- Install floor tile throughout the bathroom---from the entry door into the shower and from wall to wall. Complete wheelchair access is attainable with a continuous tile floor allowing many wheelchair-bound individuals to shower without assistance. Prevent the need for a separate shower installation and floor lip created by an all-in-one fiberglass shower unit by using the same tile throughout the floor and shower stall. A slight shower floor angle, 1/8 inch per foot, should direct excess water toward the shower drain. A slight tile floor tilt from the entry door toward the shower ensures that over-spray from the shower is directed back toward the drain.
- Try larger ceramic tile sizes and flatter tile profiles. Smaller tile with a slightly curved edge results in small bumps and curves as a wheelchair rolls across the floor. Remove the bumps and provide a smoother rolling movement. An added benefit is less grout to clean and maintain. Grout is porous and gets dirty fast, resulting in the need for scrubbing on a regular basis, especially in a damp bathroom. Wheelchairs can drag further dirt and debris in. Choose a grout color other than white to further lessen a noticeable dirt problem, one that just won't come up through cleaning. Prevent slipping on larger tiles by installing a radiant floor heating system to keep the tile dry and warm.
- Install anti-slip, industrial, vinyl tile in a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. Create a checkerboard pattern or a solid color surface. No grouting is necessary with vinyl tiles. Use a product with a slightly raised, non-slip texture to allow water to fall down and away from the surface. An interlocking design forces industrial tiles to seal and become a non-porous surface. Designing with industrial vinyl tile does not have to be limited to a handful of color choices---color choices grow in number every year that work with popular laminates and wall paints. Create an eco-friendly wheelchair-accessible bathroom by using recycled, industrial, vinyl floor tile.
