Page 11 - Hawaii Renovation - April 25, 2021

FREE GRAB BAR
With purchase of tub conversion. Must present coupon. Some restrictions apply. Promotional deal must be ordered before the start of any job. Exp. 5/30/21
1 DAYWalk-in Shower Conversion
Walk-thru Tub Conversion Process
Grab bar installed for safety
Seamless & color matched for a factory like look
Low 4" step-over height
• Modify existing • Save 75% VS. tubs for easy access a full renovation
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ATLAS CONSTRUCTION
Building for Hawaii’s families
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General Contractor Hawaii & Home Remodeling 2018-2020
BY CAROLINE WRIGHT
Lately, Hawaii’s impos- sibly high cost of living has been a hot topic in
local news. It’s a challenge many families have addressed by pooling their resources to create multigenerational homes, often sharing ex- penses, chores and childcare.
“There’s only so much land on this island, and only so much new development that can happen,” says Joshua Vasconcellos, project coordi- nator at Atlas Construction. “But people still want to live in Hawaii, so they remodel, build additions, or knock down their homes and rebuild, to accommodate multigenera- tional living.”
As Vasconcellos explains that multigenerational home projects represent a large percentage of Atlas Con- struction’s business, he set the scene: “Mom and Dad raise their kids; the kids get married, want to start their own families, but can’t afford to buy. So they get together with their parents to build a larger home. We see a lot of that type of work.”
Multigenerational con- struction isn’t always done to accommodate grandchildren. Sometimes the goal is to help Mom and Dad spend their golden years in their home.
“Wedoalotofworkfor people who want to add on or alter their homes, because when they bought or built
them, they could go up and down the stairs,” Vasconcel- los observes. “Today, it’s a dif- ferent situation.”
Here are things to consider while planning construction:
FIRST, MAKE THE DOLLARS MAKE SENSE
“If a customer can only af- ford $500,000, and you de- sign a million-dollar house, you haven’t helped that fam- ily,” says Vasconcellos. “Our company helps people stay within their budgets. We edu- cate our clients from a real es- tate standpoint to make sure they’re doing the right thing for themselves and their fam- ily at the right cost.”
FUNCTIONALITY MATTERS
Make sure kitchens and ground floor rooms are de- signed to be functional for aging in place, with easy-to- reach cabinets, open floor plans and safer flooring. Multi- story homes must be planned to accommodate aging gen- erations.
PRIVATE SPACES AND COMMON AREAS
Try to make sure that ev- erybody in the family has his or her own space, but don’t forget to create areas where everybody can gather for family time and fun!
SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE KEY
Childproofing is important if little ones will be growing up
ATLAS CONSTRUCTION CONTACT 808-951-9500
WEB atlasconstruction808.com
APRIL 25, 2021
HAWAII RENOVATION 11
in your house. For aging eyes, adequate lighting is impor- tant. In bathrooms, falls can be prevented with a series of safety measures.
“When we design for ag- ing in place, we recommend installing 3-foot doors in case somebody needs a wheel- chair, and building with pro- visions for grab bars, bench seating and a shower that somebody can easily get in and out of,” Vasconcellos says.
GET OUTDOORS
Reduced mobility makes it hard for older folks to get out- side safely. Create accessible outdoor areas with ramps equipped with handrails. Make sure they’re shaded and protected from the elements.
Thanks to quality construc- tion and excellent customer service Atlas has been voted
“Hawaii’s Best” contractor for the past eight years in Hono- lulu Star-Advertiser’s People’s Choice Awards. Through a careful planning process that includes monthly seminars, open houses that showcase projects in their finishing stag- es and multiple meetings to gather specific information about the family’s lifestyle and needs, Atlas Construc- tion consistently meets and exceeds expectations.
As a certified aging-in- place/universal design com- pany, Atlas helps families plan for future generations.
“When we design a home, we ask a lot of questions,” Vasconcellos says. “Learning how the family will use the house today, tomorrow and in the future helps us build de- sign options for them. I think we’re experts in understand- ing how people live ”
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