This site is about designing a granny flat build (and saving money for it).
Accessible Granny Flat Plan Builder
For more info on accessibility including diagrams/details, photos, different bathroom designs, threshold ramp details, and more see:
LivableHousingAustralia.org.au.
Dimension Details
Granny flat size: 60 square meters.
Cost: 60m
2 * $2,000 = $120,000.
Bedroom internal wall dimensions: 2835mm x 2835mm.
Bathroom internal wall dimensions: 2570mm x 2570mm.
Design Notes
Front Door: The front door has an offset of 400mm to allow shelving against the wall (better first impression when entering).
Bathroom;
- Bathroom bench-top allows clear space under the sink for wheelchair users leg space underneath.
- If you're a leg amputee (or have paralysis in 1 leg): design so the side your leg is missing/frail is also the side you need a hand rail. Example; If a
right leg amputee then put a hand rail on the the right of the toilet and approach from the left, if a
left left amputee put a hand rail on the left hand side of the toilet and approach from the right. The reason is that you have a hand place on your wheelchair but when transferring, your missing leg requires replacement support. If there is no rail then you can use 1 of your crutches or a commode with rails over the toilet.
Kitchen: allow space under the kitchen sink and bench top to allow wheelchair users leg space.
Choose a flat floor for 1 leg amputees: do a flat floor so a roller stool (a short bar stool with 5 castors) can be used in the open plan kitchen/lounge room. A roller stool allows an amputee to glide around easier when cooking (bouncing from fridge > stove > sink). You need a floor without bumps or at least small bumps. Lino/rubber floors are good. Timber floors are okay where the board gap is smallish and it's a square edge (not bevelled). Tiles are little dangerous as they are bevelled so you need to have 1 hand holding the stool going over the bumps and the other hand holding your dinner. Uneven slate is more dangerous than tiles (with tiles you know where the bumps are and theyu are uniform).
No carpet: manual wheelchairs go quicker/easier on solid floors plus it can be good to take the washing from the laundry to the bedroom on a roller stool. If you want carpet in your bedroom then use a mat beside your bed.
Shower: no hob + handrail ready. Shower chairs come with handrails so there might not be a need for for handrails in the shower*. Here is the shower chair process;
1) turn the water on** while outside the shower for it to heat up,
2) transfer to the shower chair (chair is in the shower but not under the water spray),
3) adjust the water to desired temperature,
4) "walk" or wheel the shower chair under the shower spray.
* Shower hand rails should have the supports inside the wall ready for hand rails to be installed but don't fit them as they may get in the way of; 1) portable shower chairs (on wheels or 4 posts) which have hand rails, and 2) wall-mounted fold-down chairs. They get in the way because the water spray is pointed into the corner of the shower but I can't sit in the corner of the shower because the handrails poke in the person's back.
** It helps to have the shower handles near the shower entry (i.e. offset and not mid-wall).
Circulation space: If you're single then get a king single bed rather than a queen bed so your wheelchair can access more of the bedroom. Also see toilet circulation space, door sizes, etc. options (toggle options above).
