Widen a Doorway for a Wheelchair or Walker | GenTerra Construction, Gresham OR

What we do

Reframe the opening. The door and jamb come out and the opening is reframed to a 36 inch clear width. Load-bearing walls get a proper header.
Offset hinges. When two more inches is enough, swing-clear hinges move the door out of the opening for a small job.
Pocket doors. A door that slides into the wall takes no floor space and leaves the full opening clear.
Lever handles. On every door we touch.
Flush thresholds. Between rooms and at the bathroom door.
Patch and paint. Drywall, trim, and paint to match, so the wall looks like it was always that way.

How the job is done

Walkthrough

We check which walls are load-bearing and which doors need the full width.

Written price

A price per doorway, so you can do the bathroom and bedroom first.

Build

A non-bearing doorway takes about a day. A bearing wall with a new header takes two or three.

Finish

Trim, paint, and a lever handle.

Common questions

How wide does a doorway need to be for a wheelchair?

32 inches clear is the minimum. 36 inches is what we build, because it leaves room for the hands on the wheels.

Can any doorway be widened?

Nearly all. Doorways in load-bearing walls need a new header, which we install as part of the job. Doorways beside a light switch or a wall corner sometimes need the switch moved.

What about the bathroom door that swings into the room?

A pocket door or an outward-swinging door frees the space. Both are common fixes.

Do you widen exterior doors?

Yes. A 36 inch entry door with a flush threshold is part of our zero-step entry work.

Aging in place Walk-in showers Ramps and entries Wider doorways Main-floor bedroom and bath Accessible kitchen Lighting, flooring, and hardware

Wider Doorways for Wheelchairs and Walkers