General contractor in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte's housing stock spans more than a century of construction styles, and accessibility needs vary sharply by neighborhood and era. Dilworth bungalows from the 1920s have small bathrooms with claw-foot tub surrounds and 28-inch doorways. Myers Park homes from the 1940s and 1950s have more generous floor plans but still lack the blocking in walls needed for grab bar support. Newer Ballantyne homes have wider hallways but often have shower entries with a curb that creates a trip hazard.

Charlotte's clay soils shift seasonally, and in older homes that movement can rack door frames out of square over time. A doorway that was originally 30 inches wide may have settled to an effective clearance of 27 inches after decades of soil movement. When we widen doorways for accessibility in Charlotte's older neighborhoods, we assess the frame condition and address any settling before installing the new opening, so the finished width stays true.

Renovation of older Charlotte homes often reveals conditions behind walls that affect the accessibility project scope. Knob-and-tube wiring in pre-1950 homes, aluminum branch-circuit wiring in 1960s and 1970s homes, and galvanized or polybutylene plumbing are common findings in neighborhoods like Plaza Midwood and Eastover. Identifying these conditions during the planning walkthrough, rather than after demolition begins, keeps the project on track and avoids scope changes mid-build.