create a seamless entry into your home. Although more expensive up front, a stepless entry goes unnoticed as design element that accommodates wheelchairs, walkers or other handicap aids.

Well constructed stepless grade changes and/or stepless entries are an investment in your property and will last indefinitely, while also making your home more appealing and more marketable to a broader population. 

There is and always will be a place and a need for traditional wheelchair ramps on many homes.  Do consider however that the bigger/wiser investment in stepless entries or stepless grade changes may yield a better return on your investment long term while improving your home’s function and curb appeal.