I have a separate garage (it is just a room with a garage door, no heater or anything else) that I wanted to turn into a "man cave". It was a simple project, where I would just lay carpet in most of the "room". For the urninal, shitter, and shower I was going to build a small platform so I didn't have to cut cement, just a hole in the wall to run sewage pipe to outside connect. Pretty much think of this part of the room as raised where I could run the plumbing underneath the platform, so there would be a step to go up, then into the facilites. My change of use building permit was rejected because, should I ever sell the house, the addition would not be compliant with ADA specifications. I need to build a ramp that is 48" long instead of a single 5" step, and the little bathroom I would put in would have to be an additional 3 feet wider (the origional plan is just four feet wide)and overall all around another foot so it can accomodate a wheel chair around the entire platform. More or less doubling the size of the platform. Also, my door for the little bathroom was going to be a small shutter door, so it scrolls up and down, but apparently that is unacceptable for an interior door. (not really ADA, but dumb none the less)
Also, my gray water toilet ( a toilet with a sink over the water tank, instead of a separate toilet and sink, is also non compliant, since the garage wouldn't have an alternate source of water. So all in all, I have to take it back to the contractor to redesign it, or just get rid of my bathroom idea.
I don't see why the addition to the house has to be ADA compliant, since the rest of the place is not, not to mention there are many homes that wouldn't work, like an two story house, new or otherwise...
/rant
Edit:
I owe the ADA an apology. It turns out the change of use permit was turned down because when it was described as a separate structure, they thought I was building a new building for commercial purposes, not modifying an exisiting one. The lady at the office doesn't think it will be a problem now, though I need a specific permit to deal with the sewage line, so two permits are needed.
And I think I will also replace contractor. Seems other than the drawings, I have been doing all the work. I might as well do a little more and get my own plumber, my own carpet guy, and my own electrician to do the work and save myself 30% ish, maybe more. So really, maybe I owe the ADA a thank you for getting my origional permit denied even if it was a misunderstanding.
/edit
Also, my gray water toilet ( a toilet with a sink over the water tank, instead of a separate toilet and sink, is also non compliant, since the garage wouldn't have an alternate source of water. So all in all, I have to take it back to the contractor to redesign it, or just get rid of my bathroom idea.
I don't see why the addition to the house has to be ADA compliant, since the rest of the place is not, not to mention there are many homes that wouldn't work, like an two story house, new or otherwise...
/rant
Edit:
I owe the ADA an apology. It turns out the change of use permit was turned down because when it was described as a separate structure, they thought I was building a new building for commercial purposes, not modifying an exisiting one. The lady at the office doesn't think it will be a problem now, though I need a specific permit to deal with the sewage line, so two permits are needed.
And I think I will also replace contractor. Seems other than the drawings, I have been doing all the work. I might as well do a little more and get my own plumber, my own carpet guy, and my own electrician to do the work and save myself 30% ish, maybe more. So really, maybe I owe the ADA a thank you for getting my origional permit denied even if it was a misunderstanding.
/edit
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