Accessible Solutions: Entrances

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Entrances can all be located on a single floor level or several floors depending on the house plan and lot slope. To allow for proper drainage, the entry floor of any home must be higher than the surrounding grade. The available options for creating accessible entrances depend on several key factors, including the home's structural floor system, the exterior wall materials, and the lot slope or "topography." Methods of Making an Entrance Accessible There are several techniques that can be used to make an entrance accessible. The best choice depends on many factors, including the entry's height above grade and the floor and wall construction. The following examples illustrate typical architectural solutions that address each of these factors: Sloped Walks - A gently sloped walk (less than 5% incline) is the best alternative for achieving entry access when the lot is relatively flat or when the driveway is approximately on the same level as the home's entry floor. The other key factor is the type of construction used for the home's entry floor and walls. If the house has a concrete slab-on-grade floor, soil can be graded to the entry floor level. A sloped masonry or concrete walk can then be constructed flush with the entry floor. If the house has wood floor framing, masonry walls can provide the necessary separation between soil and wood that makes it feasible to grade up to the finished floor level. Sloped walks can be used to provide access to the entrance of houses with a slab-on-grade floor system or homes with masonry exterior walls. The incline of accessible walks should be limited to approximately 5%. Ramps can be used to maintain separation between a wood floor system and the outside grade. The maximum recommended ramp slope is 8.33%. When a ramp is too long the practical usefulness is reduced and the construction cost is increased. Bridges can be used to maintain separation between a wood floor system and the outside grade. The bridge illustrated begins adjacent to the garage, which has a slab-on-grade floor, rather than wood, and spans to the wood porch deck. Ramps or Bridges - If a home has a wood-framed entry floor and its exterior walls are sheathed in wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding, finished grade must be held below the bottom of the framing or wall finish. Without this separation, wood will eventually rot and destructive insects can enter at the joint between the foundation and the wood framing. Depending on the floor framing depth, at least an 18" height difference is required between the yard and the entry floor level. If the house has a crawl space below the entry floor, the height difference must be greater to allow for air vents.

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